Hadestown is amusical with music, lyrics, and book byAnaïs Mitchell. It tells a version of theancient Greek myth ofOrpheus and Eurydice.Eurydice, a young girl looking for something to eat, goes to work in a hellish industrial version of theGreek underworld to escape poverty and the cold, and her poor singer-songwriter loverOrpheus comes to rescue her.

Hadestown
Broadway promotional poster.
Music	Anaïs Mitchell
Lyrics	Anaïs Mitchell
Book	Anaïs Mitchell
Basis	Orpheus and Eurydice
Productions	2016Off-Broadway 2017Edmonton 2018London 2019Broadway 2021 North American Tour 2024West End
Awards	Tony Award for Best Musical Tony Award for Best Original Score Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album

The originalsung-through version of the musical was performed in the town ofBarre, Vermont, in 2006, followed byVergennes, Vermont the same year and a tour in Vermont and Massachusetts in 2007. Mitchell, unsure about the future of the musical, turned it into aconcept album, released in 2010.^[1]

In 2012, Mitchell met directorRachel Chavkin, and the two reworked the stage version, with additional songs and dialogue. The new version of the musical, directed by Chavkin, premieredoff-Broadway atNew York Theatre Workshop on May 6, 2016, and ran through July 31. Following productions in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and London, England, the show premiered onBroadway in 2019. The Broadway production received critical acclaim. At the73rd Tony Awards,Hadestown received 14 nominations (the most that year) and won eight, includingBest Musical andBest Original Score.

The Greek godHermes welcomes the audience to the show, introducing the story, characters, ensemble, and band ("Road to Hell"). This is followed byEurydice and theFates describing the harsh weather and famine of the setting ("Any Way the Wind Blows").Orpheus, 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 ofHades and Persephone ("Epic I").Persephone 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").Hades 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").

In anentr'acte, Persephone sings to the patrons of aspeakeasy 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 regrets 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 atcurtain call, the cast honors Orpheus for his optimism and bravery ("We Raise Our Cups").

Source:^[2]

An early version ofHadestown was performed in the cities ofBarre andVergennes, Vermont in 2006, before going into a seven-day, ten-city tour in Mitchell's home state of Vermont and Massachusetts in 2007.^[1][3] 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/arrangerMichael Chorney, with a cast drawn from artists in Vermont, including Mitchell as Eurydice and Matchstick as Hermes.^[4] Unsure of the future of the stage version, Mitchell released aconcept album in 2010.^[5][6]

After watching a production ofNatasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 directed byRachel Chavkin 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.Todd Sickafoose contributed additional/co-arrangements and orchestrations to Chorney's.^[5]Hadestown premiered atNew York Theatre Workshop (NYTW), running from May 3, 2016, through July 31. The production starredDamon Daunno as Orpheus,Nabiyah Be as Eurydice,Amber Gray as Persephone,Patrick Page as Hades,Chris Sullivan as Hermes, and Lulu Fall, Jessie Shelton, andShaina Taub as the Fates.^[3][7] On October 14, 2016, an EP was released featuring four songs from the musical, recorded live on June 28 and 29, 2016.^[8] A full live album was released on October 6, 2017.^[9]

The production was featured in the documentary seriesWorking in the Theatre produced by theAmerican Theatre Wing.^[10]

Hadestown was presented as a pre-Broadway tryout as part of the 2017/2018 season atCitadel Theatre inEdmonton,Alberta, 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.^[11] The production also startedReeve Carney as Orpheus,T.V. Carpio as Eurydice, and Kingsley Leggs as Hermes.^{[citation needed]}

Hadestown was next performed in the Olivier Theatre of theNational Theatre in London, running from November 2018 to January 2019.^[12] Designers includedRachel Hauck (sets), Michael Krass (costumes),Bradley King (lighting), and Nevin Steinberg andJessica Paz (sound). David Neumann choreographed.^[13] Page, Gray, and Carney reprised their previous roles, joined byEva Noblezada,André De Shields,^[14] Carly Mercedes Dyer, Rosie Fletcher, and Gloria Onitiri.^[15]

Hadestown opened on Broadway at theWalter Kerr Theatre, with previews beginning on March 22, 2019, and an official opening on April 17, 2019.^[16] Page, Gray, De Shields, Carney, and Noblezada reprised their roles, joined by Jewelle Blackman,Yvette Gonzales-Nacer, and Kay Trinidad.^[17] The Broadway production was produced by Mara Isaacs, Dale Franzen, Hunter Arnold andTom Kirdahy.^[16] 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 theCOVID-19 pandemic.^[18] The musical resumed performances on September 2, 2021.^[19] On January 4, 2023,Hadestown became the longest-running show at the Walter Kerr Theatre with 918 performances.^[20]

A national tour was planned for 2020.^[21] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the tour was postponed to 2021. It launched at theJohn 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 thePeace Center inGreenville, South Carolina, from October 5 to 10, 2021. The tour starred Nicholas Barasch as Orpheus, Morgan Siobhan Green as Eurydice,Kevyn Morrow as Hades, Kimberly Marable as Persephone,Levi Kreis as Hermes, and Belén Moyano, Bex Odorisio, and Shea Renne as the Fates.^[22][23] The tour played its final performance on May 26, 2024 inToronto, Ontario, Canada.^[24]

A non-Equity national tour began in North Carolina in November 2024 and is scheduled to continue until at least May 2025. It is directed by Keenan Tyler Oliphant and choreographed by T. Oliver Reid.^[25][26]

A South Korean production ofHadestown ran from August 2021 to February 2022, at theLG Arts Center inSeoul. This Korean-language production starred Zo Hyung-gyun,Kang-hyun Park, andXiumin rotating as Orpheus, and Kim Hwan-hee and Kim Soo-ha rotating as Eurydice.^[27] The production won Best Musical at the Korea Musical Awards.^[28] The musical returned to South Korea from July 12, 2024 and was expected to play until October 6 at the Charlotte Theater in Seoul.^[29] Hyung-gyun and Park reprised the role of Orpheus, withKim Min-seok.^[30] Hwan-hee and Soo-ha reprised their roles as Eurydice.^[30]

Hadestown began previews on February 10, 2024, in theWest End with an official opening on February 21, at theLyric Theatre, London.^[31] The cast includesDónal Finn as Orpheus,Grace Hodgett Young as Eurydice,Zachary James as Hades,Melanie La Barrie as Hermes, and Gloria Onitiri as Persephone.^[32] The production is scheduled to run through September 28, 2025.^[33] A live cast recording was released on December 6, 2024.^[34]

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.^[35] Tickets sold out for this cast’s return in "a matter of hours".^[36] After Page was injured during rehearsals, however,Phillip Boykin stepped into the role, joining the other four.^[37] Page returned only for the filming of the production by Steam Motion and Sound under the direction ofBrett Sullivan^{[citation needed]} with this cast on February 28 and March 1, 2025.^[38][39]

A production opened inSydney, Australia, at theTheatre Royal, in February 2025.^[40] The cast includesChristine Anu as Hermes, Noah Mullins as Orpheus, Abigail Adriano as Eurydice, Adrian Tamburini as Hades and Elenoa Rokobaro as Persephone.^[41] It is expected to then play at theHer Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, in May 2025.^[42]

A staging is set to open inAmsterdam, Netherlands, at theRoyal Theater Carré in June 2025.^[43]

The original casts of the English-speaking productions ofHadestown

Broadway (2019–)

• Orpheus:Jordan Fisher,^[45]Carlos Valdes^[46]
• Eurydice:Solea Pfeiffer,^[47]Lola Tung,^[48]Isa Briones,^[49]Maia Reficco,^[50]Hailey Kilgore^[46]
• Hades:Tom Hewitt,^[51]Phillip Boykin^[52]
• Persephone:Lana Gordon,^[53]Betty Who,^[52]Ani DiFranco,^[54]Yola,^[55]Allison Russell,^[56]Merle Dandridge^[57]
• Hermes:Lillias White,^[58]Jon Jon Briones,^[49]Stephanie Mills,^[59]Daniel Breaker^[57]

North American Tour (2021–)

• Persephone:Maria-Christina Oliveras,Lana Gordon
• Hermes:Nathan Lee Graham

West End (2024–)

• Orpheus:Reeve Carney^[60]
• Eurydice:Eva Noblezada^[60]
• Hades:Trevor Dion Nicholas,^[61]Phillip Boykin,^[62]Patrick Page,^[62]Chris Jarman^[63]
• Persephone:Rachel Tucker,^[61]Amber Gray,^[60]Victoria Hamilton-Barritt^[63]
• Hermes:André De Shields^[60]

Mitchell's 2007 albumThe Brightness 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, throughRighteous Babe Records.^[1] A livecast recording of the off-Broadway production was released on October 6, 2017, throughParlophone Records. A four-track EP entitledWhy We Build the Wall (Selections fromHadestown. The Myth. The Musical. Live Original Cast Recording) was released for digital retailers on October 13, 2016, to promotion the album.^{[citation needed]}

ABroadway cast recording was released digitally on July 26, 2019, through Sing It Again Records.^[64] The two-CD recording was available at a later date.^[65] A holiday album recorded by Blackman, Gonzalez-Nacer and Trinidad titledIf the Fates Allow, was released on November 20, 2020, and features guest contributions from the other original cast members.^[66]

A live recording of selections from the West End production was released on December 6, 2024 on streaming, CD and vinyl.^[34][67]

WriterAnaïs Mitchell said she was inspired byLes 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."^[68]

DirectorRachel Chavkin 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."^[69] The show did a joint promotion withNatural Resources Defense Council to raise awareness and bring a greater sense of urgency to the push for action on the issue of climate change.^[70]

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."^[71] In China,The Paper has published a review ofHadestown, "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.^[72]

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."^[73]

The New York Times described the Off-Broadway production as "inventive" and "gorgeously sung", praising its simplicity and intimacy.^[74]The Hollywood Reporter described the added dialogue as "wince-inducing" but favored its high energy and immersive staging.^[75] Several reviews drew parallels between the song "Why We Build the Wall" andDonald Trump's2016 presidential campaign, though the song predates the campaign by about a decade.^[74][75]

The production opened on Broadway on April 17, 2019, to critical acclaim, with praise for its direction and the performance ofAndré De Shields.^[76]The New York Times called it "gorgeous" and "hypnotic", especially noting its improvement from the New York Theatre Workshop version.^[77] David Rooney ofThe Hollywood Reporter calls it "utterly fabulous", in particular praising the performances of Gray and Page.^[78]

Japanese producer Imura Madoka (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.^[79]

• Official website
• Tiny Desk Concert [26:23] atNPR Music on 2020-03-02
• ​Hadestown​ at theInternet Broadway Database