Hadestown at Majestic Theatre

Coming up in winter, Majestic Theatre in San Antonio will host the long running Broadway phenomenon Hadestown. This mythological story follows a couple, Orpheus and Eurydice as they navigate the trials of love and poverty while their lives become interlaced with Hades, the Greek god of the underworld. Tickets for this Friday 10th January 2025 showing start at $82 per seat.

History

Hadestown first came to stage in 2006 with a regional performance and a concept album. Years later, the writer, Anaïs Mitchell, developed the broadway musical, after taking inspiration from Les Misérables. After adding more songs, it eventually made its debut off-Broadway in 2016. 

The musical went on to successfully tour Canada and London in the next couple of years. Its debut on Broadway in 2019 and went on to set a record for the longest-running Broadway production at the Walter Kerr Theatre by early 2023. It started 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 Greek mythology adaptation of the Hadestown musical opens by introducing Orpheus and Eurydice. Orpheus asks Eurydice to marry him, but she is hesitant because both of them live in poor conditions. Eventually, they fall in love despite their problems. 

Hades and Persephone enter the story when Hades comes to the surface to take Persephone back to the Underworld against her wishes. Eurydice hears about working in the Underworld as a way out of poverty. Hades dislikes arguing with Persephone about the benefits of the Underworld. In his desperation, Hades visits the surface to find someone who will learn to like working in the Underworld before discovering Eurydice. She chooses to join Hades in the Underworld, leaving her love of Orpheus behind.

When Orpheus discovers what happened, he promises to travel to the Underworld to rescue Eurydice. By the time he reaches the Underworld, Eurydice realizes working in the Underworld is not the enjoyable experience Hades made it appear to be. Orpheus and Eurydice meet with Hades about releasing Eurydice from her contract and letting her return to the surface. The journey tests the love Orpheus and Eurydice have for each other.

Awards

Reviewers offer high 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 secured Tony Awards in eight different categories, including Best Musical and Best Original Score. Hadestown garnered 14 Tony Award nominations in all.

The writers behind Hadestown used a blend of folk and jazz 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 album features the Broadway cast recording of the production’s songs. Some fans of the show see the show after purchasing the album, while others hear the music for the first time when attending a performance.