Spin: A Musical Myth
by M. Kilburg Reedy, Jonathan Dinerstein

Name: Spin: A Musical Myth
Brand: M. Kilburg Reedy
SKU: 9780573633553
Rating: 2.5 (2 reviews)

Spin: A Musical Myth Book Cover — Spin: A Musical Myth Cover

Highlights

Female

Male

105 mins Present Day Ensemble Cast Unit Set/Multiple Settings Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes

Synopsis

When a headstrong teenage girl challenges the goddess Athena to a weaving competition, the resulting showdown of mythic proportions forever changes the girl’s world.

Inspired by a classical myth, Spin is a modern rock/gospel musical that gives a new twist to an ancient tale.

Arachne is a young artist determined to achieve success and fame.

After she is defeated in a local contest and criticized by her father, she is visited by four of the Muses, who persuade her to leave her village for the big city.

When she arrives, Arachne encounters Athena, who challenges her to prove her skills, then destroys the tapesty Arachne created.

Crushed by her failures, Arachne vows never to weave again... until a new friend helps her to heal and reclaim the joy of creating.

Spin ’ s varied and tuneful pop-rock score features gospel, doo-wop, blues and more, and is arranged for performance by a four-piece combo of double keyboard, bass, drums and guitar.

Visit Spin ’s website to hear the music: www.spinmusical.com

Press Reviews

"Spin was a hit! The cast was wonderful! Spring Hill High School thanks you for a great musical."
— Laura Langham, Music Director, Spring Hill High School

"Spin was my favorite musical I did in high school!"
— Aaron Tiscareno, "Cosmo," Rancho Alamitos High School

"Arachne's boldness has inspired me to be stronger and to "save my own life". She is so inspiring!! What an amazing character!! She taught me so much."
— Dani Apple, "Arachne," Cleveland Play House

"Spin rocks! The spirit it left behind is so strong!"
— Brandon De Santiago, "Cosmo", Alhambra High School

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Calliope Female; Muse of Epic Poetry and Eloquence; any race. Serious-minded but compassionate, Calliope is intelligent and a well-spoken, crisply enunciated speaker.	female	—	Female; Muse of Epic Poetry and Eloquence; any race. Serious-minded but compassionate, Calliope is intelligent and a well-spoken, crisply enunciated speaker.
Melpomene Female; Muse of Tragedy; any race. Melpomene, a comic character role, is a whining deadpan who sees the world as a gloomy place. For her, the glass is always half empty.	female	—	Female; Muse of Tragedy; any race. Melpomene, a comic character role, is a whining deadpan who sees the world as a gloomy place. For her, the glass is always half empty.
Thalia Female; Muse of Comedy; any race. Thalia, a comic character role, is a breezy cut-up with a smart mouth and an irreverent manner.	female	—	Female; Muse of Comedy; any race. Thalia, a comic character role, is a breezy cut-up with a smart mouth and an irreverent manner.
Euterpe Female; Muse of Music or Lyric Poetry; any race. Euterpe, a comic character role, is a bit dim but very lovable and loving.	female	—	Female; Muse of Music or Lyric Poetry; any race. Euterpe, a comic character role, is a bit dim but very lovable and loving.
Theodore Male; a teenage friend of Arachne since childhood; any race; high baritone or tenor. Theodore is bursting with boyish energy and is always in motion. He is optimistic, sincere and a true and loyal friend. In love with Arachne, he has a playful, flirtatious and competitive relationship with her in which he tries to get under her skin to get her to pay attention to him.	female	—	Male; a teenage friend of Arachne since childhood; any race; high baritone or tenor. Theodore is bursting with boyish energy and is always in motion. He is optimistic, sincere and a true and loyal friend. In love with Arachne, he has a playful, flirtatious and competitive relationship with her in which he tries to get under her skin to get her to pay attention to him.
Idmon Male; Arachne’s father and a shepherd; any race; high baritone. An earthy and rugged man with a hard quality born of years of endurance, he is fearful of what others will think of him and his family, and this fear keeps him from being able to love his daughter unconditionally. Though he is stern and impatient with the headstrong Arachne, there are nevertheless moments when he is able to appreciate her uniqueness and tease her affectionately.	female	—	Male; Arachne’s father and a shepherd; any race; high baritone. An earthy and rugged man with a hard quality born of years of endurance, he is fearful of what others will think of him and his family, and this fear keeps him from being able to love his daughter unconditionally. Though he is stern and impatient with the headstrong Arachne, there are nevertheless moments when he is able to appreciate her uniqueness and tease her affectionately.
Athena Female; Goddess of Wisdom; a mother figure to Arachne; any race; mezzo-soprano belt. Athena is a larger-than-life diva whose actions, like Idmon’s, are motivated by unconscious fears. A narcissistic mother figure in Arachne’s life, she can cope with her feelings of jealousy about the girl’s beauty and talent only by attempting to take credit for fostering Arachne’s achievements. Yet Athena also symbolizes the unyielding nature of the universe, helping Arachne to learn that she cannot control the events that befall her; she can only control her response to those events. She is soulful and vibrant, with (like Arachne) a powerful presence.	female	—	Female; Goddess of Wisdom; a mother figure to Arachne; any race; mezzo-soprano belt. Athena is a larger-than-life diva whose actions, like Idmon’s, are motivated by unconscious fears. A narcissistic mother figure in Arachne’s life, she can cope with her feelings of jealousy about the girl’s beauty and talent only by attempting to take credit for fostering Arachne’s achievements. Yet Athena also symbolizes the unyielding nature of the universe, helping Arachne to learn that she cannot control the events that befall her; she can only control her response to those events. She is soulful and vibrant, with (like Arachne) a powerful presence.
Cosmo Male; Athena’s servant; he is an owl, and Athena’s familiar; any race; high baritone or tenor. A comic foil to the egotistical goddess, Cosmo is also sensitive and intelligent. Sarcastic when first seen, he grows into a warm and supportive presence in Arachne’s life until finally, through his gentle guidance, he helps Arachne reclaim her creativity. Cosmo is a butler type, bookish yet confident in his nerdiness.	female	—	Male; Athena’s servant; he is an owl, and Athena’s familiar; any race; high baritone or tenor. A comic foil to the egotistical goddess, Cosmo is also sensitive and intelligent. Sarcastic when first seen, he grows into a warm and supportive presence in Arachne’s life until finally, through his gentle guidance, he helps Arachne reclaim her creativity. Cosmo is a butler type, bookish yet confident in his nerdiness.
Arachne Female; a teenage artist; any race; soprano. Though on the surface she is confident and even at times abrasive, Arachne is vulnerable and eager to please, sincerely wishing for recognition of her talents while pretending to disdain a need for approval. Passionate about her convictions and her art, she also has a playful, witty and charming side when she lets her guard down. She has star quality, with a powerful, charismatic presence.	female	—	Female; a teenage artist; any race; soprano. Though on the surface she is confident and even at times abrasive, Arachne is vulnerable and eager to please, sincerely wishing for recognition of her talents while pretending to disdain a need for approval. Passionate about her convictions and her art, she also has a playful, witty and charming side when she lets her guard down. She has star quality, with a powerful, charismatic presence.