If you’ve been anywhere near TikTok or Spotify in the last few years, you’ve heard the thunder. You’ve heard the clashing of swords and the soaring, desperate belt of a man just trying to get home to his wife. Jorge Rivera-Herrans didn’t just write a concept album; he sparked a global obsession. Epic: The Musical is a sprawling, multi-saga retelling of Homer’s Odyssey, and honestly, the way it handles its characters is why it’s currently dominating the charts. It’s not just a Greek myth. It’s a character study on what happens when a "good man" is forced to become a monster.
Let’s be real. Following all Epic: The Musical characters can be a bit like trying to navigate the literal Mediterranean during a storm. There are gods, monsters, soldiers, and ghosts, all voiced by a cast that seems to have been plucked directly from Olympus.
Odysseus: The Man of Many Sorrows (and many mistakes)
Odysseus is the heart of the show, voiced by the creator himself, Jorge Rivera-Herrans. If you think you know the stoic hero from your high school English class, think again. In Epic, Odysseus is a man drowning in his own empathy. At the start, in the Troy Saga, he’s trying to spare lives. He doesn’t want to kill Astyanax. He’s looking for a way out that doesn't involve blood.
But the world of the Aegean doesn't care about your feelings. By the time we hit the Thunder Saga, Odysseus has shifted. He’s no longer the man who warns his crew about the Lotus Eaters; he’s the man who chooses to sacrifice six of his own men to Scylla to ensure his own survival. It’s a brutal, jagged character arc. Rivera-Herrans uses a specific musical motif for Odysseus—a quick, calculating rhythmic pattern—that shows his "mind in motion." When he’s being clever, the music reflects it. When he’s broken, the silence is deafening.
You’ve probably seen the debates online. Is he a villain? Honestly, Epic argues he’s just a father who stayed away too long.
The Crew: Polites and Eurylochus
The dynamic between Polites and Eurylochus is the emotional engine of the first half of the musical.
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Polites, voiced by Steven Dookie, is the "Open Arms" of the story. He represents the version of Odysseus that could have stayed soft. His death at the hands of the Cyclops, Polyphemus, is the turning point for the entire show. It’s the moment the "Open Arms" philosophy dies.
Then there’s Eurylochus, voiced originally by Armando Julián. He’s the pragmatist. He’s the guy who sees a giant cave and says, "Maybe we shouldn't go in there." He is the foil to Odysseus’s ego. In "Luck Runs Out," Eurylochus calls Odysseus out on his recklessness. It’s a tense, grounded performance that reminds the audience that while Odysseus is a "hero," the men under his command are just people who want to see their families. Their conflict reaches a boiling point in the Cattle of the Sun arc, where Eurylochus finally breaks, leading to the crew's tragic end.
The Gods: Power, Pride, and Petty Beefs
The gods in Epic aren't just background fluff. They are the obstacles.
- Athena: Voiced by Teagan Earley. She starts as a mentor, a cold, calculating goddess who values wisdom over everything. Her fallout with Odysseus in "My Goodbye" is legendary. It’s one of the most vocally demanding roles in the show, requiring a mix of operatic power and conversational grit.
- Poseidon: Steven Rodriguez brings a terrifying, gravelly bass to the King of the Sea. His song "Ruthlessness" changed the fandom. It’s the thesis statement for the middle of the musical: "Ruthlessness is mercy upon ourselves." He isn't just a monster; he's an environmental force of nature that Odysseus mistakenly provoked.
- Hermes: Troy Doherty brings a chaotic, Broadway-flair energy to the messenger god. "Wouldn't You Like" is arguably the catchiest song in the Circe Saga, providing a much-needed break from the gloom.
- Zeus: Luke Holt. When Zeus speaks, the bass in your speakers should rattle. In "The Horse and the Infant" and "Thunder Bringer," he represents the ultimate, uncaring authority of the universe.
The Women of the Odyssey: More Than Just Tropes
One of the best things Rivera-Herrans did with all Epic: The Musical characters was giving the women agency and distinct musical identities.
Circe, played by Talya Sindel, isn't just a "wicked witch." In the Circe Saga, she’s a protector. Her music is synth-heavy, magical, and seductive, but there’s a layer of trauma there. She turns men into pigs because she knows what men are capable of. Her duet with Odysseus shows a rare moment of two intellectuals finding a middle ground.
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Then we have Penelope. Even though she’s mostly been in the background in the early sagas (voiced by Anna P. Mae), her presence looms over every note. She is the goal. She represents the "home" that Odysseus is losing his soul to reach. In the Wisdom Saga, her role expands, showing a woman who has had to be just as "cunning" as her husband to survive twenty years of suitors.
Calypso, voiced by Milena Tscharntke, brings a chillingly sweet obsession to the Calypso Saga. "Love in Paradise" sounds like a lullaby, but it’s actually a prison sentence. It’s a brilliant bit of subversion.
The Monsters and the Ghosts
We have to talk about Scylla and The Prophet.
Scylla (voiced by Casidhe McClone) is a nightmare realized in audio. The "Scylla" track uses vocal layering to simulate her six heads, creating a disorienting, terrifying wall of sound. It’s one of the few times the musical leans into true horror.
In the Underworld Saga, we meet the Tiresias, the blind prophet (voiced by Mason Olshavsky). His performance in "No Longer You" is a masterclass in foreshadowing. He tells Odysseus that the man who eventually returns to Ithaca won't be the man who left Troy. It’s a haunting prophecy that sets the stage for the finale.
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Why the Casting Works
What’s wild about this project is that it was cast largely through social media. Rivera-Herrans found these voices on TikTok and Instagram. This gave the show a "community" feel that traditional Broadway often lacks. These performers aren't just reading lines; they’ve lived with these characters for years as the sagas were slowly released.
The musical utilizes "leitmotifs"—specific instruments or melodies attached to characters.
- Athena has the piano.
- Hermes has the harp and upbeat brass.
- Poseidon has the distorted, heavy bass and cello.
- Odysseus has the guitar and electronics.
Actionable Steps for New Listeners
If you’re just diving into the world of all Epic: The Musical characters, don't just hit shuffle on Spotify. You’ll be lost.
- Listen in Saga Order: Start with the Troy Saga, then Cyclops, Ocean, Aeolus, Circe, The Underworld, Thunder, and Wisdom. The story is chronological.
- Watch the "Animatics": Since the musical isn't staged yet, the community has created incredible animations on YouTube (shoutout to artists like WolfyTheWitch and Gigi). These help you visualize the characters and their movements.
- Follow the Lore: Jorge Rivera-Herrans is incredibly transparent on TikTok (@jorge_rivera_herrans). He explains the "why" behind every character's decision, which adds layers to the listening experience.
- Pay Attention to the Instruments: If you hear a piano melody during a scene where Athena isn't talking, it means she’s watching. The music tells the story as much as the lyrics do.
Understanding the cast of Epic is about understanding the cost of a journey. Every character Odysseus meets takes a little piece of him, or forces him to grow a thicker skin. By the time the final saga drops, the list of characters will be a list of casualties and lessons. It’s a tragedy, a triumph, and a damn good playlist.