Hadestown at Keller Auditorium

Coming up in January, Keller Auditorium in Portland will present the long running Broadway phenomenon Hadestown. This mythological story follows a couple, Orpheus and Eurydice as they navigate the challenges of love and poverty while their lives become intertwined with Hades, the Greek god of the underworld. Tickets for this Wednesday 27th January 2027 showing start at $106 per seat.

Origins

Hadestown debuted in 2006 with a regional performance and a concept album. Years later, the creator, Anaïs Mitchell, stuck with her idea, after taking inspiration from Les Misérables. After adding more songs, it eventually made its debut off-Broadway in 2016. 

The production went on to successfully tour Canada and London in the next couple of years. Its debut on Broadway in 2019 and went on to become the longest-running Broadway production at the Walter Kerr Theatreafter 4 years. It started a North American tour beginning in 2021. Hadestown may have been an underdog at the time when it opened off-Broadway in 2016. Today it has grown into a highly respected and beloved musical for many fans.

Synopsis

The mythology of the Hadestown musical opens by introducing Orpheus and Eurydice. Orpheus asks Eurydice to marry him, but she is unsure because both of them live in poverty. Eventually, they become lovers despite their problems. 

Meanwhile, Hades and Persephone enter the story when Hades visits the world above to take Persephone back to the Underworld against her wishes. During this time, Eurydice hears about working with Hades as a way out of poverty. Hades is frustrated arguing with Persephone about the benefits of the Underworld. In his desperation, Hades visits the surface to find someone who will appreciate working in the Underworld before finding Eurydice. She opts to join Hades in the Underworld, leaving her love of Orpheus behind.

When Orpheus discovers about Eurydice's departure, he vows to travel to the Underworld to rescue Eurydice. By the time he travels to the Underworld, Eurydice figures out working in the Underworld is not the rewarding experience Hades made it seem to be. Orpheus and Eurydice meet with Hades about releasing Eurydice from her contract and allowing her return to the above world. The subsequent decision and journey tests the love Orpheus and Eurydice have for each other.

Awards

Reviewers offer constant 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 areas, 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 music to tell the tale the Underworld from Greek mythology. During the 2020 Grammy Awards, Hadestown won an award for the Best Musical Theater Album. This album features the Broadway cast recording of the show’s songs. Some attendees see the show after hearing the album, while others hear the music for the first time when attending a performance.