Welcome to Musical Monday, a new column for SUU News where each week I will be breaking down a different musical. As SUU News’ resident theatre kid, it’s no surprise that I have a lot of feelings about the entertainment medium that is musical theatre. For the inaugural Musical Monday, I’ll be discussing my all-time favorite musical, Anaïs Mitchell’s “Hadestown.”
Before getting into “Hadestown” itself, I would love to give you some background on how Musical Mondays came to be. Back in 2020, when I was a junior in high school and the Covid shutdown was just starting, I started a project called “Musical a Month.” For a year, I would choose a musical each month and do a ton of research on it. This research included production history, music fun facts, casting history and much more. I stopped doing it after I had completed a full twelve months, but the idea has stuck with me ever since.
Now, as I enter the last few months of my undergrad career, I’m bringing it back as a weekly column. I hope you’ll enjoy learning about these musicals as much as I do.
Plot
“Hadestown” is a folk-inspired musical about the Ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Greek mythology fans know it as one of the most tragic myths of all time, but those unfamiliar are likely to feel the same way. Be warned, this summary will spoil the ending. Most won’t, but the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice is centuries old. In the myth, Eurydice, who is married to Orpheus, dies and gets sent to the underworld. Orpheus sets out to bring her back to life, and Hades agrees on one condition. Eurydice has to follow Orpheus out of the underworld, but if he turns around to make sure she’s still there, she has to stay. Ultimately, doubt creeps in and Orpheus turns, thus dooming Eurydice to death and himself to loneliness.
Show History
“Hadestown” first premiered in Mitchell’s home state of Vermont, touring there and Massachusetts. It was then released as a concept album featuring Mitchell as Eurydice and many other small artists as the rest of the cast. The album was critically acclaimed, and eventually led to the off-Broadway production. Mitchell added more songs and dialogue to the show before teaming up with director Rachel Chavkin. The production opened off-Broadway in 2016.
In 2017 and 2018, productions were mounted in Canada and London, respectively. It was in these productions that leading actors Eva Noblezada and Reeve Carney joined the show.
“Hadestown” opened in the Walter Kerr Theatre on Broadway in 2019. It was nominated for 14 Tony Awards, and won eight, including the sought-after Best Musical award. It also won many other awards, including the Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album.
“Hadestown” came to the West End in 2024, and five members of the Original Broadway Cast are slated to join that cast for a pro-shot that will be filmed of the production.
Personal History
My personal history with “Hadestown” goes back to first hearing a song from it in 2016, well before it made its way to Broadway. However, my passion for the show was properly jumpstarted in 2022, when my family and I saw the Broadway production on a trip to New York. I had requested we see the show, because I loved the music that I’d heard from it, and I was a Greek Mythology kid growing up.
Seeing the show live felt life changing, and immediately every other musical I’d ever considered my favorite got pushed to the backburner in favor of “Hadestown.” I’ve now seen it once a year since then. I saw the National Tour in Chicago in 2023, and the West End production in 2024. I’m determined to keep the trend going and see it before the end of 2025.
Favorite Songs
I have two favorite songs from “Hadestown,” but many songs are close to receiving that honor. The first is “Flowers,” sung by Eurydice as she begins to lose her memories of life while in the underworld. It’s hauntingly beautiful and so sad, and Eva Noblezada’s voice is overall unforgettable.
The second song that receives the title of “favorite” is “Hey, Little Songbird,” which is sung by Hades and Eurydice as he tries to lure her to the underworld. This song is a favorite for more sentimental reasons, as my best friend Spencer and I performed it as a duet in our group voice class sophomore year.
Favorite Fact
“Hadestown” is a musical with many behind-the-scenes facts that are really interesting. The one I’ve chosen to highlight revolves around leading actor Reeve Carney. Carney has a unique fashion sense, and many people have falsely accused him of dressing like he’s cosplaying his “Hadestown” character. In reality, it’s the other way around, with Orpheus’ costume being inspired by Carney’s style.
Author: Tessa Cheshire
Photos courtesy of Matthew Murphy
Editor: Anna Mower
arts@suunews.net
