Hadestown at Walter Kerr Theatre

Coming up in October, Walter Kerr Theatre in New York will present the long running Broadway phenomenon Hadestown. This mythological narrative follows a couple, Orpheus and Eurydice as they navigate the challenges of love and poverty while their lives become intertwined with Hades, the Greek god of the underworld. Tickets for this Friday 10th October 2025 showing start at $138 per seat.

History

Hadestown originated in 2006 with a regional performance and a concept album. Years later, the creator, Anaïs Mitchell, stuck with her idea, which she said was inspired by Les Misérables. After adding more songs, it eventually opened off-Broadway in 2016. 

The show 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 an underdog when it opened off-Broadway in 2016. However, it has become a highly respected and admired musical for many fans.

Story

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

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

When Orpheus discovers what happened, 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 allowing her return to the living world. The journey tests the love Orpheus and Eurydice have for each other.

Awards

Critics offer high praise of Hadestown. The Hollywood Reporter called it “a furnace-like blast of creativity,” while Forbes said it’s “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 creators behind Hadestown used a blend of folk and jazz music to tell the tale the Underworld from Greek mythology. During the 2020 Grammy Awards, Hadestown won an award for the Best Musical Theater Album. This recording features the Broadway cast recording of the show’s songs. Some attendees see the show after purchasing the album, while others hear the music for the first time when attending a performance.