Hadestown at Walter Kerr Theatre

Coming up in September, Walter Kerr Theatre in New York will present the long running Broadway phenomenon Hadestown. This mythological tale follows a couple, Orpheus and Eurydice as they navigate the trials of love and poverty while their lives become intertwined with Hades, the Greek god of the underworld. Tickets for this Tuesday 2nd September 2025 showing start at $146 per seat.

Origins

Hadestown originated in 2006 with a regional performance. Several years afterward, the writer, Anaïs Mitchell, stuck with her idea, after taking inspiration from Les Misérables. After revamping it, it eventually made its debut off-Broadway in 2016. 

The production went on to successfully tour Canada and London in the next couple of years. It appeared on Broadway in 2019 and went on to become the longest-running Broadway production at the Walter Kerr Theatre by early 2023. It opened a North American tour beginning in 2021. It was unknown when it opened off-Broadway in 2016. However, it has developed into a highly respected and beloved musical for many fans.

Story

The mythology of the Hadestown musical opens by showcasing Orpheus and Eurydice. Orpheus asks Eurydice to marry him, but she is unsure because both of them live in poor conditions. Eventually, they fall in love despite their problems. 

Meanwhile, Hades and Persephone enter the musical when Hades visits the world above to take Persephone to the Underworld. During this time, Eurydice sees an opportunity working with Hades as a way out of poverty. Hades is tired of arguing with Persephone about the benefits of the Underworld. He decides to go to the world above to try to find someone who will appreciate working in the Underworld before finding Eurydice. She decides to join Hades in the Underworld, leaving her partner, Orpheus behind.

When Orpheus learns about Eurydice's departure, he decides to travel to the Underworld to bring her back. By the time he reaches the Underworld, Eurydice discovers working in the Underworld is not the rewarding experience Hades made it seem to be. Orpheus and Eurydice talk to Hades about releasing Eurydice from her contract and letting her return to the surface. The subsequent decision and journey tests the love Orpheus and Eurydice share.

Awards

Reviewers offer wide-ranging praise of Hadestown. The Hollywood Reporter called it “a furnace-like blast of creativity,” while Forbes declared it “an epic celebration of music, togetherness, and hope.” It received Tony Awards in eight different categories, including Best Musical and Best Original Score. Hadestown garnered 14 Tony Award nominations in all.

The musicians behind Hadestown used a blend of folk and jazz music to tell the modern take on the Underworld from Greek mythology. At the 2020 Grammy Awards, Hadestown won an award for the Best Musical Theater Album. This collection features the Broadway cast recording of the musical’s songs. Some people see the show after hearing the album, while others hear the music for the first time when attending a performance.