taking a chance on seeing Hadestown : The Musical in a movie theater

I knew absolutely nothing about the musical Hadestown. Surprisingly, my twenty year old nephew heard me talking about it and let me know he saw a local high school perform it and he really liked it. I didn’t know what to make of that. My local Regal movie theater was showing a limited number of screenings so I thought I would take a chance. I had nothing better to do that day.

This was my first time watching a musical or play from a movie theater. I do enjoy these performances “live” but didn’t know if the magic of Live Theater would translate across a movie screen. I got lucky with this being my first one, as it was phenomenal! I did wonder if “Hadestown” had anything to do with Hades from Greek Mythology. If you are wondering the same, or like me hadn’t heard about this show, here is a synopsis :

Orpheus, a gifted musician, falls for Eurydice, a practical young woman struggling to survive in a harsh, cold world. When winter sets in and desperate for food and shelter, Eurydice is lured to Hadestown—a bustling, underground industrial factory ruled by Hades. Orpheus embarks on a journey to the underworld to rescue her, using his music to move Hades’ heart and earning a chance to bring her back, provided he leads her out without turning around to check if she is following.

Serving as a parallel narrative, the bitter, industrialized relationship between Hades and Persephone dictates the world’s harsh seasonal changes. Their rekindled love through Orpheus’ song becomes central to restoring balance.

Coming off seeing The Odyssey, which opened back up the floodgates of my love for Greek mythology, this continued that interest in a new and very interesting way. I not only vaguely remember some of the stories of old, but loved how it was folded into a more modern tale that felt both relevant and heartfelt.

Have you heard about or seen this musical, maybe in Live production or in a movie theater like me?