Inside the Opening Night Afterparty of HADESTOWN with André De Shields
Hadestown, the new Broadway musical by celebrated singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell, developed with and directed by Tony Award® nominee Rachel Chavkin (Natasha, Pierre, and The Great Come of 1812), kicked off opening night at the Walter Kerr Theatre (219 West 48thStreet) on April 17, 2019 with 3 Drama League nominations.
Amber Gray and André De Shields have been nominated for 2019 Drama League Awards. Photo by Lia Chang
Amber Gray and two-time Tony nominee André De Shields have received Drama League nods for Distinguished Performance and the production has been nominated for Outstanding Production of a Musical, Broadway or Off-Broadway.
Scroll down for my coverage of the curtain call at the theater and the afterparty at Guastavino’s.
Kay Trinidad, Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer, Ahmad Simmons, Patrick Page, Jewelle Blackman, Amber Gray, André De Shields, Rachel Chavkin, Anaïs Mitchell, David Neumann, Afra Hines, Eva Noblezada, Reeve Carney, Timothy Hughes, Kimberly Marable and John Krause. Photo by Lia Chang
Hadestown stars Reeve Carney stars as Orpheus, André De Shields as Hermes, Amber Gray as Persephone, Eva Noblezada as Eurydice and Patrick Page as Hades, fresh from the acclaimed National Theatre production in London. Previews began March 22nd.
Patrick Page. Photo by Lia Chang
Eva Noblezada. Photo by Lia Chang
Reeve Carney. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
Amber Gray. Photo by Lia Chang
The cast also includes Jewelle Blackman, Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer and Kay Trinidad as the Fates. Afra Hines, Timothy Hughes, John Krause, Kimberly Marable and Ahmad Simmons play the chorus of workers, and the full cast also include swings Malcolm Armwood, T. Oliver Reid, Jessie Shelton, and Khaila Wilcoxon.
Kay Trinidad, Jewelle Blackman and Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer. Photo by Lia Chang
Kay Trinidad. Photo by Lia Chang
Kay Trinidad. Photo by Lia Chang
Jewelle Blackman. Photo by Lia Chang
Jewelle Blackman. Photo by Lia Chang
Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer. Photo by Lia Chang
Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer. Photo by Lia Chang
Timothy Hughes. Photo by Lia Chang
Timothy Hughes. Photo by Lia Chang
John Krause. Photo by Lia Chang
Malcolm Armwood. Photo by Lia Chang
Ahmad Simmons. Photo by Lia Chang
Ahmad Simmons. Photo by Lia Chang
Afra Hines. Photo by Lia Chang
Afra Hines. Photo by Lia Chang
Kimberly Marable. Photo by Lia Chang
Kimberly Marable. Photo by Lia Chang
Jessie Shelton. Photo by Lia Chang
Jessie Shelton. Photo by Lia Chang
Khalia Wilcoxon. Photo by Lia Chang
Khalia Wilcoxon. 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 woman in Broadway history to accomplish this creative feat. The show originated as Mitchell’s indie theater project that toured Vermont which she then turned into an acclaimed album. With 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.
Rachel Chavkin and Anaïs Mitchell. 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.
Todd Sickafoose, Liam Robinson, Rachel Hauck, David Neumann, Erica Sweany, Rachel Chavkin and Cody Owen Stine. Photo by Lia Chang
The creative team for Broadway features Drama Desk Award nominee Rachel Hauck (set design), three-time Tony Award nominee Michael Krass (costume design), Tony Award winner Bradley King (lighting design), Tony Award nominee Nevin Steinberg and Jessica Paz (sound design), three-time Bessie Award® winner David Neumann (choreography), Liam Robinson (music direction and vocal arrangements), Michael Chorney, Todd Sickafoose (arrangements and orchestrations), Ken Cerniglia (dramaturgy), and Stewart/Whitley (casting).
Jewelle Blackman, Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer, Kay Tinidad, Ahmad Simmons, Eva Noblezada, Afra Hines, André De Shields, Amber Gray, Patrick Page, Timothy Hughes, Kimberly Marable, John Krause. Photo by Lia ChangFront Row: Patrick Page, Amber Gray, Eva Noblezada, Reeve Carney. Back Row: Kay Trinidad, Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer, Ahmad Simmons, Afra Hines, André De Shields, Timothy Hughes, Kimberly Marable. Photo by Lia ChangKay Trinidad, Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer, Jewelle Blackman, Ahmad Simmons, Patrick Page, Amber Gray, André De Shields, Eva Noblezada, Reeve Carney, Afra Hines, Timothy Hughes, Kimbery Marable, John Krause. Photo by Lia ChangJewelle Blackman, Ahmad Simmons, Patrick Page, Amber Gray, André De Shields, Rachel Chavkin, Anaïs Mitchell, David Neumann, Eva Noblezada, Reeve Carney, Afra Hines, Timothy Hughes. Photo by Lia Chang
Hadestown electrified audiences with its 2016 world premiere at New York Theatre Workshop before receiving its Canadian premiere at Edmonton’s Citadel Theatre in 2017. This winter’s sold-out engagement at the National Theatre in London recently ended its run at the Olivier Theatre. Hadestown was developed with funding from the Eli and Edythe Broad Stage at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center and was further developed by The Ground Floor at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Hadestown was co-conceived by Ben t. Matchstick.
Jordan Roth. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields and Jordan Roth. Photo by Lia Chang
The Walter Kerr Theatre in New York on opening night of HADESTOWN, April 17, 2019. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
Ken Melamed, Margi Rountree, André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
N’Kenge. Photo by Lia Chang
N’Kenge. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
Herb Isaacs, Mara Isaacs, André De Shields and Marcia Garfield Isaacs. Photo by Lia Chang
Anthony Mason and André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
Garth Kravits and André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
John Cameron Mitchell and André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields, Racquel Racadio and Dustin Strong. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
Cynthia Meng, André De Shields and Rose LaBarre. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields and Patrick Page. Photo by Lia Chang
Larry Hirschhorn and André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields, Schuyler Helford and Josh Grobin. Photo by Lia Chang
Patrick Page, Terrence McNally, André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields and Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer. Photo by Lia Chang
Liam Robinson, Penny Ritco, André De Shields and Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields, Willette Klausner and Manuel Klausner. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields and Liam Robinson. Photo by Lia Chang
Dustin Strong, Taylor Mac, André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
Eva Noblezada and Reeve Carney. Photo by Lia Chang
Anaïs Mitchell. Photo by Lia Chang
Anaïs Mitchell and Mara Isaacs. Photo by Lia Chang
Taylor Mac, Anais Mitchell and Jake Heinrichs. Photo by Lia Chang
Jordan Roth and Ritchie Jackson. Photo by Lia Chang
MIchael Chorney. Photo by Lia Chang
Robinson Morse. Photo by Lia Chang
Patrick Page and Paige Davis. Photo by Lia Chang
Patrick Page and Paige Davis. Photo by Lia Chang
Patrick Page. Photo by Lia Chang
Amber Gray. Photo by Lia Chang
Amber Gray. Photo by Lia Chang
Reeve Carney and Amber Gray. Photo by Lia Chang
Daphne Rubin-Vega and Eva Noblezada. Photo by Lia Chang
Eva Noblezada. Photo by Lia Chang
Eva Noblezada. Photo by Lia Chang
Eva Noblezada and Reeve Carney. Photo by Lia Chang
Reeve Carney. Photo by Lia Chang
Reeve Carney. Photo by Lia Chang
Reeve Carney. Photo by Lia Chang
Michael Karns and Kay Trinidad. Photo by Lia Chang
Michael Karns and Kay Trinidad. Photo by Lia Chang
Michael Karns and Kay Trinidad. Photo by Lia Chang
Joey Monda, Mara Isaacs and Lorenzo Thione. Photo by Lia Chang
Renee Mellman, Mara Isaacs and Daniel B. Mellman. Photo by Lia Chang
Marcia Garfield Isaacs, Mara Isaacs and Herb Isaacs. Photo by Lia Chang
John Krause and Molly McCook. Photo by Lia Chang
Adriana Stan, Zane Carney, Marti Heil, Reeve Carney, Eva Noblezada. Photo by Lia Chang
Zane Carney and Reeve Carney. Photo by Lia Chang
Alex Newell and Reeve Carney. Photo by Lia Chang
Rachel Hauck, Taylor Mac and Jake Heinrichs. Photo by Lia Chang
Lisa Peterson and Rachel Hauck with her mother. Photo by Lia Chang
Reeve Carney and Kay Trinidad Karns. Photo by Lia Chang
David Neumann. Photo by Lia Chang
David Neumann and Erica Sweany. Photo by Lia Chang
David Neumann and Erica Sweany. Photo by Lia Chang
David Neumann and Richie Ridge. Photo by Lia Chang
David Neumann and Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits
Cody Owen Stine, Cynthia Meng and Liam Robinson. Photo by Lia Chang
Liam Robinson and Rachel Hauck. Photo by Lia Chang
André De Shields, Willette Klausner and Manuel Klausner. Photo by Lia Chang
Dustin Strong, Taylor Mac, André De Shields. Photo by Lia Chang
Lily Fan and Anthony Paul Arnold. Photo by Lia Chang
Garth Kravits and Joey Monda. Photo by Lia Chang
Kevin Thomas Garcia and Katrina Newman. Photo by Lia Chang
Cherie Tay and Aline Kovacs. Photo by Lia Chang
Kimberly Marable and Melvin Abston. Photo by Lia Chang
John Krause, Timothy Hughes and Ahmad Simmons. Photo by Lia Chang
The Hadestown live original cast recording is available in stores and digitally. For more information on where to get the album and to sign up for email updates for Hadestown, please visit www.hadestown.com.
Adriana Stan, Zane Carney, Marti Heil, Reeve Carney, Eva Noblezada. Photo by Lia ChangEva Noblezada, Lia Chang and Reeve Carney. Photo by Garth KravitsAndré De Shields and Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits
Lia Chang is an actor, a multi-media content producer and co-founder of Bev’s Girl Films, making films that foster inclusion and diversity on both sides of the camera. Bev’s Girl Films’ debut short film, Hide and Seek was a top ten film in the Asian American Film Lab’s 2015 72 Hour Shootout Filmmaking Competition, and she received a Best Actress nomination. BGF collaborates with and produces multi-media content for artists, actors, designers, theatrical productions, composers, musicians and corporations. Lia is also an internationally published and exhibited photographer, a multi-platform journalist, and a publicist. Lia has appeared in the filmsWolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek. She is profiled in Jade Magazine and Playbill.com.
Backstage Pass with Lia Chang 