The new musical, which features music by Lon Hoyt and book and lyrics by Richie Chevat, is the story of Hercules’ mortal half-brother, Demicles, and his quest to become a god.

Matt Lenz directs a cast that includes Jarrod Spector as Demicles, Jessica Vosk as Calliope, Steel Burkhardt as Hercules, Kate Rockwell as Aphrodite, Evan Cory Zimmerman as Hermes and Christine DiGiallonardo as the Shepherdess as well as Steven Booth, Victoria Lecta Cave, Lindsay Chambers, Ken Clark, Mykal Kilgore, Rashidra Scott and Seth Tucker.

Music director is Seth Farber.

"When Demicles and Hercules both say they want to become gods, Zeus declares a contest between the two," according to press notes. "Aided by gods and demigods, they each must kill a Many-Headed Hydra, defeat the Furies, make it through the Valley of the Amazons, hold the sky on their shoulders and retrieve a golden apple from the Garden of Hera. While singing and dancing. Only Demicles seems to see the basic unfairness of this competition, but as the gods keep telling him, if you can't keep up with Hercules, It's Your Own Damn Fault."

Industry folk interested in attending the reading should e-mail [email protected].