HADESTOWN at The Walter Kerr. Photo by Lia Chang
On August 13, original Hadestown cast member Eva Noblezada played her final performance as ‘Eurydice’ at The Walter Kerr.
Eva Noblezada and the company of HADESTOWN at The Walter Kerr in New York on August 13, 2023. Photo by Lia Chang
Eva began playing the role in 2018 at London’s National Theatre before transferring with the production to Broadway in 2019.
Patrick Page, Amber Gray, Eva Noblezada, Reeve Carney during the opening night curtain call at The National in London on November 13, 2018. Photo by Lia Chang
Original Broadway cast members André De Shields, Amber Gray and Patrick Page returned to the Walter Kerr Theatre and gave speeches, as well as Reeve Carney, who stars as Orpheus.
Eva Noblezada, Anais Mitchell, André De Shields, Mara Isaacs, Patrick Page, Amber Gray and Reeve Carney at The McKittrick Hotel after the sneak peek performance of HADESTOWN on February 21, 2019. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields, Tom Hewitt, Amber Gray, Jewelle Blackman, Eva Noblezada, Malcolm Armwood, Reeve Carney, Patrick Page at The Walter Kerr in New York on August 13, 2023. Photo by Lia Chang
Check out the video and photo essay below filled with lots of tears, love and laughter.
Written by Anaïs Mitchell and directed by Rachel Chavkin, Hadestown is currently playing at the Walter Kerr Theatre (219 W 48th Street).
Patrick Page, Rachel Chavkin, Reeve Carney, André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
Hadestown currently stars Grammy Award winner Reeve Carney as Orpheus, Tony Award winner Lillias White as Hermes, Jewelle Blackman as Persephone, and Tom Hewitt as Hades. For this performance, Malcolm Armwood portrayed Hermes.
Eva Noblezada and The Company. Photo by Lia Chang
They are joined by Amelia Cormack, Lindsey Hailes, and Brit West as the Fates. The chorus of Workers is played by Emily Afton, Malcolm Armwood, Alex Lugo, Sayo Oni, Alex Puette, and Grace Yoo. The cast includes swings Brandon Cameron, Max Kumangai, Yael “YaYa” Reich, Eddie Noel Rodríguez, and Allysa Shorte.
Hadestown originated as Anaïs Mitchell’s indie theater project that toured Vermont which she then turned into an acclaimed album. With Rachel Chavkin, her artistic collaborator, Hadestown has been transformed into a genre-defying new musical that blends modern American folk music with New Orleans-inspired jazz to reimagine a sweeping ancient tale.
HADESTOWN set by Rachel Hauck. Photo by Lia Chang
Following two intertwining love stories — that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone — Hadestown invites audiences 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 delivers a deeply resonant and defiantly hopeful theatrical experience.
André De Shields, Jordan Dobson, Patrick Page, Paige Davis. Photo by Lia Chang
Hadestown marks the first time in over a decade that a woman has been the solo author of a musical: writing the music, lyrics, and book, and is the fourth time in Broadway history a woman has accomplished this creative feat. It also marks the first time in Broadway history that a show’s female composer and female director both won Tony Awards for their work. Earlier this year, the landmark musical became the longest running show in the history of the Walter Kerr Theatre and holds the record for highest grossing musical in that venerated stage’s 100-year history.
The creative team features Tony Award winner Rachel Hauck (set design), four-time Tony Award nominee Michael Krass (costume design), two-time Tony Award winner Bradley King (lighting design), Tony Award winners Nevin Steinberg and Jessica Paz (sound design), Obie Award® winner and Chita Rivera Award® winner David Neumann(choreography), Liam Robinson (music supervision, direction, and vocal arrangements), Tony Award winners Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose (arrangements and orchestrations), Ken Cerniglia (dramaturgy), and Whitley Theatrical (casting).
Eva Noblezada and The Company. Photo by Lia Chang
Eva Noblezada and The Company. Photo by Lia Chang
Reeve Carney and the Company. Photo by Lia Chang
Eva Noblezada, Reeve Carney and the Company. Photo by Lia Chang
Eva Noblezada hugs Amber Gray. Photo by Lia Chang
Eva Noblezada hugs André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
Eva Noblezada embraces Patrick Page. Photo by Lia Chang
Malcolm Armwood, who played Hermes in this matinee performance, is hugged by André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
Eva Noblezada and the Company, past and present. Photo by Lia Chang
Eva Noblezada and Reeve Carney kiss onstage with the past and present company members of HADESTOWN. Photo by Lia Chang
Patrick Page, Rachel Chavkin, Reeve Carney, André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
Rachel Chavkin, André De Shields, David Neumann. Photo by Lia Chang
Patrick Page, Rachel Chavkin, André De Shields, David Neumann. Photo by Lia Chang
Patrick Page, André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields, Mara Isaacs, Tom Kirdahy, Patrick Page. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
Kimberly Marable, Eva Noblezada. Photo by Lia Chang
Interior of The Walter Kerr. Photo by Lia Chang
Company members of HADESTOWN. Photo by Lia Chang
Tom Kirdahy, André De Shields, Mara Isaacs. Photo by Lia Chang
Mara Isaacs, Eva Noblezada. Photo by Lia Chang
Tom Kirdahy, Eva Noblezada. Photo by Lia Chang
Reeve Carney, Eva Noblezada, André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
Reeve Carney, Lia Chang, Eva Noblezada, André De Shields. Photo by Mara Isaacs
Amber Gray and Eva Noblezada.
Passing the torch – Solea Pfeiffer began performances as Eurydice on August 15, 2023.
Solea Pfeiffer and Eva Noblezada. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields and May “Queen” Gilchrist. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields, Lia Chang
Lia Chang. Photo by Kalin Ivanov
Lia Chang is an actor, a multi-media content producer, activist, documentarian and an Award winning filmmaker and co-founder of Bev’s Girl Films making films that foster inclusion and diversity on both sides of the camera. Lia is also the host and Executive Producer of BACKSTAGE PASS WITH LIA CHANG, an Arts and Entertainment and Lifestyle program that airs on Sundays at 1:30pm and 6:30pm on FIOS 34, RCN 83, Spectrum 56/1996 and streams on MNN2. Lia was recently profiled on Asian American Life. BGF collaborates with and produces multi-media content for artists, actors, designers, theatrical productions, composers, musicians and corporations. www.liachang.com www.liachangphotography.com
Lia Chang Photography 