Product Code Database
Example Keywords: take -data $26
barcode-scavenger
   » » Wiki: Hadestown
Tag Wiki 'Hadestown'.
Tag

Hadestown is a with music, lyrics, and a book by Anaïs Mitchell. It tells a version of the of Orpheus and Eurydice. , a young girl looking for something to eat, goes to work in a hellish industrial version of the to escape poverty and the cold, and her poor singer-songwriter lover comes to rescue her.

The original version of the musical was performed in the town of Barre, Vermont, in 2006, followed by Vergennes, Vermont the same year and a tour in Vermont and Massachusetts in 2007. Mitchell, unsure about the future of the musical, turned it into a concept album, released in 2010.

In 2012, Mitchell met director , and the two reworked the stage version, with additional songs and dialogue. The new version of the musical, directed by Chavkin, premiered at New York Theatre Workshop on May 6, 2016, and ran through July 31. Following productions in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and London, England, the show premiered on in 2019. The Broadway production received critical acclaim. At the 73rd Tony Awards, Hadestown received 14 nominations (the most that year) and won eight, including Best Musical and Best Original Score.


Synopsis

Act I
The Greek god welcomes the audience to the show, introducing the story, characters, ensemble, and band ("Road to Hell"). This is followed by and the describing the harsh weather and famine of the setting ("Any Way the Wind Blows"). , Hermes' ward, introduces himself to Eurydice and asks her to marry him ("Come Home With Me"). Eurydice is doubtful as they both live in poverty. Orpheus tells her that he is writing a song to make spring come again, and they will no longer have to struggle ("Wedding Song").

Orpheus tells the story of Hades and Persephone ("Epic I"). arrives in the world above and celebrates summertime ("Livin' it Up on Top"), while Eurydice begins to truly fall in love with Orpheus ("All I've Ever Known"). comes early to collect Persephone, and she voices her misery of having to return to Hadestown, Hades' underground factory. Despite hearing about the never-ending labor endured by the factory workers, Eurydice is intrigued by the rich praises sung by the Fates as well as the promise of protection that Hadestown offers ("Way Down Hadestown"). The cold weather returns and Eurydice searches for food and firewood, urging Orpheus to finish his song ("A Gathering Storm"). Orpheus continues working on his song ("Epic II"), as Eurydice becomes more desperate as times grow harder.

After Persephone and Hades argue ("Chant"), Hades leaves Hadestown to find someone who will appreciate its safety and security. He comes across a desperate Eurydice and invites her to come to Hadestown ("Hey, Little Songbird") and the Fates urge Eurydice to join him ("When the Chips Are Down"). With the cold surging and an empty stomach, Eurydice sees no other choice except following Hades. She bids goodbye to Orpheus before heading to Hadestown as the Fates chastise the audience for judging her for choosing self-interest over love ("Gone, I'm Gone"). Orpheus discovers Eurydice's disappearance, and decides to rescue her from Hadestown. He sets off on his journey using Hermes' instructions on how to get to Hadestown without the use of the train ("Wait for Me"). Eurydice arrives in Hadestown and signs the contract, officially becoming a worker as Hades revels in his power and dominion over the denizens of his city ("Why We Build the Wall").


Act II
In an entr'acte, Persephone sings to the patrons of a that she runs behind Hades's back ("Our Lady of the Underground"). Eurydice begins to realize the consequences of her choice to go to Hadestown: she will soon become a forgotten laborer and can never leave unless Hades consents to let her go ("Way Down Hadestown (Reprise)"). She forgets her memories of the world above ("Flowers").

Orpheus arrives in Hadestown and promises Eurydice that he will take her home with him ("Come Home with Me (Reprise)"). Hades appears and reveals to him that Eurydice willingly signed the contract, which Eurydice regretfully confirms ("Papers"). Hades orders the workers to attack Orpheus and the Fates tell him to give up hope ("Nothing Changes"). Orpheus vows to find a way to free Eurydice, rallying the workers and catching Persephone's attention in the process ("If It's True").

Persephone is inspired by Orpheus's determination and pleads with Hades to let Eurydice go ("How Long?"). While the workers begin to truly question the freedom they were promised, Hades bitterly offers Orpheus a chance to sing his completed song, threatening to kill him afterwards ("Chant (Reprise)"). Orpheus sings his song, reminding Hades of his love for Persephone ("Epic III"). Hades and Persephone reconcile with a dance, after which Orpheus and Eurydice promise to stay together no matter how hard ("Promises"). Orpheus asks Hades if they may leave, and Hades tells him that he has not reached a decision. The Fates taunt Hades for his dilemma: If he kills Orpheus and keeps Eurydice captive, they become martyrs, but if he lets them go, he loses control over his workers as they have begun to agitate for their freedom ("Word to the Wise"). Hades decides to let Orpheus and Eurydice go on one condition: Orpheus must lead them out. If he turns around to confirm that Eurydice is following him, she will return to Hadestown and remain there forever ("His Kiss, the Riot").

Hermes explains the condition to Orpheus and Eurydice, and they begin heading out with the workers looking to them for hope. Persephone and Hades decide to give their relationship another chance ("Wait for Me (Reprise)"). Just as Orpheus makes it up to the end, he is overcome by doubt and turns around, condemning Eurydice to return to Hadestown ("Doubt Comes In"). Hermes reflects on the somber tale and why it must be told, as the story resets to the beginning and the company begins to tell it again ("Road to Hell (Reprise)"). After the bows at , the cast honors Orpheus for his optimism and bravery ("We Raise Our Cups").


Musical numbers
Source:

Act I
  • "Road to Hell" – Hermes, Company
  • "Any Way the Wind Blows" – Eurydice, The Fates
  • "Come Home With Me" – Orpheus, Eurydice, Hermes, Workers
  • "Wedding Song" – Orpheus, Eurydice, Workers
  • "Epic I" – Orpheus, Hermes
  • "Livin' it Up on Top" – Persephone, Hermes, Orpheus, Company
  • "All I've Ever Known" – Eurydice, Orpheus
  • "Way Down Hadestown" – Company
  • "A Gathering Storm" – Hermes, Orpheus, Eurydice, The Fates
  • "Epic II" – Orpheus
  • "Chant" – Company
  • "Hey, Little Songbird" – Hades, Eurydice
  • "When the Chips Are Down" – The Fates, Eurydice
  • "Gone, I'm Gone" – Eurydice, The Fates
  • "Wait for Me" – Hermes, Orpheus, The Fates, Workers
  • "Why We Build the Wall" – Hades, Company

Act II
  • "Our Lady of the Underground" – Persephone
  • "Way Down Hadestown (reprise)" – Hermes, The Fates, Eurydice, Workers
  • "Flowers" – Eurydice
  • "Come Home With Me (reprise)" – Orpheus, Eurydice
  • "Papers" – Hades, Company
  • "Nothing Changes" – The Fates
  • "If It's True" – Orpheus, Hermes, Workers
  • "How Long?" – Persephone, Hades
  • "Chant (reprise)" – Company
  • "Epic III" – Orpheus, Company
  • "Promises" – Eurydice, Orpheus
  • "Word to the Wise" – The Fates
  • "His Kiss, the Riot" – Hades
  • "Wait for Me (reprise)" – Hermes, Company
  • "Doubt Comes In" – Orpheus, Eurydice, The Fates, Workers
  • "Road to Hell (reprise)" – Hermes, Company
  • "We Raise our Cups" – Persephone, Eurydice, Company


Productions

Early version (2006–2007); concept album (2010)
An early version of Hadestown was performed in the cities of Barre and Vergennes, Vermont in 2006, before going into a seven-day, ten-city tour in Mitchell's home state of Vermont and Massachusetts in 2007. Mitchell described the first incarnation of the show as "a D.I.Y. theatre project". The creative team included director/designer Ben T. Matchstick and orchestrator/arranger , with a cast drawn from artists in Vermont, including Mitchell as Eurydice and Matchstick as Hermes. Unsure of the future of the stage version, Mitchell released a concept album in 2010.


Off-Broadway (2016)
After watching a production of Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 directed by in 2012, Mitchell and Chavkin discussed gaps in the concept album's storyline and began to expand the stage version of the musical. Mitchell wrote an additional 15 songs and added dialogue to clarify the plot and deepen characterization. contributed additional/co-arrangements and orchestrations to Chorney's. Hadestown premiered at New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW), running from May 3, 2016, through July 31. The production starred as Orpheus, Nabiyah Be as Eurydice, as Persephone, as Hades, Chris Sullivan as Hermes, and Lulu Fall, Jessie Shelton, and as the Fates. On October 14, 2016, an EP was released featuring four songs from the musical, recorded live on June 28 and 29, 2016. A full live album was released on October 6, 2017.

The production was featured in the documentary series Working in the Theatre produced by the American Theatre Wing.


Canada (2017)
Hadestown was presented as a pre-Broadway tryout as part of the 2017/2018 season at in , , Canada. Chavkin again directed, with performances from November 11 to December 3, 2017, with Gray and Page reprising their roles from NYTW. The production was presented in collaboration with Mara Isaacs and Dale Franzen, who produced the off-Broadway run. The production also started as Orpheus, T.V. Carpio as Eurydice, and Kingsley Leggs as Hermes.


London (2018)
Hadestown was next performed in the Olivier Theatre of the National Theatre in London, running from November 2018 to January 2019. Designers included (sets), Michael Krass (costumes), Bradley King (lighting), and Nevin Steinberg and (sound). David Neumann choreographed. Page, Gray, and Carney reprised their previous roles, joined by , André De Shields, Carly Mercedes Dyer, Rosie Fletcher, and Gloria Onitiri.


Broadway (2019–present)
Hadestown opened on Broadway at the Walter Kerr Theatre, with previews beginning on March 22, 2019, and an official opening on April 17, 2019. Page, Gray, De Shields, Carney, and Noblezada reprised their roles, joined by Jewelle Blackman, Yvette González-Nacer and Kay Trinidad. The Broadway production was produced by Mara Isaacs, Dale Franzen, Hunter Arnold and . Designs were again by Hauck (sets), Krass (costumes), King (lighting), Steinberg and Paz (sound), and Neumann again choreographed. On March 12, 2020, performances were suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The musical resumed performances on September 2, 2021. On January 4, 2023, Hadestown became the longest-running show at the Walter Kerr Theatre with 918 performances.


North American national tour (2021–2024)
A national tour was planned for 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tour was postponed to 2021. It launched at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., where it ran for three weeks starting October 15, 2021. Prior to the launch, the production had a tryout at the in Greenville, South Carolina, from October 5 to 10, 2021. The tour starred Nicholas Barasch as Orpheus, Morgan Siobhan Green as Eurydice, as Hades, Kimberly Marable as Persephone, as Hermes, and Belén Moyano, Bex Odorisio, and Shea Renne as the Fates. The tour closed on May 26, 2024 in , Ontario, Canada, after more than 980 performances in 85 cities across the U.S. and Canada.Gans, Andrew. "New North American Tour of Hadestown Launches October 3", Playbill, October 3, 2024


North American national tour (2024–present)
A non-Equity national tour began on October 3, 2024 at the Palace Theater in Waterbury, Connecticut. It is directed by Keenan Tyler Oliphant and choreographed by T. Oliver Reid. Performances are scheduled until at least June 2026. " Hadestown: Tour dates", Hadestown Broadway LLC. Retrieved April 22, 2025


South Korea
A South Korean production of Hadestown ran from August 2021 to February 2022, at the in . This Korean-language production starred Zo Hyung-gyun, , and rotating as Orpheus, and Kim Hwan-hee and Kim Soo-ha rotating as Eurydice. The production won Best Musical at the Korea Musical Awards. The musical returned to South Korea from July 12, 2024 and was expected to play until October 6 at the Charlotte Theater in Seoul. Hyung-gyun and Park reprised the role of Orpheus, with Kim Min-seok. Hwan-hee and Soo-ha reprised their roles as Eurydice.


West End (2024–present)
Hadestown began previews on February 10, 2024, in the West End with an official opening on February 21, at the Lyric Theatre, London.Gans, Andrew. " Hadestown Opens in the West End February 21", Playbill, February 21, 2024 The cast includes Dónal Finn as Orpheus, Grace Hodgett Young as Eurydice, as Hades, Melanie La Barrie as Hermes, and Gloria Onitiri as Persephone. The production is scheduled to run to at least February 15, 2026. A live cast recording was released on December 6, 2024.

Five of the original London and Broadway cast members, Carney, Noblezada, Page, Gray and De Shields, were set to reprise their roles in the West End production for five weeks in February and March 2025. Tickets sold out for this cast’s return in "a matter of hours". After Page was injured during rehearsals, however, stepped into the role, joining the other four. Page returned only for the filming of the production with this cast on February 28 and March 1, 2025.Gans, Andrew. "Patrick Page Will Play Filmed Performances of West End Hadestown But No Other Shows", Playbill, February 18, 2025


Australia (2025)
A production opened in , Australia, at the Theatre Royal, on February 14, 2025, co-produced by .Noble, Guy. "Guy Noble’s Soapbox: Musicals Australia?", Limelight, 24 March, 2025 The cast included as Hermes, Noah Mullins as Orpheus, Abigail Adriano as Eurydice, Adrian Tamburini as Hades and Elenoa Rokobaro as Persephone. The production closed in Sydney on April 26 and opened at Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne on May 8 and is scheduled to play until July 13, 2025.


Netherlands (2025)
A staging opened in , Netherlands, at the Royal Theater Carré on June 20, 2025. The cast includes Claudia de Breij and as Hermes, as Orpheus, Sara Afiba as Eurydice, Edwin Jonker as Hades and Joy Wielkens as Persephone. It is scheduled to play until August 24, 2025.


Casts
Original casts of original production and major-market revivals of Hadestown


Notable replacements
Broadway (2019–)
North American Tour (2021–)
  • Persephone: Maria-Christina Oliveras,
  • Hermes: Nathan Lee Graham
West End (2024–)


Recordings
Mitchell's 2007 album contains the song "Hades & Persephone", which was renamed "How Long?" for the musical. Mitchell released a concept album, based on the musical, on March 9, 2010, through Righteous Babe Records. A live of the off-Broadway production was released on October 6, 2017, through Parlophone Records. A four-track EP entitled Why We Build the Wall (Selections from Hadestown . The Myth. The Musical. Live Original Cast Recording) was released for digital retailers on October 13, 2016, to promotion the album.

A cast recording was released digitally on July 26, 2019, through Sing It Again Records. The two-CD recording was available at a later date. A holiday album recorded by Blackman, Gonzalez-Nacer and Trinidad titled If the Fates Allow, was released on November 20, 2020, and features guest contributions from the other original cast members.

A live recording of selections from the West End production was released on December 6, 2024 on streaming, CD and vinyl.


Themes
Writer Anaïs Mitchell said she was inspired by Les Misérables to write a musical that was about the power of both romance and politics: "It's a love story, but politics really is romantic."

Director said addressing climate change had always been central to the show: "As we thought more and more about shaping the world that Eurydice and Orpheus are living in — a world caused, in Greek mythological terms, by the decay of the ancient marriage between Hades and Persephone, a world that is out of balance, where it is either freezing or blazing hot, where food becomes scarcer and the idea of stability becomes harder to imagine, and a character, Eurydice, who has spent her life running – all of those things kind of crystallized while we were making the show." The show did a joint promotion with Natural Resources Defense Council to raise awareness and bring a greater sense of urgency to the push for action on the issue of climate change.

US cultural commentator Bridget Read highlights the economic themes: "Orpheus and Eurydice's tragedy becomes, in the hands of Mitchell, an argument for collective bargaining...I don't think its untoward of me to hear the class politics in a musical in which the characters sing the word poverty more times than I've ever heard it before in the vicinity of Times Square." In China, The Paper has published a review of Hadestown, "The Realm Underneath: Hadestown and Utopia" (冥界: 地狱镇与乌托邦) by historian Hansong Li (李汉松), who frames the musical as a work of not only musical ingenuity but also social critique.

Todd Osborne comments on the self-conscious significance of the medium of song within the work: "It is a musical both about how art can save us and how, especially in an apocalyptic world, hope might be the only thing we have left."


Reception
The New York Times described the Off-Broadway production as "inventive" and "gorgeously sung", praising its simplicity and intimacy. The Hollywood Reporter described the added dialogue as "wince-inducing" but favored its high energy and immersive staging. Several reviews drew parallels between the song "Why We Build the Wall" and 's 2016 presidential campaign, though the song predates the campaign by about a decade.

The production opened on Broadway on April 17, 2019, to critical acclaim, with praise for its direction and the performance of André De Shields. The New York Times called it "gorgeous" and "hypnotic", especially noting its improvement from the New York Theatre Workshop version. David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter calls it "utterly fabulous", in particular praising the performances of Gray and Page.

Japanese producer Madoka Imura (井村まどか) and theatre journalist Yusei Kageyama (影山雄成) praised the musical for its novelty and creativity, in contrast to a recent trend in Broadway to "avoid risks" by adapting films and recasting classics.


Awards and nominations

Off-Broadway production
2016American Academy of Arts and LettersRichard Rodgers Award for Musical Theater
2017Drama Desk AwardsOutstanding Musical
Outstanding Lighting Design for a MusicalBradley King
Drama League AwardsOutstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical
Lucille Lortel AwardsOutstanding Musical
Outstanding ChoreographerDavid Neumann
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical
Outstanding Featured Actor in a MusicalChris Sullivan
Outstanding Scenic Design
Outstanding Sound DesignRobert Kaplowitz
Outer Critics Circle AwardsOutstanding New Off-Broadway Musical
Off-Broadway Alliance AwardsBest New Musical


Edmonton production
2018Elizabeth Sterling Haynes AwardTimothy Ryan Award for Outstanding Production of a Musical
Outstanding Director
Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
Outstanding Set DesignRachel Hauck
Outstanding Costume DesignMichael Krass
Outstanding Lighting DesignBradley King
Outstanding Musical DirectorLiam Robinson
Outstanding Choreography or Fight DirectionDavid Neumann


Broadway production
2019Best Musical
Best Book of a MusicalAnaïs Mitchell
Best Original Score
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a MusicalAndré De Shields
Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Best Scenic Design in a MusicalRachel Hauck
Best Costume Design in a MusicalMichael Krass
Best Lighting Design in a MusicalBradley King
Best Sound Design of a MusicalNevin Steinberg and Jessica Paz
Best Direction of a Musical
Best ChoreographyDavid Neumann
Best Orchestrations and
Drama Desk AwardsOutstanding Featured Actor in a MusicalAndré De Shields
Outstanding Director of a Musical
Outstanding ChoreographyDavid Neumann
Outstanding Scenic Design for a MusicalRachel Hauck
Outstanding Costume Design for a MusicalMichael Krass
Outstanding Lighting Design for a MusicalBradley King
Outstanding Sound Design in a MusicalNevin Steinberg and Jessica Paz
Drama League AwardsOutstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical
Distinguished Performance Award
André De Shields
Outer Critics Circle AwardsOutstanding New Broadway Musical
Outstanding Book of a Musical (Broadway or Off-Broadway)Anaïs Mitchell
Outstanding New Score (Broadway or Off-Broadway)
Outstanding Actor in a Musical
Outstanding Featured Actor in a MusicalAndré De Shields
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
Outstanding Director of a Musical
Outstanding ChoreographerDavid Neumann
Outstanding Scenic Design (Play or Musical)Rachel Hauck
Outstanding Lighting Design (Play or Musical)Bradley King
Outstanding Sound Design (Play or Musical)Nevin Steinberg and Jessica Paz
Outstanding OrchestrationsMichael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose
Chita Rivera Awards
Outstanding Choreography in a Broadway ShowDavid Neumann
Outstanding Female Dancer in a Broadway Show
Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway Show
2020Best Musical Theater Album, André De Shields, , & (principal soloists); Mara Isaacs, David Lai, Anaïs Mitchell & (producers); Anaïs Mitchell (composer & lyricist)


West End production
2024Laurence Olivier AwardsBest Musical Revival
2025WhatsOnStage AwardsBest Musical Revival
Best Supporting Performer in a MusicalMelanie La Barrie
Best Musical Direction/SupervisionTalek Merchant and Liam Robinson


External links

Page 1 of 1
1
Page 1 of 1
1

Account

Social:
Pages:  ..   .. 
Items:  .. 

Navigation

General: Atom Feed Atom Feed  .. 
Help:  ..   .. 
Category:  ..   .. 
Media:  ..   .. 
Posts:  ..   ..   .. 

Statistics

Page:  .. 
Summary:  .. 
1 Tags
10/10 Page Rank
5 Page Refs
2s Time