Music, Lyrics & Arrangements by Alex Bechtel
Book by Alex Bechtel, Grace McLean, Eva Steinmetz
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Penelope began as a writing project for Alex Bechtel at the start of the pandemic. Forced to quarantine hundreds of miles from his romantic partner, he found comfort and healing in writing songs from the point of view of Penelope, Odysseus’ waiting wife in Homer’s Odyssey. Penelope is a musical love letter to all those who wait: For someone they love. For something they believe in. And hope that the wait will end well.
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Penelope wins 2026 Richard Rodgers Award!
Penelope is one of two 2026 recipients of the prestigious Richard Rodgers Award for Musical Theatre. This award recognizes excellence in musical theatre writing, and is accompanied by a grant to support a full production at a non-profit theater in New York City.
Click to read the full article on Playbill.com
Penelope in the New York Times
Laura Collins-Hughes of The New York Times visited rehearsals for the world premiere production of Penelope to interview Alex and his collaborators about the origins of the piece, and their collaboration.
Click to read the full article
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Penelope had its world premiere at Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, September 2023.
Tatiana Wechsler in Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival’s production of Penelope
Learn More about the HVSF Production Here
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Penelope continued its journey with a production at Signature Theatre in DC, March-April 2024. The production received rave reviews, extended its run, and broke box office records for Signature’s ARK stage.
Jessica Phillips in Signature DC’s production of Penelope
Read the Washington Post’s Review of PENELOPE Here
Learn More about the Signature Theatre Production Here
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Penelope had an acclaimed co-production at Theatre Horizon and Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, in the greater Philadelphia area in May-June 2025.
Nominated for 4 Barrymore Awards:
Outstanding Actor in Leading Role in a Musical
Outstanding Lighting Design
Outstanding Music Direction
Best Musical
Rachel Camp in Theatre Horizon/PSF’s production of Penelope
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The Ancram Center for the Arts’ 2025 production of Penelope was the first to star co-book-writer Grace McLean in the title role, under co-book-writer Eva Steinmetz’ direction and Bechtel’s music direction.
Grace McLean in The Ancram Center for the Arts’ production of Penelope
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Penelope is now available for licensing through Concord Theatricals/Broadway Licensing Global. Learn more here.
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Penelope was developed, in part, through the Founders’ Club Residency as part of the Orchard Project (www.orchardproject.com), and through LRS Labs (www.lightningrodspecial.com).
In 2020, Bechtel and a few collaborators recorded a concept album of Penelope from their homes, during lockdown.
Words & Music Alex Bechtel
Vocals, Pianos, Acoustic Guitar, Synths Alex Bechtel
Cellos Justin Yoder
Violins Alexander Sovronsky
Electric Guitar Danny Bechtel
Clarinet Sean Bailey
Recorded from the musicians’ homes and mixed by Alex Bechtel.