The Ninth Hour: A Beowulf for the Modern Age

In collaboration with Millay Arts, we are excited to present The Ninth Hour, a rock-noir reimagining of the epic poem Beowulf that explores the intricacies of humankind’s relationship with power and violence. This is a classic story of glory and ruin as told through triumphant pop anthems, heart-wrenching lullabies, heroes, and monsters.

A hero, summoned to be a protector against a relentless enemy, must confront the evil within herself as a monster comes to terms with the agony of isolation at his life’s end. The production had its sold-out premiere at The Met Cloisters. At the Academy, Shayfer James and Kate Douglas will perform all the songs from their musical in an intimate duo format, which will be followed by a Q&A.

Kate Douglas is a writer, composer, and performer. Her work has been developed at Second Stage Theater, SPACE on Ryder Farm, Millay Arts, The Civilians R&D Group, Rhinebeck Musicals, the Writer’s Colony at Goodspeed, and the New Musicals Lab at the Ferguson Center.

Shayfer James is an internationally touring songwriter, theatrical/film composer, producer, and performer. He has composed, co-created, and performed immersive theater works in Iceland, London, NYC, and Jersey City and developed theatrical works at Rhinebeck Musicals, the Writer’s Colony at Goodspeed, and The O’Neill Theater Center. His song “For Departed” has surpassed ten million streams on Spotify and his catalog boasts nearly two million
streams per month on the service.