“Hadestown”, written by Anaïs Mitchell and director Rachel Chavkin, is a Broadway bound musical retelling the ancient Greek myth about Orpheus. Winning over eight tony awards, “Hadestown” has gained immense praise for the songs and incredible storytelling.  

The story follows Orpheus and tells that tragedy of his journey to the Underworld to get his love, Eurydice, back from the grip of Hades. Stuck in hard times similar to depression era America, Hadestown tells the riveting story of Orpheus doing anything for his bride and reinvigorating the love of Hades and Persephone. 

The story follows a two-act structure, using the small space of the theater to build an intimate connection with the audience. Like “Hamilton”, the story uses a piece of history and adapts it for the modern day, making something familiar into something new. 

I got the chance to see the musical in New York, and with the original cast. What was most impressive about the story was how these gods and mythical beings were so human, and how badly I wanted the central antagonist, Hades, to reunite with his love, Persephone.  

“Hadestown” has come far from its original conception in 2007 and its original album release in 2010. The stage crew, the director, and the cast faced many changes over the following decade as the show landed in New York, Canada, London, and back to Broadway. 

I nearly cried four times, and definitely shed a couple tears at the climax and the end. If you know anything about the end of the Greek myth, there isn’t a happy ending. However, the theme of the story and the overarching point is about the nature of tales. Even though they aren’t always happily–ever–afters, we sing them anyway to enjoy them and learn from them. 

I suggest you check out the soundtrack on Spotify and listen to it uninterrupted. The musical’s themes, humor, and even the cast are all there, all preforming the best they can for a truly inspirational musical.