"Hadestown" Captures Broadway Magic on Film

To the world we dream about, and to the world we live in now. 

"Hadestown: The Musical" is a recording of the Broadway show. This modern musical retells the mythical Greek story of Orpheus and Eurydice. As the young lovers try to reunite in the post-apocalyptic world, King Hades and Queen Persephone are having marriage troubles. 

Movie adventures are always my favorite, especially when they take you somewhere new. I went to see “Hadestown: The Musical” at Cape Ann Community Cinema, a hidden nook in Rockport, MA. “Hadestown: The Musical” is a beautifully staged production that blends a tragic tale about hope, resilience, and trying no matter what in impossible times.

Reeve Carney and Eva Noblezada play Orpheus and Eurydice, creating genuine emotional performances and a believable romance. Although a tragic love story, their trust never ends. Romance transpired offstage as Carney and Noblezada fell in love and married in 2025. 

Carney has been seen on the stage in productions like “Spider-Man” and, recently, “The Great Gatsby” in the title role for Jay Gatsby. Carney’s vocals and guitar playing are soothing. He gives Orpheus a gentle optimism. It’s an admirable trait because it demonstrates how we cannot back down even when the situation is hopeless. 

Noblezada brings a powerful mix of strength, vulnerability, and emotional honesty to the role of Eurydice. She has starred in “Miss Saigon” and “The Great Gatsby.” Like Orpheus, she must stay hopeful in this new uncertain world. Noblezada creates an authentic person who opens herself to vulnerability.

Not the only love story at play, King Hades (Patrick Page) and Persephone’s (Amber Gray) relationship offers a darker, more complicated reflection of Orpheus and Eurydice’s romance. 

Page brings a commanding and sinister presence to the stage. He has the deepest bass voice I have ever heard. Gray channels her character’s inner turmoil, bringing to the stage a woman caught between her love for Hades and rediscovering herself.

You may notice that Page is wearing a boot on his foot. Before the taping, Page ruptured his Achilles heel. With physical therapy and new stage direction to accommodate his injury, Page does a remarkable job.  

Andre De Shields plays Hermes, the voice of reason. He guides audiences through the story. The supporting ensemble deserves equal praise, playing a Greek chorus in various scenes.

Director Rachel Chavkin made it an intimate experience, focusing on movement, lighting, and the emotional connection between the characters. 

The scenic design resembles an old industrial warehouse mixed with a New Orleans Jazz club. It’s still a similar stage in Act II, but becomes an unwelcoming environment. The rotating floor constantly shifts the action, symbolizing endless cycles. The lighting also transforms the space with striking dark visuals.

I remember learning about Orpheus and Eurydice in sixth-grade history. It wasn’t until the show’s conclusion that I remembered why the story was so famous. Without spoiling, Chavkin directed this climactic scene with significant emotional impact. She sets the scene with hope before everything shifts in an instant. My heart plummeted into my stomach.

Stories are meant to be told, no matter how painful they are; keep the story alive. We can learn. “Hadestown: The Musical” is a beautiful reminder that some stories are worth telling again and again, even when we already know how they end. 

Even though this was a Broadway recording, I still felt like I was sitting in the audience. The screening offers a more up-close glance at all the subtle expressions and dramatic staging. Watching it in Cape Ann Community Cinema’s comfortable living room-like auditorium made it so relaxing. 

“Hadestown: The Musical” is a worthy experience. I highly recommend catching a showing on the big screen. I would love to see it a second time.