"Hadestown"
"Broadway in Blacksburg"
June 9, 2021
Monday, March 15, 2027, 7:30 PM
Street and Davis Performance Hall, Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre
This performance will last approximately two hours and 30 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission.*
Recommended for ages 8 and up
THIS PERFORMANCE IS SOLD OUT.
"Simply one of the most exquisite works of musical storytelling I’ve seen in my more than 25 years as a theater critic."
— Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times
Welcome to Hadestown, where a song can change your fate. Winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, this acclaimed new show from celebrated singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell and original director Rachel Chavkin (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812) is a love story for today... and always.
Hadestown intertwines two mythic tales — that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone — as it invites you on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back. Mitchell’s beguiling melodies and Chavkin's poetic imagination pit industry against nature, doubt against faith, and fear against love. Performed by a vibrant ensemble of actors, dancers, and singers, Hadestown is a haunting and hopeful theatrical experience that grabs you and never lets go.
About Hadestown
Around 2004, singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell was a 20-something Middlebury College graduate when the melody of Wait for Me came to her while driving between performance gigs. She connected the lyrics to the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, a favorite of hers as a child. The story deepened as she put Orpheus, the young and creative optimist, against Hades, the King of the Underworld, who had a true love of his own in Persephone, the Goddess of springtime, flowers, and vegetation.
In collaboration with orchestrator/arranger Michael Chorney and original director/designer Ben t. Matchstick, Hadestown made its premiere as a small performance piece in 2006 at the Old Labor Hall in Barre, Vermont. From 2006 to 2007, Mitchell performed the show with a group of actors at a number of small venues throughout Vermont and Massachusetts before turning it into a concept album in 2010. The album earned international acclaim, which prompted a concert tour to some 60 cities across North America and the U.K. through 2012.
Along the way, Mitchell’s agent sent a copy of the album to producer Dale Franzen who caught a performance of Hadestown at McCabe’s Guitar Shop in Santa Monica, California. Franzen immediately saw the potential and began further development at The Broad Stage in Santa Monica, also bringing producer Mara Isaacs into the fold.
In 2012 Mitchell saw the Ars Nova production of Dave Malloy’s Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, which transferred to Broadway in 2016. Mitchell felt an immediate connection with the show’s director, Rachel Chavkin, and the two began collaboration on Hadestown, which premiered its fully staged production at New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) in the summer of 2016. It was during the NYTW run when the show set its sights towards Broadway.
Hadestown played two additional pre-Broadway engagements at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton (Canada) and the National Theatre in London. It began previews on Broadway on March 22, 2019, and opened April 17, 2019, at the Walter Kerr Theatre where it remains today. The Broadway production earned eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, six Outer Critics Circle Awards including Outstanding New Broadway Musical, four Drama Desk Awards, and the Drama League Award for Outstanding Production of a Broadway Musical.
This is the first performance of Hadestown at the center.
Photos by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade
* Run times listed here are based on information provided at this time and are subject to change.
FAQs
About This Event
No. Hadestown is inspired by two ancient Greek myths: the love story of Orpheus and Eurydice and the tale of Hades and Persephone. The musical reimagines these timeless stories in a fresh, contemporary setting.
Not at all. Whether you're familiar with the myths or hearing them for the first time, Hadestown tells a compelling story that's easy to follow. Many audience members discover the mythology through the musical itself.
The Tony Award-winning score blends folk, jazz, blues, New Orleans-inspired jazz, and American roots music into a sound that's unlike a traditional Broadway musical.
Hadestown is recommended for ages 8 and up. The production includes mature themes and theatrical effects, but no graphic content. Younger children may find some moments intense or difficult to follow.
The performance lasts approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission.
Yes. Hadestown won eight Tony Awards in 2019, including Best Musical, as well as the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.
No. This performance features the North American touring production of Hadestown. Touring productions feature professional casts and creative teams that bring the same acclaimed story, music, and production to audiences across the country.
A little of both. The musical balances humor, romance, and memorable characters with themes of hope, sacrifice, and perseverance, creating an emotional journey that's both entertaining and thought-provoking.
No. Because touring productions are typically one-night engagements, performers depart soon after the performance. The Center for the Arts does not have a public stage door or designated post-show meet-and-greet area.
Attending a Performance at the Center
The most important thing is that you're comfortable. There is no dress code, so do what feels right for you. Do you want to get dressed to the nines for a special night out? You won't be the only one. Do you feel like keeping things casual? You won't be alone there, either.
All campus parking, including along Alumni Mall, requires a parking permit from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., unless otherwise noted by signage.
Parking is available in the North End Parking Garage on Turner Street at 300 Turner Street NW.
- For many Center for the Arts performances and large events, this garage will be staffed by an attendant and payment ($10, cash only) must be made at the time of entry. This event parking price is $2 higher than the garage’s daily rate to allow us to provide staffing to make both entering and exiting the garage more efficient for larger numbers of cars. You may exit at the Turner Street gate.
- All other times, visitors can take a ticket upon entrance and pay the $8 daily rate using Visa or Mastercard when exiting.
Convenient parking is also located in downtown Blacksburg. Town parking is free every day after 5:00 p.m.
Patrons are always welcome to drop off and pick up guests directly at the main doors of the Center for the Arts on Alumni Mall and Turner Street.
Allowing yourself extra time improves the experience for everyone! We recommend arriving at least 45 minutes prior to the start of the performance so you have plenty of time for the safety screening and to get settled in your seats. Our lobbies and galleries open 90 minutes before performances, and the theatre doors open 30 minutes before the performance start time. Ushers will direct you to your seat and are happy to answer any questions.
For the safety of our guests and performers, all patrons may be required to pass through a walk-through metal detector before entering the theatre. The process is quick and touchless, and you may keep your personal belongings with you. If you need an alternate screening method, please speak with a member of our security team.
A small or clutch-size purse or clear bag is recommended. Oversized bags, luggage, and backpacks will not be permitted inside the theatre. Coat check will be available to check these items.
Concessions from Blacksburg Wine Lab are available for most performances. Concessions availability and locations will be included in the What to Know email for ticket holders. Concessions are available beginning an hour before the performance, so arrive early to avoid the lines and enjoy a drink before the show.
Cameras and recording equipment are not permitted inside the theatre during performances. To avoid distracting the artists and those around you, please turn off or silence your cell phone and put away all electronic devices before the performance begins. Photography, video recording, and audio recording are not permitted unless otherwise announced.
If you’re late, you may hear the beginning of the performance from the lobby while you wait to take your seat — either until intermission or an appropriate break in the program as requested and advised by the artists. Admitting late arrivals into the theatre is timed to cause as little disruption as possible to other guests and the performers on stage. In some cases, you may be seated in an alternate location in the theatre.
You will receive a “What to Know” email approximately 48 hours before the performance with helpful information on approximate runtimes, pre- and post-show activities, and any other information you will need to know before you head out the door.
We are committed to being fully accessible to all patrons and their companions and strive to make our patrons’ experiences convenient and comfortable. In addition to our venue’s universal design features, we offer services and accommodations for parking, seating, listening, sensory support, courtesy wheelchair, elevators, restrooms, service animals, sign language, and visual aids. Find out more.
No. Mobile tickets displayed on your smartphone are welcome, though printed tickets are also accepted.
While all sales are final, tickets to most events may be exchanged for another Center for the Arts performance within the current season. Please contact the box office at artscenter@vt.edu or by phone at 540-231-5300 at least one hour in advance of the scheduled performance to request an exchange. Refunds may be offered in extenuating circumstances at the discretion of the box office manager.