Hadestown @ New York Theatre Workshop

[Brian07663NJ]

A friend invited me to attend a performance of Hadestown the musical at the New York Theatre Workshop. I looked up information about it prior to attending and thought to myself "OMG what have I gotten myself into?" The website mentions that the show is inspired by traditions of classic American fold music and vintage New Orleans jazz. Oh well...I accepted the invitation and enjoy my friend's company so I will give it a shot...at intermission I purchased the CD and sitting 2 rows behind me was Anais Mitchell. She graciously signed it to me and I even told her how this exceeded my expectation!

I loved the presentation of this Greek tragedy! The set was fully utilized. Loved how the choreography was throughout the entire house. The rhythm of the music pulled you in! Was excited to see Patrick Page is Hades. I was so drawn in that at the end my hand flew to my mouth when the "omg" moment came even knowing this is a tragedy! haha

If you have time to catch this before it closes on July 3rd I really recommend it! I am going back on July 2nd with friends. 

[After Eight]

There was some nice, atmospheric music, lyrics that gracefully evoked the world of nature, smooth, imaginative staging, effective design, fine acting, and beautiful singing. The narrative lacked sufficient drive, however, and languidness set in.

[Tony4Thenardier]

I LOVED the concept album and I think it really has the potential to go to Broadway. So interesting, so different, and so exciting! I am a sucker for this kind of work though. 

[Kad]

I'm seeing it on Friday and I'm very excited. I've heard nothing but very positive things thus far from all I know who've seen it. Rachel Chavkin is a visionary director who's really doing impressive things with musical theatre.

[willep]

Seating question for anyone who has seen it:

 

I'm looking to buy a ticket, and since I'm spoiling myself, which I never do, and just buying a full price ticket since I really want to see this, what is the best place to sit? I am guessing the middle section facing the stage, and was going to buy a front row center ticket but then wondered if maybe it would be better to be up a row or two? Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!

[sonsoftheprophet2]

Just saw it tonight. Amazing show! Any seat is fine, since actors moved around throughout the space. But I would go for the second or the third row if I see it again. 

[willep]

Cool, thanks!

[neonlightsxo]

Are they doing rush or anything? I missed the opportunity for the cheap tickets, and $99 seems steep... Lazarus had a TodayTix lotto, any chance of that?

[afterthesun]

Per the website, NYTW's rush policy is $25 day-of tickets for youth (25 and under), seniors (65 and over), artists, and residents of the Lower East Side. It's cash only and limited to two tickets per person.

I spoke to someone at the box office yesterday, who confirmed there are no other "cheap ticket" options (unfortunately!).

[neonlightsxo]

They didn't have rush available for Lazarus, so I guess I'm wondering if it will actually be available for this show. Thanks, though.

[afterthesun]

I called the box office to ask specifically about less expensive tickets for Hadestown and was told about the rush policy, so I would assume it is available.

I don't fall under any of the listed categories, though, so I can't speak from personal experience as someone who successfully rushed the show. Perhaps someone else here has rushed Hadestown?

[Kad]

This is truly a thrilling, beautiful production- the fact that the audience at the performance I attended gasped at Orpheus' well-known look back is a testament to the skill of everyone involved.

I can't recommend this highly enough.

[tazber]

Can someone describe the score.

 

I think it's billed as a "folk-opera".

 

[Kad]

I'd say it's folk music with distinct southern and New Orleans inspiration.

The concept album is on Spotify and it's excellent. I hope this version is recorded, as it's greatly expanded from what's on the album.

[tazber]

Oh cool. I also just discovered it's on youtube.

 

I like it a lot so far.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

How does Patrick Page play Hades? It's kind of hard to top the insanely deep vocal from the album, and I'm worried they might have done something excessively theatrical like hinging on that song about building the wall to keep us free and making him a Trump caricature.

[Kad]

Page keeps an impressively deep voice most of the time. He's not a Trump caricature by any stretch, and the production in no way makes Trump a reference point, but it's certainly hard not to draw the comparison with that song (which of course existed before Trump's campaign and has not been altered from what's on the album).

Hades is portrayed as an aging titan of industry who copes with his loneliness by building and expanding his domain and keeping a tight grip on it, as he cannot keep a grip on Persephone or his youth. Page plays him as a cool, intimidating presence, costumed in a western-style black blazer and sunglasses. He's very much part of this quasi-Southern mythic world that's been created, albeit of a much higher class than the rest of the characters. The production really does not go for any irony or cultural reference, with the exception of giving Orpheus a bright-red jacket that brings to mind James Dean.

The relationship between Hades and Persephone is given a lot of time, and they're made the foil to the love between Orpheus and Eurydice.

[willep]

g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "How does Patrick Page play Hades? It's kind of hard to top the insanely deep vocal from the album, and I'm worried they might have done something excessively theatrical like hinging on that song about building the wall to keep us free and making him a Trump caricature.

"

 

Just saw the show tonight, I am a big fan of the album, particularly Greg Brown's Hades (I've been listening to him for years and he is actually the main reason I first listened to the album). I thought Page did a terrific job and was the highlight of an otherwise still terrific night. It's funny, I saw a headline earlier mentioning the show and Trump and I didn't see the connection at all, then at intermission the people in front of me were wondering if that song had been written post-Trump campaign. But fear not, I really don't think anyone involved here (Mitchell/Chavkin/Page) are the type of people to throw in a Trump caricature.

 

The weak link for me was the guy who plays Orpheus, unfortunately. There were a couple times he had me drawn in, but for the most part he was very "act-y" (SPOILER: boy, even knowing the ending I was rooting for them at the end...but the. I almost laughed at his big turn).

 

But overall a really terrific night of theatre, and if I can afford to go back I will.

[petewk87]

I would love to see this show! NYTW seems to have a pretty restricted rush policy -- I am a student but a couple years over 25. If anyone who is 25/under or a resident of Lower East Side or an artist would like to rush for the show and don't mind having a plus one (the seats are likely to be split anyway), I would be happy to pay for your tickets and wait in line for you. I have been told that the chance of getting seats is pretty reasonable. PM me if interested!

[PThespian]

After Eight said: "There was some nice, atmospheric music, lyrics that gracefully evoked the world of nature, smooth, imaginative staging, effective design, fine acting, and beautiful singing. The narrative lacked sufficient drive, however, and languidness set in.

 

"

Wow! This show must be amazing! That's practically a rave from AE!

[VanillaIceCream2]

has anyone successfully rushed this show? how early did you have to get to the box office? thanks!

[willep]

Just got an email from NYTW that it is extending again, through July 31st! Looking forward to catching it again. They also included a (very small) discount code.

[bwayobsessed]

To echo VanillaIceCream's question, has anyone rushed this? What time do you need to get there? I'd also accept people's experiences with other NYTW shows. Thanks!

[JBroadway]

I saw this last night and really enjoyed it a lot. Beautiful music, staging, performances, design and everything. I admit there were some moments where I zoned out a bit - I do understand what AfterEight says about the drive in the narrative, but I only felt it in a few moments in the show.

It's funny that even after knowing the story for so long, the ending still has such an emotional impact. I've seen Sarah Ruhl's Eurydice a couple of times, and I have the same reaction to the ending in that adaptation. There's something so viscerally heartbreaking about it. Because of that, I especially appreciated, in the very end of the show, the notion that it's difficult for these people to tell this story every night. I noticed Amber Grey (who is amazing, by the way - a real stand-out) was actually crying during the show's climactic scene. 

If anyone is still wondering, I rushed the show. I got there at 10am just to be very safe. I was first in line, and no one arrived for another 45-50 minutes. By 12:00 there were maybe 10 people in line. Keep in mind it was a 2-show day. Not sure how many they sold, but I didn't have a problem getting 2, and I know the group of 3 behind me got 5 - all of which were for the evening performance. So they sold at least 7 rush tickets for last night, even though the website only showed 5 tickets remaining. So maybe they are holding aside some seats.

Has anyone heard anything about a cast album for this? I've been listening to some of the songs from the original album, but I'm not finding it as thrilling as what I heard last night.

[nycgogetter]

have the rumors flown about a possible Broadway transfer now that Fun Home has announced their closing?

 

[blaxx]

I saw this and I wish I was aware it had more the concept of a concert than a play. Some tunes were good; but I was dying to find a stronger narrative somewhere in there. Some of the ladies playing the fates were in musician mode, certainly not acting.

I was sad to see many people didn't come back after intermission.