Classic tales are getting a fresh take in Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park's 41st season

Although the ancient Greek poet Homer composed it around the eighth century BCE, the epic tale "The Odyssey" is having a moment, as we say in the 21st century.

Last year's movie "The Return" covered the last sections of Odysseus' (Ralph Fiennes) 20-year post-war trek to get back home to his wife, Queen Penelope (Juliette Binoche), while Oscar-winning filmmaker Christopher Nolan is assembling an all-star cast, including Matt Damon , Tom Holland, Mia Goth, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong'o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron and more, for his 2026 cinematic version of "The Odyssey," a globe-trotting production that promises to bring "Homer's foundational saga to Imax film screens for the first time."

"It's still relevant ... because we're all on this journey, right?" said Oklahoma actress Amanda Lee . "We're all on our own journeys ... through life."

To open Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park's 41st season , Lee is starring in the state premiere of "Penelope," composer Alex Bechtel's new musical re-telling of "The Odyssey" created for one actor and five musicians.

While "The Odyssey" and most of its adaptations focus on Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, and his perilous 10-year journey to get back to his Greek island home after a decade of fighting in the Trojan War, the new show tells the tale from the perspective of the wife he left behind.

"Historically, all the stories are written from a man's perspective and directed by a man and talked about a man and his journey. Now, we're coming upon this era where ... we're realizing that women have a perspective, too, and we want to learn what that is," Lee said.

"So, on a deeper level, this is relevant because, 'Wait a minute, Odysseus had a wife. What was she doing at home for 20 years? Maybe it's time that we look into that and dive a little bit deeper into all these stories and learn more about the female perspective.'"

With performances Feb. 20-March 2 inside Oklahoma Shakespeare's indoor black-box theater in the Paseo Arts District, "Penelope" will launch the venerable Oklahoma City professional theater's seven-show 2025 lineup, the first full season for new Executive Artistic Director Tyler Woods .

Here's what Oklahoma Shakespeare has planned for its 41st season:

'Penelope'

When and where:Feb. 20-March 2, Oklahoma Shakespeare's indoor black-box theater, 2920 Paseo.

With music, lyrics and arrangements by Bechtel, plus a book by Bechtel, Grace McLean and Eva Steinmetz, "Penelope" had its world premiere in 2023 at the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival in New York. With at least three productions planned this year, the hot new show explores the titular character's heartache and resilience as she yearns for her husband's homecoming, while ruling Ithaca in Odysseus' absence, raising their son, Telemachus, and fending off hordes of unruly suitors vying for her hand.

It's the first musical Oklahoma Shakespeare has staged in the theater's four-decade history, said Woods, who has worked with the company since 1998 but took the helm after founding Executive Artistic Director Kathryn McGill retired last year.

"We've always wanted to do a musical, and Amanda came along and said, 'Hey, I've got this friend who wrote this new musical called "Penelope." It's about Penelope and Odysseus and the Trojan War.' So, we thought, 'Well, this is up our alley, because it's classical,'" said Woods, who is directing.

"'Penelope' is a one-woman show with five members in the orchestra — and that's it. It's a chamber piece, so it's sort of low impact. It's a good starter for doing a musical. ... The music's incredible. The story is fantastic, and there's all these movies coming out now, by the way, about 'The Odyssey.'"

For Oklahoma Shakespeare, Lee has previously starred as Beatrice in "Much Ado About Nothing," Vanda in "Venus in Fur" and Marie Antoinette in "The Revolutionists."

"In true musical fashion, if you're feeling too much about something to say it, you're gonna have to sing it. So, that's where all these songs come from in 'Penelope:' She deals with anger at the gods for not helping her, her despair at not having her husband there and her frustration with the suitors," Lee said.

"How does she handle the loneliness? How does she deal with the responsibilities of the house, of life, of doing all of this without a partner? And Penelope still loves him and hopes for his return. ... And I hope what I bring to it is this sense of truth and really open-hearted vulnerability that I like to see on the stage."

'The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised] [again]'

When and where:April 17-27, Oklahoma Shakespeare's indoor Paseo theater.

Comics Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield, who honed their pass-the-hat act at Renaissance fairs, premiered their irreverent hit in 1987 at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland.

Featuring all 37 of William Shakespeare's plays , the fast-paced 97-minute mashup became a worldwide phenomenon, earning the title of London's longest-running comedy after a decade at the Criterion Theatre.

Under the direction of Oklahoma State University assistant theater professor David Weber , favorite local performers Kris Kuss, Holly McNatt and Wil Rogers will star in Oklahoma Shakespeare's spring staging of one of the world's most frequently produced plays.

"This is the third iteration, which is really cool, that they've kept revising it and updating it," Woods said. "It's a crowd-pleaser ... and it's going to be a great cast."

'The Merry Wives of Windsor'

When and where:June 5-15, Shakespeare Gardens Outdoor Theatre, 2920 Paseo.

Recently named one of Oklahoma Shakespeare's artistic associates, Kuss will direct The Bard's situation comedy, which centers on the famously philandering Sir John Falstaff and his amorous misadventures in small-town England.

D. Lance Marsh , who is in his 15th year as Oklahoma Shakespeare's associate artistic director , will star as the roguish Falstaff.

"Lance and I had talked for a long time about a role that he wanted to play, and Falstaff came up and seemed like a fun, natural fit," Woods said. "I think he'll be great ... and it's going to be another fun cast."

The venerable company last performed "The Merry Wives of Windsor" in 2011 .

'Love's Labour's Lost'

When and where:Aug. 7-17, Shakespeare Gardens Outdoor Theatre.

OKC actor, director and playwright Erin Woods , who is also Tyler Woods' wife, will direct Shakespeare's heartwarming play about love in the most "inconvenient" times.

"It's Erin's favorite ... and I love the play, too. It's such a smart play and a sweet play," Tyler Woods said.

One of The Bard's early comedies, "Love's Labour's Lost" follows the adventures of the King of Navarre and his three lords, who have sworn off women for three years. When the beautiful Princess of France and her three ladies arrive on a political mission, their vows are sorely tested.

"It's been 20 years since OSP has done it ... and I don't really know why it's been so long. Same with 'Merry Wives,'" Tyler Woods said. "They're two comedies, which I just think everyone needs some laughs right now."

'The Lion in Winter'

When and where:Oct. 9-19, Oklahoma Shakespeare's indoor Paseo theater.

James Goldman's comedic 1966 historical drama portrays the political and personal conflicts of Henry II of England, his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, their children and guests during Christmas 1183.

"It's a title that's come up a lot. People have suggested it to us a lot. But we've never done it," Woods said.

The queen, who's also the wealthiest woman in the world, has been imprisoned since raising an army against her husband, and she is let out only for holidays. As she rejoins the royal family for Christmas, they fight over the kingdom and King Henry's paramour.

"The Lion in Winter" was famously adapted into an Oscar-winning 1968 film starring Peter O'Toole and Katharine Hepburn, with Anthony Hopkins in his cinematic debut.

Oklahoma Shakespeare Associate Artistic Director Alissa Branch will co-star in the production with her partner, singer-songwriter and actor Tim Grimm, while University of Oklahoma theater professor Seth Gordon directs.

'An Actor's Carol'

When and where:Nov. 28-29, Oklahoma Shakespeare's indoor Paseo theater.

Also an Oklahoma Shakespeare artistic associate, Weber last year gave a local one-off performance of his one-man version of Charles Dickens' classic "A Christmas Carol ." Described as "one clown's Dickensian marathon toward redemption," the holiday show pushes the boundaries of traditional storytelling by incorporating elements of vaudeville, clown and mime.

"It's a fantastic show. He created it with some friends ... and he does a tour of it. He went this (past) year to Chicago and Los Angeles and back East. But he was like, 'Hey, can I just do one night here?' And we thought, 'Yeah, let's do it.' Then, it went so well that we scheduled him for two nights this year," Woods said. "It's really innovative, it's sweet, it's thoughtful. ... It's very personal to him, but it's also very faithful to the story."

'Jane Austen's Christmas Cracker'

When and where:Dec. 4-21, Oklahoma Shakespeare's indoor Paseo theater.

Adapted by Erin Woods from the iconic English novelist's books and family letters, the festive, family-friendly show has become a hit holiday tradition for Oklahoma Shakespeare .

A unique yuletide experience, "Jane Austen's Christmas Cracker" is part Regency Era holiday party, part theatrical performance, part improvisational theater and part historical re-enactment.

"It's our perennial favorite ... and it will sell out all 12 shows," Tyler Woods said.

For tickets and information, go to https://www.okshakes.org .

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park is launching its seven show 2025 lineup