Tony Award-winning ‘Hadestown’ opens at the Bushnell

The show is a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back from celebrated singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell and innovative director Rachel Chavkin. It intertwines the mythical tales of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice and King Hades and his wife Persephone.

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.

Matthew Patrick Quinn, who plays Hades, said his original career goal was to make films. Then a new neighbor introduced him to the world of musical theater. Once he decided he wanted to try his hand at theater, the then 14-year-old tried out for the local community production of “The Wizard of Oz.”

“I had never auditioned, never sang a lick of music before, and they asked me to read for Scarecrow,” Quinn said.

Though he did not get the part, he did get to play a flying monkey.  More importantly, he received some encouragement from the show’s leadership.

“The guy pulled me aside and asked me if I’d ever done this before. When I told him no, he said I had a lot of natural talent and he would have cast me as the Scarecrow, but they were trying to use high school kids for the lead,” he said.

The director cast Quinn as a flying monkey to get his feet wet, the actor recalled.

Quinn said “Hadestown” is an “inventive re-imagining of ancient Greek mythology.” He described Mitchell as a popular folk singer who had worked on “Hadestown” for years, sharing  it on the festival and Renaissance faire circuit until it was finally ready for its Broadway debut.

The audience has “so many reasons to love this show,” Quinn said. One of his personal favorite things is how diverse the cast is.

“It’s such a diverse casting process. When you talk about diversity in Broadway, it has become a huge conversation over the last few years. But ‘Hadestown’ really nails it,” he said. 

Quinn said there’s no “rhyme or reason” as to who gets what role.

“They’re  all shapes, sizes, and colors, and they’re all presented unapologetically. – It’s not important and it shouldn’t be — they’re  just actors, vessels for telling the story,” he said.

And the story does not shy away from important topics — big business, enduring love, self-sacrifice, self-doubt,  and even references to global warming.

Quinn said the audience response has been “absolutely gracious and grateful to see..” While he did not want to give anything away, Quinn said the ending may be a bit shocking and may not close in the “happiest of ways.” The audience, however, still leaves the theater with a feeling of hope.

Audience members will also be entertained by The Bushnell’s local arts stage, which offers digital screens platforming local artists. During “Hadestown,” the screens will be show Sky Casper’s “Queens,” a campy and hilarious drag queen show.

For tickets to “Hadestown” or more information, visit bushnell.org/shows-concerts/hadestown.