Get ready to be swept away by the innovative musical phenomenon taking TikTok by storm. Jorge Rivera-Herrans’s ‘Epic’ is a game-changing epic musical that’s breaking all the rules and redefining the art of storytelling.
The Rise of TikTok Musicals: How Epic is Changing the Game
Jorge Rivera-Herrans’s musical sensation, Epic, is just one of a series of works making a splash on the online platform. The project has already been an extraordinary success, with more monthly listeners on Spotify (1.6m) than veterans such as Morrissey, Liam Gallagher, or the Sex Pistols.
A New Era in Storytelling
Rivera-Herrans’s approach to creating Epic is unique. He wanted to bring a sense of community and collaboration to the storytelling process. Fans have been able to follow the creation of the musical in real-time, with Rivera-Herrans sharing updates and behind-the-scenes insights on TikTok.
The first songs were solo affairs, but Rivera-Herrans then held auditions on TikTok, with candidates posting their own videos singing along to his music. “I thought we were going to get maybe 30 auditions, but we had 1,000 video submissions by the end of the month,” he said.
Fan Participation and Engagement
Fans have also created their own animations to bring Epic’s songs to life. Rivera-Herrans relishes their interactions and is thrilled when fans pick up on subtle clues and motifs in the music. “It’s so awesome that people were able to [work it out],” he said. “We’re figuring out cool ways of doing storytelling as we do this, and it’s so exciting.”
The Future of Epic
After the final saga drops on Christmas Day, fans may get the answer to their question: will they get to see Epic on stage? Rivera-Herrans and his team are in talks with a “very high-level company” to make an animated movie, and with another to create a live-action stage show. Three video games are planned, with two already on the way.
Rivera-Herrans is open to all options, believing that each different version of Epic can convey different aspects of the story. “What is the next version of Epic that we put out into the world? I’m so open for all of the options,” he said.
The Impact on Musical Theatre
Fan participation in musical theatre has been growing since composers began sharing work on YouTube in about 2015, according to Clare Chandler, a senior lecturer in musical theatre at University of Lincoln‘s school of creative arts. The success of Epic and other TikTok musicals is changing the game for musical theatre, with shows like Be More Chill, Ratatouille, and The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical all achieving mainstream success after starting online.
As Rivera-Herrans puts it, “We’re figuring out cool ways of doing storytelling as we do this, and it’s so exciting.” The future of musical theatre looks bright, with TikTok at the forefront of innovation and collaboration.
