The accompanist and composer April Alsup once again brought her creative spark to Edinburgh this summer, leading the cast and crew of Absurd Hero onto the storied stage at Riddle’s Court. For the third consecutive year, her troupe was invited to perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, an honor that came with high expectations. Their previous production had earned a coveted four-star review and became a local sensation for its heartfelt portrayal of a theatre company banned from the festival. That show went on to receive six Broadway World regional nominations, including “Best New Musical,” and the excitement on both sides of the Atlantic was palpable when Alsup’s troupe announced they would return in 2025.
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| Kickoff meeting with Absurd Hero cast and crew |
Reinventing Sisyphus:
For this year’s production, Alsup guided her ensemble in an ambitious reinvention. Early discussions centered on how the new show could stand apart from their past two Fringe entries. The decision was to revisit her earlier work Sisyphus, which told the myth of the man condemned to roll a boulder up a hill in ancient Greece. In Absurd Hero, Alsup reframes Sisyphus through the lens of Albert Camus, transporting the myth to modern-day Columbus, Ohio. With Alsup’s trademark blend of wit, resilience, and Camusian philosophy, the troupe created a spectacle that was both intellectually daring and emotionally grounded. Clever marketing campaigns followed the company overseas, amplifying the sense of anticipation at the festival.
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| Absurd Hero cast and crew backstage at Riddles Court |
Critical Success:
The gamble paid off. On opening night, it became clear that Alsup and her team had struck gold once again. Scotland’s national newspaper, The Scotsman, awarded the production four stars and praised Alsup’s music as “strong, catchy, and uplifting.” Their review noted:
“With the way things are Stateside, a musical about community, determination, resilience, and love seems like a poignantly fitting response to more brutal measures currently being enacted by government. And you’ve got to hand it to Denver-based April Alsup Productions, who fill Greenside’s tiny stage with what feels like a whole town of singing, dancing actors (12 of them, in fact, plus a two-strong live music section) for Alsup’s strong, catchy and uplifting tunes.”
The review concluded, “Absurd Hero is a complex, richly imagined show whose energy and conviction blaze off the stage and one that dares to stand up for human warmth and compassion.”
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| Closing night picture in Willow Studio at Riddles Court |
A Denver Village Behind the Curtain:
Alsup is quick to remind audiences that theatrical triumph doesn’t happen in isolation. Mounting a new musical is a collective endeavor, and Denver’s thriving arts community provides the fertile ground needed to cultivate such work. Rehearsal spaces, local venues, theatre professionals, and supportive audiences form the village that allows Alsup’s vision to take shape and reach international stages. With Absurd Hero, April Alsup not only reaffirmed her reputation as a bold, thoughtful composer but also showcased how local artistry can resonate globally.
