Hadestown at Paramount Theatre Seattle

Coming up in winter, Paramount Theatre in Seattle will host the long running Broadway phenomenon Hadestown. This mythological tale follows a couple, Orpheus and Eurydice as they navigate the challenges of love and poverty while their lives become intertwined with Hades, the Greek god of the underworld. Tickets for this Sunday 24th January 2027 showing start at $100 per seat.

History

Hadestown debuted in 2006 with a regional performance. Years later, the writer, Anaïs Mitchell, stuck with her idea, which she said was inspired by Les Misérables. After enhancing character backgrounds, it eventually opened off-Broadway in 2016. 

The show had successful runs in Canada and London in the next couple of years. Its debut on Broadway in 2019 and went on to set a record for the longest-running show at the Walter Kerr Theatreafter 4 years. Hadestown opened a North American tour beginning in 2021. It was unknown at the time when it opened off-Broadway in 2016. However, it has grown into a highly respected and beloved musical for many fans.

Synopsis

The mythology adaptation of the Hadestown musical opens by introducing Orpheus and Eurydice. Orpheus proposed to Eurydice, but she is hesitant because both of them live in poor conditions. Eventually, they become lovers. 

Hades and Persephone enter the picture when Hades visits the world above to return Persephone back to the Underworld against her wishes. During this time, Eurydice becomes intrigued by working in the Underworld as a way out of poverty. Hades is frustrated arguing with Persephone about the charms of the Underworld. In his desperation, Hades visits the surface to find someone who will learn to like working in the Underworld before discovering Eurydice. She chooses to join Hades in the Underworld, leaving her partner, Orpheus behind.

When Orpheus discovers what happened, he decides to travel to the Underworld to bring her back. By the time he travels to the Underworld, Eurydice realizes working in the Underworld is not the positive experience Hades made it appear to be. Orpheus and Eurydice meet with Hades about releasing Eurydice from her contract and allowing her return to the surface. The journey tests the love Orpheus and Eurydice have for each other.

Awards

Fans offer high praise of Hadestown. The Hollywood Reporter called it “a furnace-like blast of creativity,” while Forbes said it’s “an epic celebration of music, togetherness, and hope.” It won Tony Awards in 8 different areas, including Best Musical and Best Original Score. Hadestown received 14 Tony Award nominations in all.

The musicians behind Hadestown used a blend of folk and jazz music to tell the modern take on the Underworld from Greek mythology. At the 2020 Grammy Awards, Hadestown won an award for the Best Musical Theater Album. This recording features the Broadway cast recording of the show’s songs. Some attendees see the show after buying the album, while others hear the music for the first time when attending a performance.