Hadestown at Des Moines Civic Center

This April, Des Moines Civic Center in Des Moines will host the critically acclaimed Broadway phenomenon Hadestown. This mythological narrative follows a couple, Orpheus and Eurydice as they navigate the challenges of love and poverty while their lives cross the path of Hades, the Greek god of the underworld. Tickets for this Sunday 13th April 2025 showing start at $137 per seat.

History

Hadestown first came to stage in 2006 with a regional performance and a concept album. Years later, the writer, Anaïs Mitchell, stuck with her idea, after taking inspiration from Les Misérables. After adding more songs, it eventually opened off-Broadway in 2016. 

The production went on to successfully tour 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. It opened a North American tour beginning in 2021. It was an underdog at the time when it opened off-Broadway in 2016. However, it has developed into a highly respected and beloved musical for many fans.

Synopsis

The mythology 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 become lovers. 

Meanwhile, Hades and Persephone enter the picture when Hades visits the world above to take Persephone back to the Underworld. During this time, Eurydice hears about working in the Underworld as a way out of poverty. Hades is frustrated arguing with Persephone about the advantages of the Underworld. In his desperation, Hades visits the surface to find someone who will appreciate working in the Underworld before meeting Eurydice. She opts to join Hades in the Underworld, leaving her partner, Orpheus behind.

When Orpheus finds out what happened, he decides to travel to the Underworld to rescue Eurydice. By the time he reaches the Underworld, Eurydice figures out working in the Underworld is not the positive experience Hades made it seem to be. Orpheus and Eurydice talk to Hades about releasing Eurydice from her contract and letting her return to the surface. The journey tests the love Orpheus and Eurydice have for each other.

Recognitions

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 won Tony Awards in 8 different areas, including Best Musical and Best Original Score. Hadestown received 14 Tony Award nominations in all.

The writers behind Hadestown used a blend of folk and jazz 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 musical’s songs. Some people see the show after buying the album, while others experience the music for the first time when attending a performance.