Lola Tung, best known for playing Isabel "Belly" Conklin in the streaming series The Summer I Turned Pretty, made her Broadway debut in the Tony-winning Hadestown February 9 at the Walter Kerr Theatre. Tung stepped into the role of Eurydice through March 17, succeeding Solea Pfeiffer.
The production also welcomed Grammy winner Ani DiFranco that same day. DiFranco’s history with Hadestown began in 2010 when she invited composer Mitchell to release the original studio album of the hit musical on her label, Righteous Babe Records. DiFranco originated the role of Persephone on the album and has taken over that role on Broadway, succeeding Betty Who, through June 30.
Watch highlights of the two artists' performances, as well as co-star Jordan Fisher, in the video above, and check out new photos of the hit production in the gallery below.
Lola Tung in Hadestown
Lola Tung and Jordan Fisher in Hadestown
Ani DiFranco and Phillip Boykin in Hadestown
Lola Tung and Jordan Fisher in Hadestown
Lillias White and Ani DiFranco in Hadestown
Ani DiFranco in Hadestown
Ani DiFranco in Hadestown
Lola Tung and Jordan Fisher in Hadestown
Lola Tung in Hadestown
Lola Tung and Jordan Fisher in Hadestown
Ani DiFranco and company of Hadestown
Lola Tung and company of Hadestown
"I saw Hadestown in February of 2020 and immediately fell in
love with the show,” said Tung in an earlier statement. “I’d had dreams
of being on Broadway since I performed in my middle school musicals,
and after seeing Hadestown I instantly added it to the little
list of dream shows in my mind. The storytelling is beautiful and
unique, the music is unbelievably special, and the show is just so
moving. I am very grateful to be joining this incredible company. What a
dream and an honor it is to be making my Broadway debut in this show!"
DiFranco stated, “I could not be more thrilled to be joining the cast of Hadestown. It’s like I get to rewind to my New York youth and follow the road not taken.”
Mitchell added, “I can’t really overstate the influence of Ani’s music and example on me as a young songwriter. Poetic, bold, radically emotive, and fun, she simply has been a mythic figure in my life, and I can’t think of anything more beautifully full circle than Ani playing the role of Persephone on Broadway. Grateful and awestruck."
The Hadestown cast also currently features Fisher as
Orpheus, Tony winner Lillias White as Hermes, and Phillip Boykin as
Hades. They are joined by Belén Moyano, Kay Trinidad, and Brit West as
the Fates. The chorus of Workers is played by Emily Afton, Malcolm
Armwood, Chibueze Ihumoa, Alex Puette, and Grace Yoo.
The company also includes swings Sojourner Brown, Brandon Cameron, Tara Jackson, Max Kumangai, Alex Lugo, and Tanner Ray Wilson.
Singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell’s folk- and jazz-infused musical layers the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice with that of Hades and Persephone, intertwining the actions—and consequences—of gods and mortals. Hadestown originally began as a theatrical concert performed by Mitchell.
The creative team features Tony-winning set designer Rachel Hauck, Tony-nominated costume designer Michael Krass, Tony-winning lighting designer Bradley King, Tony-winning sound designers Nevin Steinberg and Jessica Paz, choreographer David Neumann, and dramaturg Ken Cerniglia. Musical supervision and vocal arrangements are by Liam Robinson, with arrangements and orchestrations by Tony winners Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose.
The show, featuring a book and score by Mitchell, won eight 2019 Tony Awards: Best Director of a Musical (Rachel Chavkin), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (André De Shields), Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Bradley King), Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Rachel Hauck), Best Sound Design of a Musical (Jessica Paz and Nevin Steinberg), Best Orchestrations (Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose), Best Original Score (Mitchell), and Best Musical.
