“Sumptuous. Gorgeous. As good as it gets. You wish you could live in the glowy moment,” said The New York Times. “An affirmation of art’s transformative power, with the sort of musicality you rarely hear on Broadway,” described Rolling Stone. “A Broadway musical like no other. An epic celebration of music, togetherness and hope,” so says Forbes.
Welcome to “Hadestown.” A place where a song can change your fate. Winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards including Best Musical and the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, this acclaimed new show from celebrated singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell and original director Rachel Chavkin (“Natasha,” “Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812”) is a love story for today… and always.
“Hadestown” will serve as the Lutcher Theater’s 2024-25 season finale with two nights of unforgettable shows – Monday, April 21, and Tuesday, April 22, both at 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $45 and can be purchased online at lutcher.org or by calling (409) 886-5535.
This production intertwines two mythic tales – that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone – as it invites you on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back. Mitchell’s beguiling melodies and Chavkin’s poetic imagination pit industry against nature, doubt against faith, and fear against love. Performed by a vibrant ensemble of actors, dancers and singers, “Hadestown” is a haunting and hopeful theatrical experience that grabs you and never let’s go.
Andy McCall, marketing manager at the Lutcher Theater, said he saw the show in New York City in 2023 and it was one of the most memorable shows he had ever seen.
“From the toe-tapping blend of modern American folk music with New Orleans Jazz… to the haunting and hopeful story of life and love, I was so enthralled and caught up in the show that I let out a loud audible gasp during the climactic moment that I know literally everyone in the theater had to have heard it,” said McCall.
“Anyone who sees this show will understand why it swept the 2019 Tony Awards with eight wins. You don’t have to know about Greek myths to enjoy this beautiful show. Many people turn to theater and music to heal. ‘Hadestown’ is uplifting and gives audiences a profound sense of hope for the future and hope for positive change in the world. The characters struggle with hunger, harsh seasons, sacrifice and decaying love. Yet amid this tension, Orpheus presents optimistic hope, believing in the power of music and a beautiful song that, as we learn from one of the more moving songs, will ‘take what’s broken and make it whole.’”
After Mitchell and Chavkin reworked a stage version with more songs and dialog. “Hadestown” premiered off-Broady in 2016 then premiered on Broadway in 2019. The musical became the longest-running show at the Walter Kerr Theatre with 918 performances, which has now reached over 1,750 shows.
Inspired by “Les Misérables,” Mitchell wanted to write a musical about the power of both romance and politics. “It’s a love story, but politics really is romantic,” Mitchell told Robert Sullivan of Vogue. “I was so moved, and still am.”
Running time is 2 hours and 30 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission.
The Lutcher Theater is located at 707 Main Ave. in downtown Orange.