Ani DiFranco to make her Broadway debut in 'Hadestown'

The Grammy Award-winning musician, who originated the role of Persephone on the show's initial concept album, will now play the role at the Walter Kerr Theatre.

She's livin' it up on top! Grammy Award winner Ani DiFranco will make her Broadway debut in Hadestown, beginning on February 9 at the Walter Kerr Theatre.

Known as the "Little Folksinger," DiFranco is known for being one of the first musical artists to create her own record label, Righteous Babe Records, in the 1990s. She has performed with Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Brandi Carlile, and more, and her best-known albums include Little Plastic Castle and 2021's Revolutionary Love.

DiFranco's history with Hadestown began in 2010, when creator Anaïs Mitchell was first making Hadestown into a concept album. DiFranco originated the role of Persephone on the album and invited Mitchell to release it through Righteous Babe Records.

Now, DiFranco will play Persephone on stage, replacing fellow musician Betty Who, who departs the show on February 4. The Hadestown Broadway cast also includes Jordan Fisher as Orpheus, Lillias White as Hermes, Phillip Boykin as Hades, Solea Pfeiffer as Eurydice, and Lindsey Hailes, Belén Moyano, and Brit West as the Fates.

Hadestown reimagines the Greek myths of Orpheus, Eurydice, Hades, Persephone, and more as a tragic love story with a folk and jazz sound. Upon premiering on Broadway in 2019, the show won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Original Score for Mitchell, and Best Direction of a Musical for Rachel Chavkin.

Get Hadestown tickets now.

Photo credit: Ani DiFranco. (Photo by Matthew Murphy)