Hadestown at Bass Concert Hall

Coming up in winter, Bass Concert Hall in Austin will present the long running Broadway phenomenon Hadestown. This mythological narrative follows a couple, Orpheus and Eurydice as they navigate the trials of love and poverty while their lives cross the path of Hades, the Greek god of the underworld. Tickets for this Sunday 22nd February 2026 showing start at $104 per seat.

History

Hadestown originated in 2006 with a regional performance. Several years afterward, the writer, Anaïs Mitchell, developed the broadway musical, which she said was inspired by Les Misérables. After revamping it, it eventually made its debut 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 Theatre by early 2023. Hadestown started a North American tour beginning in 2021. It was an underdog when it opened off-Broadway in 2016. However, it has become a highly respected and admired musical for many fans.

Story

The Greek mythology adaptation of the Hadestown musical opens by showcasing Orpheus and Eurydice. Orpheus asks Eurydice to marry him, but she is hesitant because both of them live in poor conditions. Eventually, they fall in love. 

Hades and Persephone enter the picture when Hades comes to the world above to take Persephone to the Underworld. Eurydice sees an opportunity working in the Underworld as a way out of poverty. Hades is tired of 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 finds out what happened, he promises to travel to the Underworld to bring her back. By the time he travels to the Underworld, Eurydice discovers working in the Underworld is not the rewarding experience Hades made it seem to be. Orpheus and Eurydice meet with Hades about releasing Eurydice from her contract and letting her return to the above world. The journey tests the love Orpheus and Eurydice share.

Awards

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

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