New York Theatre Workshop announced that Hadestown, the new, award-winning and twice-extended folk opera by Anaïs Mitchell, directed by Rachel Chavkin, was recorded live June 28, to be made available on a cast album. The June 29 performance is also being recorded.
“Ultimately people go to concerts and theatre because they are looking for a real experience, where there is chemistry between the audience and the performers and they are all, in a sense, going through a ritual together,” said Mitchell in a press statement. “The cast, band, and crew at New York Theatre Workshop are a truly outrageous collection of humans and artists under one roof, so to capture the magic they’re making in real time feels raw and exciting."
The album will be released at a yet-to-be-announced date on a label within Warner Music Group, and will be produced by David Lai and Todd Sickafoose. Executive producers are Mara Isaacs and Dale Franzen.
The Off-Broadway premiere began performances May 6 and officially opened May 23. The new work, which was the recipient of a Richard Rodgers Production Award, follows Orpheus’ mythical quest to overcome Hades and regain his one true love, Eurydice. The show is inspired by traditions of classic American folk music and vintage New Orleans jazz.
The cast of Hadestown features Nabiyah Be (Queen of the Night) as Eurydice, Damon Daunno (Brief Encounter) as Orpheus, Lulu Fall (Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812) as a Fate, Amber Gray (An Octoroon) as Persephone, Patrick Page (Spring Awakening) as Hades, Jessie Shelton (Futurity) as a Fate, Chris Sullivan (The Knick) as Hermes and Shaina Taub (Old Hats) as a Fate.
The production features scenery by Rachel Hauck; costumes by Michael Krass; lighting by Bradley King; sound by Rob Kaplowitz; choreography by David Neumann; dramaturgy by Ken Cerniglia; music direction by Liam Robinson; arrangements and orchestrations by Michael Chorney; properties by Noah Mease and co-arrangements and orchestrations and music supervision by Todd Sickafoose. Hadestown is co-conceived by Ben T. Matchstick.
New York Theatre Workshop is located at 79 E. 4th Street, New York. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit nytw.org.
