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cover art for Epic: The Musical (2024), with Wren Fleming

Movies We Dig | Film, Antiquity and Everything in Between

Epic: The Musical (2024), with Wren Fleming

Season 5

Social media may be a dumpster fire these days, but every once in a while it takes us by surprise. In this case, it’s a new take on Homer’s Odyssey as a concept album titled Epic with music and lyrics by Jorge “Jay” Rivera-Herrans. Bopping along to all the highs and lows of this musical experience is the lovely Wren Fleming, a writer and long time friend of the podcast. Maybe we’re all musical theater kids at heart, because this is one of our favorite examples of reception since, well, Hadestown. Now if we can just get it on stage, glasses-wearing Polites and all!


To learn more about Wren and her work with Hillfire Press check out the website and their Instagram page under the handle @hillfire_press.

As always, if you like what you hear, please be sure to rate, review, and subscribe to the show! Stay up-to-date on all the Movies We Dig news by visiting movieswedig.com or checking out our socials.


Movies We Dig is also part of Mnemosyne: The Memory Collective, a podcast network and creator collective for historians, archaeologists, artists, and other creators and educators dedicated to sharing content about and featuring the ancient world that is accurate, accessible, and inclusive. To learn more about the collective and its contributors, check out collectivemem.com.



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