The Broadway musical Hadestown is based on the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. The legend tells of Orpheus, son of Apollo, a gifted and talented musician. One night, after a musical performance, he meets Eurydice, and it is love at first sight. However, as with most Greek myths, tragedy strikes and the two seem fated to be apart.
Now, the award-winning musical is making waves because of its talented cast and catchy tunes. To learn more about it, Steve Adubato, PhD., spoke to actor Reeve Carney for an episode of One-on-One with Steve Adubato. The two discuss Carney’s role in the 2019 Tony Award-winning Best Musical, Hadestown.
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From Hades to Broadway
The show is written by musician Anais Mitchell, but of course adapts the famous myth. After first premiering in Vermont 14 years ago, the show now has a home on Broadway. Between then and now, the show made its way through Massachusetts, New York, Canada, and even London.
“[Hadestown is] a retelling of the myth of those two characters, but incorporating something that has been involved in a lot of the versions, involving Orpheus’s story of Persephone and Hades,” said Carney. “So it’s kind of two intertwining love stories.”
Carney explains that the rave reviews and praise for the musical is due to Mitchell’s impressive work in writing. He often teases the overview of the production in order to save some surprises for audiences.
“Our composer, Anais Mitchell, has written something so beautifully layered that it allows, in my opinion, the audience to really sort of project themselves onto the characters,” Carney says. “I’m hesitant to give too many details about the show always, because I don’t want people to walk into the theater having any specific idea about what they’re about to experience.”
Want to learn more about Carney’s role in Hadestown and his thoughts on the show? Check out this edition of One-on-One with Steve Adubato.
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Hero (Top) Photo: © Caucus Educational Corporation / One-on-One with Steve Adubato