“Hadestown” has brought Columbus theater back to life with a passionate performance.
After Broadway in Columbus took a 20-month break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ohio Theater was full again on Nov. 16, and a sense of normalcy was restored for theater lovers.
“Hadestown,” tells the story of a tender romance with songs from composer-lyricist-author Anais Mitchell. The story puts a modern twist on ancient Greek myths.
“Hadestown” follows two love stories, one being the young Orpheus and Eurydice. Their relationship is juxtaposed with Hades and Persephone’s. The journey takes both couples to hell and back as they visit the underworld and are unable to return, unless they follow Hades’ orders.
The North American tour stars Nicholas Barasch as Orpheus, Morgan Siobhan Green as Eurydice, Tony Award winner Levi Kreis as Hermes, Kimberly Marable as Persephone and Olivier Award nominee Kevyn Morrow as Hades.
They come together to make lovely music that will bring the crowd to their feet.
The set designer, Rachel Hauck, helps bring the performance to life with her unique stage design. Despite the simplicity of the set, there is an obvious change in scenery throughout the musical. Whether it’s the moving of tables or the change in lighting, Hauck makes sure the audience is able to notice the difference.
The pit also helps bring the show to life. Unlike traditional broadway musicals, the pit is a part of the stage, having roles that allow them to stand up and move across the stage so they really get to be a part of the show.
The upbeat environment of “Hadestown” is perfect for anyone wanting to get back to theaters. On opening night, “Hadestown” received a standing ovation, and the audience received one more song after the ovation, which is a standard practice when it comes to this show.
It’s certain that “Hadestown” was an outstanding opening act for the upcoming Broadway season in Columbus.
