Hadestown at Orpheum Theatre

Coming up in March, Orpheum Theatre in Omaha will host the critically acclaimed Broadway phenomenon Hadestown. This mythological tale follows a couple, Orpheus and Eurydice as they navigate the challenges of love and poverty while their lives become interlaced with Hades, the Greek god of the underworld. Tickets for this Friday 14th March 2025 showing start at $122 per seat.

Origins

Hadestown debuted in 2006 with a regional performance. Years later, the creator, Anaïs Mitchell, stuck with her idea, which she said was inspired by Les Misérables. After revamping it, 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. Hadestown opened a North American tour beginning in 2021. It was an underdog when it opened off-Broadway in 2016. However, it has grown into a highly respected and admired musical for many fans.

Synopsis

The mythology adaptation of the Hadestown musical opens by showcasing Orpheus and Eurydice. Orpheus proposed to Eurydice, but she is hesitant because both of them live in poor conditions. Eventually, they fall in love. 

Meanwhile, Hades and Persephone enter the picture when Hades comes to the surface to take Persephone to the Underworld. During this time, Eurydice hears about working with Hades as a way out of poverty. Hades dislikes arguing with Persephone about the advantages of the Underworld. In his desperation, Hades visits the surface to find someone who will appreciate working in the Underworld before finding Eurydice. She decides to join Hades in the Underworld, leaving her partner, Orpheus behind.

When Orpheus learns about Eurydice's departure, he vows to travel to the Underworld to bring her back. By the time he arrives in the Underworld, Eurydice realizes working in the Underworld is not the positive experience Hades made it appear to be. Orpheus and Eurydice talk to Hades about releasing Eurydice from her contract and letting her return to the surface. The subsequent decision and journey tests the love Orpheus and Eurydice share.

Recognitions

Fans offer wide-ranging 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 won Tony Awards in eight different categories, including Best Musical and Best Original Score. Hadestown earned 14 Tony Award nominations in all.

The creators behind Hadestown used a blend of folk and jazz to tell the modern take on the Underworld from Greek mythology. As part of the 2020 Grammy Awards, Hadestown won an award for the Best Musical Theater Album. This collection features the Broadway cast recording of the show’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.