Note for future reference: Hadestown was not originally a book first. When using the word "book" to refer to musicals, it is talking about the actual script and story of the show.
It is based on mythology. The characters you saw: Hermes was the narrator, The king is Hades, the queen is Persephone, Orpheus is the main singer, the three women you asked about (whether they were the gatekeepers) are the Fates. Eurydice didn't have a singing part in this, but they did show her. I do think you would enjoy the whole soundtrack as it tells you the whole story of the play. This is one I hope to see someday.
Hadestown is an amazing musical! It’s one of my favourites, you should totally listen to the whole album - it’s sung-through like Hamilton so you can get the full story from the album
One way to see more of Hadestown's music is to watch the NPR Tiny Desk concert of it! It's got some really great music in it, I strongly recommend checking more of it out!!
oh Hadestown has such good music. Definitely worth watching their NPR Tiny Desk... and listening to the full album, really. As great as this clip is, you didn't even hear Eurydice's (Eva Noblezada's) amazing voice! yes, this is the original cast. It's a safe bet that any Tonys performance is the original cast (unless it's a revival production, which would only be performing if nominated for Best Revival). Main cast are unlikely to leave a show before that opportunity!
I agree. The imagination of the composer, lyricist and playwright is incredible. How she manages to create a journey to Hades using lighting and the movement of the chorus and Fates etc was just awe inspiring.
and yeah, Tony performances are a great way to get a glimpse at some of the best shows every year. I don't even know what to recommend, just... all of them? Book of Mormon, Dear Evan Hanson, Next to Normal, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder (this one is less iconic but a very good comedic theater piece)...
The whole premise is that they are taking the ancient greek stories of Orpheus/Eurydice and Hades/Persephone and using them as a metaphor for the rise of capitalism in the 1920s. If you know the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, it ends in tragedy, as does this musical.
This is my absolute favorite Broadway show! I’ve seen it three times in New York and I plan to see the tour too! I also spent time reading the book this Summer and it’s about Anais Mitchell (the creators) journey when she initially started writing the songs about 15 years ago and it goes through the journey of the Workshops, Edmonton, London and then Broadway. It really takes you through her thought process and talks about how the directors, set designers, and actors also contributed to how the show came to what we see on Broadway!
Just saw the touring cast in Ft Myers, FL and they were phenomenal. The three Fates take on many roles - there is a three headed dog Cerebus who guards Hades (the Underworld) and my interpretation of the Fates (with their lanterns) questioning who Orpheus is just reminded me of Cerebus and the role that creature plays. You cannot get to Hades until you cross the river Styx and you need two coins to pay the ferryman who brings you across the river. (Hence, the two coins Eurydice holds up to her eyes.) This musical was a brilliant melding of two great tales from Greek mythology. Hades and his wife, Persephone, below ground in Hades and Eurydice and Orpheus and their love story above ground on Earth (until Eurydice joins Hades). The music is amazing as are the sets and the entire cast. You should absolutely get tickets if you’re wondering whether or not the touring cast is good. They were AMAZING!
I always have to remind myself that somewhere they don't teach Greek mythology at elementary schools. 😉😀 I recommend both, the original story and the musical. I'm a big Broadway fan so I've seen a lot, but Hadestown is musically special for me, it brings fresh tunes to that „stereotypical Broadway sound“. Definitely worth your attention. 😉
wouldn't say Neverwhere and Hadestown have much in common, but I can see where are you coming from :D this musical is something else, definitely listen to the whole album, it's worth it :))
If you're doing videos from the Tony's, I suggest Daniel Radcliffe and John Larroquette doing 'Brotherhood of Men' from "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."
Technically not based on a "book" per se, rather on ancient Greek myth and the story of Orpheus and Eurydice in the underworld. Also you aren't the only one to have mispronounced "Hadestown" as "Hatestown", but essentially Hades (Hay-Deez) was the king of the underworld, and its named after him basically.
