Hadestown, written by Anaïs Mitchell, is a musical adaption of Mitchell’s folk-opera concept album of the same name. It reimagines the Greek tale of Orpheus and Eurydice in a post-apocalyptic, Great Depression-esque society.
The show was originally performed as a small-budget “D.I.Y.” performance in Mitchell’s home in 2007 before being properly adapted into a studio album in 2010. Mitchell sought out director Rachel Chavkin after seeing her work in Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 to direct her show and assist in fully developing the storyline.
Hadestown premiered on May 6, 2016 at the New York Theatre Workshop and ran until July 31. The cast included Amber Gray as Persephone, Patrick Page as Hades, Damon Daunno as Orpheus, Nabiyah Be as Eurydice, Chris Sullivan as Hermes, and Shaina Taub, Lulu Fall, and Jessie Shelton as The Fates.