Everything you need to know about 'Hadestown' on Broadway

Here's all you need to know about Broadway's hellishly haunting and captivating musical.

Fancy a trip to “way down Hadestown, way down under the ground?” Hadestown, created by singer/songwriter Anaïs Mitchell and directed by the visionary Rachel Chavkin, is proving itself to be a modern Broadway classic. The mythical musical intertwines the ancient Greek myths of Orpheus, Eurydice, Hades, Persephone, Hermes, and the Fates in a tale of love, prophecy and rebellion.

Hadestown began as a "D.I.Y. theatre project" in Mitchell's home state of Vermont in 2006, which evolved into a 2010 concept album and then a full-fledged musical, premiering off Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop in 2016 before moving to London’s National Theatre in 2018. Hadestown finally put down roots at Broadway's Walter Kerr Theatre on March 22, 2019, and has since become the longest-running show in the venue's history.

The celebrated folk opera is now a global phenomenon, earning eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, four Drama Desk Awards, and a Grammy Award. Find out more about Hadestown on Broadway below.

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What is Hadestown about?

Hadestown breathes new life into the timeless Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, set in a post-apocalyptic world inspired by the New Orleans French Quarter. With a haunting blend of blues, jazz, Dixieland, and folk, the show opens with the god Hermes, a charismatic guide who ushers us through the lives of these two fated lovers. Though poverty and hardship threaten Orpheus and Eurydice at every turn, the two fall deeply in love, only for tragedy to strike when Eurydice is lured by Hades into the underground factory of Hadestown, promising comfort and stability — but at a cost.

Determined to bring her back, Orpheus ventures into the underworld to confront Hades. The god makes a deal with him: Orpheus must lead the way above ground and Eurydice must follow behind. But if Orpheus lets doubt creep in and turns around to see if she’s still there, Eurydice will be stuck in Hadestown forever.

Where is Hadestown playing?

Hadestown is playing at Broadway's Walter Kerr Theatre, located at 219 W. 48th St. between Broadway and Eighth Avenue. Originally opened in 1921 as The Ritz, the venue was named after the late theatre critic Walter Kerr and has hosted a range of influential productions over the years. Recent examples include Springsteen on Broadway, Amélie, and The Crucible.

In January 2023, after nearly four years of performances, Hadestown became the longest-running show to ever play at the Walter Kerr.

How long is Hadestown?

Hadestown runs 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission. This is a typical length for a Broadway musical, though musicals can run anywhere from 90 minutes to 3 hours. Intermissions are usually 15-20 minutes long.

What days is Hadestown playing?

Hadestown plays eight performances a week at the Walter Kerr Theatre, with performances usually scheduled every day except Monday. There are two performances on Saturdays and Sundays. For the complete performance schedule and showtimes, please visit the Hadestown page to learn more.

When did Hadestown premiere?

Mitchell premiered the first version of Hadestown in 2006, blending folk and jazz influences with ancient Greek myths. The idea evolved into a concept album in 2010, but it wasn’t until 2016, in collaboration with director Rachel Chavkin, that the project transformed into a full-scale musical. Discover a timeline of Hadestown's road to Broadway and beyond below.

• 2006: Anaïs Mitchell begins developing Hadestown, initially conceived as a self-produced project. The first performances took place in Barre and Vergennes, Vermont, with a tour happening between Vermont and Massachusetts in 2007.
• 2010: Mitchell releases a Hadestown concept album, which features many songs that would later be included in the current stage version.
• 2012: Director Rachel Chavkin becomes involved with Hadestown, working with Mitchell to expand the storyline and incorporate new music.
• 2016: The Hadestown musical premieres off Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop on May 23. The production featured actors such as Damon Daunno, Nabiyah Be, and Amber Gray, and it received critical acclaim.
• 2017: Hadestown receives its Canadian premiere at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton, Alberta.
• 2018: Hadestown makes its U.K. debut at the National Theatre in London, running from November 13 to January 26, 2019.
• 2019: The Broadway production begins performances at the Walter Kerr Theatre on March 22 and officially opens April 17. It earned critical acclaim and won multiple awards, including eight Tonys.
• 2024: The musical opens in London’s West End at the Lyric Theatre.

Who wrote Hadestown?

Hadestown features music, lyrics, and a book by Anaïs Mitchell, who originally conceived the project as a concept album. Director Rachel Chavkin collaborated with Mitchell to shape the narrative into a full-fledged musical.

Hadestown also features orchestrations by Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose, weaving together folk, jazz, and blues.

Hadestown characters

In Hadestown, each character plays a crucial role in the unfolding myth, whether they reign over the underworld or navigate the challenges of the living world. Here are the principal characters in Hadestown.

• Orpheus: A young, passionate poet and lyre player, working on writing a song that will make spring come again. His love for Eurydice drives him to the underworld to save her.
• Eurydice: The star-crossed lover of Orpheus. She signs a contract to join Hades in the industrial underworld of Hadestown.
• Hades: The formidable ruler of the underworld, whose power over those below is absolute. He is married to Persephone, the goddess of spring.
• Persephone: Hades's wife, who balances her time between the warmth of the living world and the gnarly depths of the underworld. She is the impassioned foil to the detached and uncompromising Hades, and she influences some of his biggest decisions in the show.
• Hermes: A world-wise narrator and a friend and mentor to Orpheus. He guides us through the story of Hadestown.
• The Fates: Three mysterious, powerful figures who control the threads of fate. They weave themselves into the lives of the characters.

Hadestown songs

Hadestown features well-known show tunes like "Wait For Me," "Road to Hell," and "Why We Build the Wall," all of which first appeared in the 2010 concept album and remained for the stage. In addition, new tracks such as "Hey, Little Songbird" and "Our Lady of the Underground" were added. The musical is known for its signature blend of jazz, folk, and blues.

Act 1

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

Act 2

• "Our Lady of the Underground"
• "Way Down Hadestown (Reprise)"
• "Flowers"
• "Come Home With Me (Reprise)"
• "Papers"
• "Nothing Changes"
• "If It's True"
• "How Long?"
• "Chant (reprise)"
• "Epic III"
• "Promises"
• "Word to the Wise"
• "His Kiss, the Riot"
• "Wait for Me (reprise)"
• "Doubt Comes In"
• "Road to Hell (reprise)"
• "We Raise our Cups"

What awards has Hadestown won?

Hadestown has received numerous prestigious awards, including Tony Awards, Drama Desk Awards, and a Grammy Award, solidifying its place as one of the most acclaimed musicals in recent years.

• Tony Awards: Hadestown won 8 out of its 14 nominations at the 2019 ceremony, including Best Musical, Best Original Score (Anaïs Mitchell), Best Direction of a Musical (Rachel Chavkin), and Best Featured Actor in a Musical (André De Shields).
• Drama Desk Awards: Hadestown won 4 out of 7 nominations at the 2019 awards, including Outstanding Director of a Musical (Rachel Chavkin), Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (André de Shields), Outstanding Sound Design (Nevin Steinberg and Jessica Paz), and Outstanding Lighting Design (Bradley King).
• Grammy Award: Hadestown won Best Musical Theater Album in 2020.
• Drama League Awards: Hadestown won the award for Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical in 2019.
• Outer Critics Circle Awards: Hadestown won 6 out of its 12 nominations in 2019, including Outstanding New Broadway Musical, Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (De Shields), and Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical (Amber Gray).
• Chita Rivera Awards: Hadestown won for Outstanding Choreography in 2019.
• Laurence Olivier Awards: The London production of Hadestown was nominated for Best Musical Revival in 2024.

Major productions of Hadestown

Hadestown has captivated audiences across the world, with productions spanning North America, Europe, and Asia. From its origins in New York City, the show has graced stages in Toronto, London, Tokyo, and various U.S. cities. Below are some of the major productions of Hadestown worldwide.

• 2016 world premiere: Hadestown premiered at New York Theatre Workshop on May 3 and ran until July 31, where it dazzled downtown audiences. Amber Gray (as Persephone) and Patrick Page (as Hades) would reprise their roles on Broadway in 2019.
• 2017 Canadian premiere: The show had a pre-Broadway run at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton, Alberta, from November-December 2017. Reeve Carney joined the cast as Orpheus.
• 2018 U.K. premiere: Hadestown made its U.K. debut at the National Theatre’s Olivier Theatre in November 2018. Page, Gray, and Carney reprised their roles alongside Eva Noblezada as Eurydice and André De Shields as Hermes.
• 2019 Broadway premiere: Hadestown began performances at the Walter Kerr Theatre in March 2019, going on to win eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score.
• 2021 U.S. tour: Hadestown launched its first national tour, which began in 2021 and played to nearly 2 million fans across 85 cities.
• 2024 West End premiere: Hadestown returned to London for its official West End premiere in February 2024 at the Lyric Theatre.

Celebrities who have performed in Hadestown

Hadestown has featured some major theatre talents, including all five original lead cast members and many of their replacements.

• Reeve Carney: He originated the role of Orpheus on Broadway and is also known for playing Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the Broadway musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.
• Eva Noblezada: A two-time Tony nominee for Hadestown and Miss Saigon, Eva Noblezada originated the role of Eurydice on Broadway.
• Patrick Page: The famous Shakespearean actor originated the brooding role of Hades on Broadway, and additional credits include Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark and The Glass Menagerie.
• Amber Gray: She originated the role of Persephone on Broadway and also appeared in Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812.
• André De Shields: He originated the role of Hermes on Broadway, winning a Tony Award for his standout performance. His 50-plus-year theatre career also includes highlights like The Wiz.
• Jordan Fisher: Before playing Orpheus in Hadestown on Broadway, Fisher became known for his roles in the TV musicals Grease Live and RENT, Disney Channel's Teen Beach Movie and Liv and Maddie, and Dear Evan Hansen and Hamilton on Broadway.
• Maia Reficco: Known for her role as Noa Olivar in the HBO Max series Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin, Reficco made her Broadway debut in Hadestown in 2024 as Eurydice.
• Lola Tung: She made her Broadway debut as Eurydice in Hadestown after playing Isabel "Belly" Conklin in the Amazon Prime Video series The Summer I Turned Pretty.
• Lillias White: White made history as the first female performer to play the role of Hermes, originated by André De Shields, in Hadestown.
• Stephanie Mills: Known for creating the role of Dorothy in The Wiz in 1975, she stepped into the role of Hermes in 2024.
• Ani DiFranco: The Grammy Award winner made her Broadway debut in Hadestown as Persephone, a role she sang over a decade earlier on the show's original concept album.
• Allison Russell: She made her Broadway debut as Persephone in 2024. Russell is best known for her critically acclaimed Americana and roots albums Outside Child and The Returner, and for winning the Grammy for Best American Roots Performance for the song “Eve Was Black.”
• Yola: The six-time Grammy Award nominee, best known for her albums Walk Through Fire and Stand for Myself, made her Broadway debut in the role of Persephone in 2024.
• Betty Who: Known for her albums Take Me When You Go, The Valley, Betty, and Big!, musician Who made her stage debut as Persephone in 2023.

Fun facts about Hadestown

With its haunting melodies and mythical storytelling, Hadestown has become a modern Broadway legend. Learn more about Hadestown with these fun facts!

• The first piece written for the show was the chorus of “Wait For Me.” Anaïs Mitchell has said, “It was the seed that made me go, ‘I think I’m going to write a folk opera about Orpheus and Eurydice.’”
• After singing the role of Persephone in the 2010 album, Ani DiFranco played her on Broadway in 2024.
• The myths referenced in Hadestown do not have a single original author, as they are a part of an oral tradition from ancient Greece.
• Levi Kreis, the original Hermes on tour, kept a 160-page journal filled with his own ideas about Hermes's backstory, the god's relationship with the muse Calliope, how he raised Orpheus, and his relationships with Persephone and Hades, all of which informed his performance onstage!
• André De Shields won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Hadestown) at age 73.

How to get Hadestown tickets

From its humble beginnings as a concept album to its Tony-winning triumph, this show is packed with magic on stage and off. This contemporary take on two epic love stories is sure to surprise and delight those who love Greek mythology, including theatre-veterans and newbies alike. In order to secure your seat way down Hadestown, get your tickets!

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Photo credit: Hadestown on Broadway. (Photos by Matthew Murphy)