How well versed are you on Ancient Greek mythology? The first show this season in Moe and Jack’s Place – The Rouse Theatre is the pop rock musical Mythic. It’s based on an Ancient Greek myth, the story of Demeter and Persephone. If you’re not familiar with this specific myth, there are spoiler alerts ahead! Persephone is the daughter of the harvest goddess, Demeter. When Persephone ends up chillin’ with Hades in the Underworld, Demeter’s grief causes the earth to grow barren until her daughter returns. Eventually, a compromise is reached: Persephone will spend part of the year with Hades in the Underworld and part of the year with her mother on Earth, explaining the cycle of the seasons.

Even though we’re delving into the myths of Ancient Greece, don’t expect a Classical tragedy on an Oedipal or Antigonesque scale. With the book and lyrics by Marcus Stevens and a rock-forward score by Oran Eldor, Mythic gives the ancient story of Persephone and Demeter a fresh twist, reimagining the gods as social influencers, power-hungry politicians and high-profile celebrities. The vibes are more romantic musical comedy than Greek tragedy. Under the direction and choreography of three-time Tony Award-winner Kathleen Marshall, this production promises to leave audiences dancing their way out of the theatre.

When describing the musical, Marshall said, “It is all kinds of pop and rock, and each character has their own distinctive sort of sound and musical journey. I was thinking about it, and you know how sometimes in magazines, they'll have celebrities. ‘They're just like us!’ Like, here are celebrities at the grocery store and at the car wash, and I think it's sort of like the Greek gods. They're just like us. They may be gods, but they have the same sort of conflicts and problems and jealousies and troubles, and they're trying to work everything out in their relationships, just like anybody else.”

In addition to its high-energy score and reimagining of these characters, Mythic explores the emotional heart of a mother-daughter relationship strained by change and growing independence. Demeter and Persephone’s bond, rooted in love but complicated by control, rebellion and transformation, anchors the story beneath all the glamor and glitter. The show’s clever juxtaposition of the epic and the everyday invites audiences to find themselves in the characters, whether it’s Persephone seeking freedom, Demeter struggling to let go, or Hades discovering a softer side. It is mythology reimagined not only for the TikTok generation, but for anyone who's ever had to renegotiate love, family or destiny.

Mythic director and choreographer Kathleen Marshall.

Like the production of Rutka last season, Mythic is a musical that is on the path to Broadway. After its 2018 debut at London’s Charing Cross Theatre, Mythic made the leap across the Atlantic with a celebrated run at the Segal Centre for Performing Arts in Montreal. The 2019 Canadian production played to packed houses and extended its run due to popular demand. Now, Mythic arrives to make its U.S. premiere in Cincinnati with a brand-new production, featuring new staging and a new design team. With this premiere, the producers are eyeing a future Broadway run, hoping to introduce Persephone’s story to an even wider audience.

You could say the design team for this production is legendary in its own right, featuring some of Broadway’s best, each with an impressive resumé. Set design is by David Korins, whose many credits include Hamilton; costume design by Linda Cho, known for her work on Anastasia; lighting design by Kenneth Posner, celebrated for Wicked; and sound design by John Shivers, acclaimed for Kinky Boots.

As the Playhouse kicks off its Rouse Theatre season with Mythic, this production arrives at just the right moment, offering a fresh, fun, vibrant take on an ancient story that feels both timely and timeless. In an era where audiences are drawn to stories that challenge traditional narratives, Mythic invites us to rethink not only the gods and myths but also the power dynamics that shape our own lives. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Greek myths or discovering Persephone and Demeter for the first time, Mythic is a dazzling reminder that even the oldest stories still have something new to say.