Hadestown at CIBC Theatre

Welcome to Hadestown, the place where a single song can change your fate. This critically acclaimed new musical helmed by celebrated singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell and visionary director Rachel Chavkin (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812) is the proud winner of a whopping 8 Tony Awards, including Best Musical and the coveted Grammy Award® for Best Musical Theater Album. This is a love story for today… and always. Hadestown intertwines two mythic stories — that of young dreamers Orpheus (Carlos Valdes) and Eurydice (Hailey Kilgore), as well as that of King Hades (Tom Hewitt) and Queen Persephone (Merle Dandridge)— as it invites you on an unforgettable journey to the underworld and back. Book your tickets today and get transported into the underworld with Rachel Hauck’s stunning scenic design!

Hadestown Tickets

“Hadestown is more than a musical—it’s an experience, a testament to the enduring power of art to touch the very depths of our souls” – Rewrite this Story

Synopsis

Based on Anaïs Mitchell’s 2010 concept album, Hadestown follows Greek mythological characters, Orpheus (Carlos Valdes), Eurydice (Hailey Kilgore), King Hades (Tom Hewitt), and Queen Persephone (Merle Dandridge) on their personal journeys as they embark on an exhilarating journey to the underworld and back. 

Hadestown retells the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Set in a dystopian, Depression-era-inspired world, Orpheus is a poor musician, while Eurydice is a young woman struggling to survive. When Eurydice makes a desperate deal with King Hades (the ruler of the underworld) Orpheus tries to rescue her. Guided by both his music and love, Orpheus is faced with doubt and fear in the harsh underworld. Meanwhile, the parallel story of King Hades and Queen Persephone explores themes of love, power, and imbalance. Ultimately, Hadestown is a haunting and hopeful Broadway experience that grabs you and never lets go. While the story is narrated by Hermes (Daniel Breaker), it is performed by a world class ensemble of actors, dancers and singers. 

Creative Team

The Hadestown creative team includes the incredibly talented David Neumann (choreography), Rachel Hauck (scenic design), Michael Krass (costume design), Bradley King (lighting design), Nevin Steinberg and Jessica Paz (sound design), Liam Robinson (music supervision and vocal arrangements), Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose (arrangements and orchestrations), Ken Cerniglia (dramaturgy), and Tarek Merchant (musical director).

Colombian-American actor and singer Carlos Valdes from the Hulu musical series “Up Here” will assume the role as Orpheus. Other cast members include: Daniel Breaker (Hamilton, Book of Mormon, The Performers, Shrek: The Musical) as Hermes, Merle Dandridge (The Last of Us) as Queen Persephone, Hailey Kilgore (Once on this Island) as Eurydice, Tom Hewitt (Chicago, Amazing Grace, Dr. Zhivago) as King Hades, as well as Jessie Shelton (Waitress, Conflict, Doubt), and Kay Trinidad (Bare, Lempicka, Children of Eden) as Fate. 

“There is no weak link in the cast, who have spine-tingling voices that become thunderous in chorus” – The Guardian

“Utterly fabulous. Rachel Chavkin is fearlessly innovative. Her wildly inventive production arrives on Broadway with a furnace-like blast of creativity” – The Hollywood Reporter

History and Awards

Hadestown has a rich history that started almost two decades ago by Anaïs Mitchell. It was originally created as a small community theater show, and performed like a folk music concert. In 2010, Anaïs turned the show into a concept album, which told the story through songs. The album featured guest singers, including Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon. Fast forward to 2016, and Hadestown became a full-blown musical. Helmed by director Rachel Chavkin, it was first performed Off-Broadway in the Big Apple at the New York Theatre Workshop. In 2017, it was performed in Edmonton, Canada, and then in 2018, it crossed the pond and opened up in London at the National Theatre. In 2019, Hadestown debuted on Broadway at New York City’s Walter Kerr Theatre. 

The show was such a hit that it swept up the 2019 Tony Awards, being nominated for a whopping 14 awards. Hadestown went on to win 8 of them, including Best Musical, Best Original Score for Anaïs Mitchell, and Best Direction of a Musical for Rachel Chavkin. What’s more, the cast recording won a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album in 2020. 

“The Hadestown score was phenomenal, infused with folk, pop, and blues music” – The Boar

Review

“Michel Krass’s brilliant costumes suggest class differences and also evoke periods from old Americana; the fates play instruments and are decked out in outfits that would have fit right in at a Southern juke joint. And one of the visual highlights comes when the steampunk-looking chorus of workers swing some overhead lights around during a climactic moment. And while Mitchell seems to be searching for a central metaphor to unify the show – look for everything from the starving artist/rich patron theme and a middle-aged couple looking to retrieve their youth to a literal wall separating the haves from the have-nots – in the end it doesn’t matter. There’s a reason why these myths have endured.Mitchell’s rousing, toe-tapping songs feel like they will endure, too.” – So Sumi 

CIBC Theatre

Playing at the esteemed CIBC Theatre this summer, Hadestown has been named one of the most exciting events this spring! Located in Downtown Chicago, this Broadway venue is the perfect place to experience the Tony Award-winning performances in this Best Musical. The theater’s world class sound equipment brings the Grammy Award®-winning Best Musical Theater Album to life! And its interior is as stunning as ever. Opening its doors in 1906, it was Chicago’s first million-dollar-plus venue. So you can rest assured that you will experience all the glitz and glam of Broadway’s top productions! As soon as you step inside the CIBC Theatre, you are welcomed with golden accents, plush red seats, stunning ceiling murals, and lavash chandeliers.