synopsis
The Ninth Hour is 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 music
Development History
2023
Full album release (1M+ streams)
U.S. tour (NYC, Atlanta, LA, Chicago, Minneapolis)
UK concert debut / The Other Palace, London
Australia concert debut / The Great Club, Sydney
2022
Sold-out concert at Joe’s Pub, NYC
2021
EP Release (20K streams in the first week)
EP release show at Rockwood Music Hall
Concert performance in Times Square with Up Until Now Collective featured in ABC News’s “Bringing Broadway back” segment
2019
Performance at The Met Cloisters
2017
Johnny Mercer Writer's Colony at Goodspeed Musicals
Rhinebeck Writer's Retreat
2016
Johnny Mercer Writer's Colony at Goodspeed Musicals
The O'Neill Theater (July & October)
performance at the met
A version of The Ninth Hour debuted to sold out audiences on June 28, 2019 at the Met Cloisters. Watch the entire performance below.
Additional Development
The Ninth Hour is currently undergoing revisions, including expansion of roles of Grendel’s Mother. Below are two excerts from our concert at Joe’s Pub in September 2023 that include a new song “The Wanted” and re-imagining the song “Fate Goes” as a duet between Grendel’s Mother and Beowulf, featuring Grace McLean as the role of Grendel’s Mother.
trailers
Visual highlights from the Met Performance.
Press
One of the most exciting musical theater teams I've encountered in over 30 years.
-Donna Lynn Hilton, Goodspeed Musicals
The creators
Photo by Joey Sbarro
Kate Douglas
(Story, Music & Lyrics) is a writer, composer, and performer. Her work has been performed or developed at Second Stage Theater, Ancram Opera House, SPACE on Ryder Farm, Millay Arts, Colt Coeur, The Civilians, Rhinebeck Musicals, the Writer’s Colony at Goodspeed, and the New Musicals Lab at the Ferguson Center. She has over eight years of experience creating, writing and directing immersive, multidisciplinary events as Associate Artist at The McKittrick Hotel, home of Sleep No More, where she was also a performer. Additional performance credits include Third Rail’s The Grand Paradise, Kansas City Choir Boy starring Courtney Love and Todd Almond (Premiere and Tour) and Fernando Rubio’s Everything by my side (U.S. Premiere).
Photo by Errol Colandro
Shayfer James
(Story, Music & Lyrics) is an internationally touring singer- songwriter, pianist, and composer known for music that blends elements of pop, cabaret, classical, soul and rock. Shayfer has released nearly 70 original songs, garnering millions of streams per month and a globe-spanning fanbase. Most recently in early 2023, Shayfer toured the U.S., EU and UK in support of his new album Shipwreck. In addition to his theatrical work with Kate, Shayfer has written original music for theater and performance art showcased in London, Iceland, Hong Kong and New York and has written/performed the score for films premiering at SXSW, The Tribeca Film Festival and the North Bend Film Festival.
“A cool-hot collaboration not to be missed.”
— MARCY HEISLER, DRAMA DESK & LUCILLE LORTEL NOMINEE
