EPIC: The Musical by Jorge Rivera Herrans

EPIC: The Musical is a concept album created by Jorge Rivera Herrans that was released throughout the year of 2024. He voices his main character Odysseus as Jorge retells Homer’s “The Odyssey” in a musical form never seen before. From the beginning of the Trojan War, to the end of the reunion of Odysseus and Penelope. The musical is filled with sadness, adventure, excitement, betrayal and much more as Odysseus faces off with Gods, monsters, and challenges on his 20 year journey fighting to get back home to Ithaca. Jorge created the musical in 2 acts, creating 9 sagas, each saga with their own adventures and songs. Act 1 consists of 5 sagas and Act 2 consists of 4 sagas. This journey will definitely have any listener emotional as they embark on the journey with Odysseus, hearing Jorge’s masterpiece of such an epic tale. 

ACT 1:

1. TROY SAGA

EPIC gets introduced with the TROY Saga. Here we get the beginning of Odysseus' journey and see the different elements and characters that are introduced. Jorge reveals different melodies and motifs that connect with each character that will progress as the story advances. We see Odysseus struggle with his internal conflict of actions he has committed and what he has yet to commit, but he is determined to get back home and remain as the man he once was when he left. Jorge seems to focus here on the personality Odysseus currently has, having his friends to guide him through the darkness and guilt and back into the light, as seen in the 4th song, “Open Arms,” where one of his friends sings, “This life is amazing when you greet it with open arms. I see in your face, there is so much guilt inside your heart." I believe Jorge is also trying to reach the audience as well, conveying that everyone should be greeting the world with open arms. 

2. CYCLOPS SAGA:

In this saga, we learn a little more about Odysseus' fighting side and see much more of the trained warrior, different from his bubbly personality around his friends. Jorge reveals new characters and darkness that drastically starts to change Odysseus internally. Jorge captures the listening audience, making them feel on the brink of suspense. We get a dark turn in the middle of the saga, as we see Odysseus reach a low moment. Jorge portraying that, despite Odysseus' fighting power and the events he has gone through with the Trojan War, he is still “Just a Man.” In the last song of the saga, “My Goodbye” we have an argument with his mentor, as Athena tells Odysseus, “One day, you'll hear what I'm saying. One day, you might understand. One day, but not today. For after all you're (Just a man).” Here, I believe Jorge is reminding us through her what Odysseus in the end really is and to be mindful of it for the future sagas.

3. OCEAN SAGA:

Here in this saga, Jorge shows the internal struggles that Odysseus is going through, trying to capture the audience into feeling the idea of being torn back and forth. We get more sense of Odysseus' crew and more interaction with his second in command, Eurylochus. Jorge seems to try to remind the audience again that Odysseus has been playing with luck and wit as he uses Eurolucus to express his concern of the journey to Odysseus. As seen in the 2nd song, “Luck Runs Out,” Eurylochus expresses to Odysseus, "Yes, but how much longer 'til your luck runs out? How much longer 'til the show goes south? How much longer 'til we all fall down? You rely on wit, and people die on it.” Odysseus indeed is really just playing with luck, which is a crucial thing to his character development. Jorge creates a sense of curiosity within the audience here; is Odysseus going to continue playing with luck or actually do something different?

4. CIRCE SAGA:

In the CIRCE Saga, we see a side of Odysseus that we have not seen before, almost carefree and relaxed. Despite the danger that lurks in this saga, we see Jorge portraying his character in a way that many readers would enjoy; Odysseus just being himself despite everything that has occurred. We have the last reminisce of Odysseus’ personality before it all changes. Jorge uses this saga to capture the audience to have them really connect with this version of Odysseus, as seen in the 2nd song, “Wouldn’t You Like,” when a certain messenger God prepares Odysseus before his battle with Circe. We definitely see a more relaxed and smiling Odysseus within the lines:"There lies such a power to take her on. You must consume and digest it. Then you'll manifest a being of your creation. All you need's imagination.” Jorge is trying to have the audience soak in this personality of Odysseus to later on in future sagas use to his advantage. This is a very smart move from a musical artist, to reel in the audience one last time before things become either good or worse.

5. UNDERWORLD SAGA:

In the final saga of act 1, the UNDERWORLD saga, we get a whole different perspective of everything Odysseus has faced. Jorge definitely wanted the audience to feel fear, confusion, sadness, and despair as he has Odysseus go through the underworld to find a prophet who has the possibility to know how Odysseus can get home. We get the sadness of the crew, we get the despair and confusion from the Prophet, and the fear of Odysseus' bubbly and composed personality as he decides it's time to do a 180 for the safety of the crew…. Becoming something darker. As seen in the song, “Monster,” we see the internal battle Odysseus faces. He must decide what to do for the better outcome of himself, “If I became the monster and threw that guilt away. Would that make us stronger? Would it keep our foes at bay? If I became the monster to everyone but us.” Jorge, at this point in the story, definitely does an amazing job capturing the audience. Through Odysseus' personality, from TROY to the UNDERWORLD, he illustrates the different dynamics between the characters, the melodies, and the suspense.

ACT 2: 

6. THUNDER SAGA:

The introduction of Act 2, the THUNDER saga, we get more interaction of Odysseus with his crew. Jorge introduces the new side of Odysseus, the one who is willing to sacrifice anything and everything just to get back home. We see betrayal and anger between Odysseus and his men as Odysseus is faced with a difficult choice after his actions and the remaining crew he has left. As seen in the 4th song, “Munity," it states, “How are we supposed to trust you now? Now your time has come, your luck's run out. Now, the time has come to shut you down. You relied on wit and then we died on it”. Here we see the betrayal of all the men against Odysseus. 

7. WISDOM SAGA:

This saga brings us to the world of Ithaca, where we meet a character for the first time: Odysseus and Penelope's son, Telemachus, now much older than he was when Odysseus left. We get to see the personality of the characters and we also get introduced to Antinous, a suitor vying for Penelope's hand. Jorge brings this world light, as we see the new melodies and motifs from these characters, catching the audience with the feeling of excitement and determination for the characters that appear, as seen in the first song, “Legendary,” when we get Telemachus' determination. It states: “Somebody help me, come and give me the strength. Can I do whatever it takes to keep my mom safe?” We also get a glimpse of Odysseus and where he ended up after the last song in the Thunder Saga. Jorge starts introducing the arc and climax of the musical.

8. VENGEANCE SAGA:

This saga is the true climax to Odysseus' somewhat villain arc as he has finally reached a breaking point. We see Jorge wrapping up the old Odysseus the audience once knew with the first 2 songs in the saga, seeing the softer and a bit more adventurous side of Odysseus. Towards the ending of the saga, I believe it captures the audience at the edge of their seat as we see the darker side of Odysseus surfacing as he faces a God that has caused him pain in the past before. As shown in the 4th song, “Get in the Water,” we see the last reminisce of Odysseus as he asks to end this before it gets worse. This is where Odysseus tries to convince the God by stating, “It's been ten years, how long will this go? We're both hurting from losses. So why not leave this here and just go home?” Jorge captures the audience one more time with the emotion of sadness and empathy as he gets the audience to sympathize with Odysseus after what he has gone through with the sagas.

9. ITHACA SAGA: 

The last and final saga of the entire musical is the true peak in the climax as Jorge finally reveals Penelope’s side of the story after waiting 20 years. He captures the audience through her character to sympathize not only with Odysseus, but along with her. We see the truest form of darkness from Odysseus as he faces off with the suitors. Not only does the audience receive the justice that Odysseus has faced off the past few 20 years, but we get the reunion of Telemachus with Odysseus as they compare with one another to see if they are alike. This is a very emotional and powerful scene, as seen in the 4th song, “I Can’t Help but Wonder.” This song is sang by Telemachus, in which he states, “I can't help but wonder what your world must be. If we're like each other, if I have your strength in me.” This leads to the ending of the musical with Penelope and Odysseus finally meeting again after 20 years. Jorge conveys so many emotions to the audience, a spiraling of the melodies and emotions, as see the love Odysseus has been longing to reunite with.

Final thoughts: 

My final thoughts about EPIC: The Musical is that the emotions of each character and melodies definitely capture the audience. The fandom of EPIC has increased in numbers, asking for Jorge to create more and more and to release cut songs that would have been part of the sagas. Seeing Odysseus go through his journey is something only someone can fathom to imagine. This musical brings out the imagination of each person's mind as they imagine the journey for him. Jorge,a musical artist who spent years on this musical, has done a marvelous job and has ignited a rise in social media as more musicals have been in the works. I would recommend listening to EPIC: The Musical for that sense of adventure, that sense of imagination.