It's Hotter Than Hades: "Hadestown" Makes Its Broadway Debut

Orpheus (Reeve Carney) sings to Eurydice (Eva Noblezada), his true love.

Hadestown has a serious Orpheus complex, but Broadway seems to love it, because the musical opened at the Walter Kerr Theatre on Wednesday!

Narrated by Hermes, the Greek god of messengers, the musical tells the story of Orpheus, a demigod who travels to the Underworld to rescue Eurydice, his true love. Meanwhile, Hades, the power-hungry god of the dead, schemes to keep Eurydice for himself, generating a series of tragic conflicts between mortal love and divine power throughout the show.

Hadestown was created by singer-songwriter Anaϊs Mitchell, who released a concept album of the show in 2010. Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 director Rachel Chavkin then adapted the album into a musical, which she launched off-Broadway in 2016.

The musical made its Broadway debut on April 17, where its “New Orleans-style” set and “stellar cast” quickly gathered praise from audiences and critics alike.

Jessica Derschowitz, a reviewer for Entertainment Weekly, described her reaction after attending the premiere.

“Hadestown is a trip to Hell that’s dark and tragic but spellbinding all the same,” Derschowitz said. “It’s a welcome dance with the devil you’ll be glad you took.”

If Derschowitz is right, then I’m making my way to the dance floor! Although the cynic in me makes me wary of new shows, I’m damning my usual skepticism to hell in this case (too much?). If a musical is only as good as it’s score, then Hadestown deserves a place among both the Greek and the Broadway gods. The music is simultaneously modern and classic, creating an innovative retelling that remains as timeless as the myth itself. The decision to tackle such a well-known story is a bold one, but, as the show illustrates, boldness can make a statement. For me, that statement is quite clear: TONY.

(LU)