Maddy and I discovered the musical Hadestown not long after it premiered on Broadway. The music is so beautiful, and if you are familiar with Greek mythology, you know the story already. Anais Mitchell wrote beautiful lyrics and music to retell the story of Orpheus and Eurydice. The music is some of my very favorite – it’s haunting and lovely and just so fantastic. So, when I got a notice on a pre-sale deal for tickets to Hadestown at the Straz Center, I knew Maddy and I needed them!

I love getting to have one-on-one time with each girl, and Maddy and I have gotten some great quality time at shows recently. Since she’s older, she can see more variety than her sisters (and let’s be honest, Reg isn’t really into these shows the same way and quite frankly, prefers one-on-one time with daddy to mommy anyway). So, Maddy and I made a day of Hadestown. We started with lunch at Armature works and a stroll along the Riverwalk before heading into the show.

The original Broadway cast of Hadestown is pretty phenomenal. It doesn’t get much better than Andre DeShields as Hermes and Patrick Page as Hades. But you guys, this touring cast was FANTASTIC!

If you’re unfamiliar with Hadestown, it blends the stories of Hades and Persephone with that of Orpheus and Eurydice to tell a beautiful and heartbreaking story. Orpheus sees and falls in love with Eurydice, who is skeptical of him. He wins her over with his storytelling through his music and makes her see the way the world can be. His music tells the story of Hades and Persephone – Hades fell in love with Persephone and convinced her to live with him in the underworld. But, with Persephone gone, the world began to die. Hades was convinced to let Persephone spend part of the year up above, which is where we get seasons from.

While Persephone is above, the people celebrate and the joy is palpable in the song “Livin’ It Up On Top.” But that joy can’t last, as the train arrives to return Persephone to Hadestown, much to her dismay. Eurydice is intrigued by the idea of Hadestown, where someone provides (even if it’s not ideal). While Orpheus is focused on creating his music to bring spring back, he doesn’t notice that Eurydice is slipping away from him.

Hades is on the hunt for someone who will appreciate what he has built and finds a cold, tired and hungry Eurydice. She’s ready to lay down and let someone else take over, and follows Hades to the underworld. When Orpheus realizes where she has gone, Hermes tells him of a back way to go to get to Hadestown to find his love. Eurydice has already realized she made a mistake, but she has signed a contract with Hades.

Orpheus sings a song to remind Hades of his strong love for Persephone, which he has lost sight of along the way. This moves Hades, and he’s left with a decision to make. He can let Eurydice leave with Orpheus, but that would make him lose his control over his “factory.” He can force her to stay, but then she becomes the martyr of the story. So Hades makes this decision – does Orpheus love Eurydice enough to completely trust her? The couple can leave, but only if Orpheus leads and never turns back to be sure Eurydice is behind him. If he turns to make certain she’s still there, he seals her fate and she belongs to Hades forever.

Orpheus allows the voices in his head to convince him that he’s on this journey alone – why would Eurydice follow him? He makes it until the very end, when doubt overtakes him and he turns – Eurydice has been there all along, right behind him. But because he let his doubt take hold, he has now condemned her to a life in Hadestown.

Maddy and I LOVED this show. So much that we are still talking about it regularly. The music is spectacular – the harmonies are haunting and the melodies are stunning. The band is on stage the entire show and becomes part of the show, which adds a unique element. The lighting plays such an important role in the storytelling and it is some of the best lightwork I’ve seen.

Nathan Lee Graham is a delight as Hermes. Just the right amount of showmanship and just overall, such a joy to watch narrate this story. But you guys, I cannot tell you enough wonderful things about Chibueze Ihuoma as Orpheus. In my mind, Orpheus is not just confident in his abilities, he’s also super earnest and truly believes he can make the world a better place. And holy cow, did Chibueze embody my image of Orpheus perfectly! I was blown away by his performance. Wait for Me might be my favorite musical moment I have ever experienced. Between his stunning portrayal, the set, and the lighting design, it was perfect.

Honestly, though, this entire touring cast is pretty remarkable. Hannah Whitley played a beautiful Eurydice and made you feel her hunger and despair. Lindsay Hailes brought the joy and then sorrow of Persephone. And man, the voices of the fates! They add such a layer of depth that is so impactful. But every single cast member, including the band, work seamlessly together to create something so beautiful and rich.

Maddy was thrilled that the stagedoor was available after the show, so she could meet some of the cast and tell them how spectacular they were!

Maddy and I were blown away. I would see Hadestown over and over and over again. If you get a chance to see it at a city near you, do yourself a favor and do it!