I was back at Hadestown after winning the lottery for the first time in a while, and honestly, it felt good to return. Before getting into the current cast, I need to talk about lottery seats, because this experience was rough.
I have won the Hadestown lottery and purchased tickets about six or seven times since moving to NYC. The seats have always been decent and sometimes genuinely excellent. This time, though, the seat gods turned on me. My lottery ticket put me in one of the box seats, and it was the worst view I have ever had at any show, anywhere. When the person in front of me was seated, I could see maybe 10 percent of the stage. Ninety percent blockage. Ninety. I took a photo and showed it to an usher, who immediately understood my frustration and called the house manager over. Always be kind to ushers. They love theater too. The house manager took one look at the photo and set up a freestanding chair for me at the end of the last row of the orchestra. Far back, yes, but infinitely better. One thousand percent better.
No production, especially one that has long since recouped and will likely run for years, should be selling that box seat at all, even through the lottery. It is embarrassing. I cannot imagine a tourist getting that seat. That is the kind of experience that convinces someone Broadway is a ripoff and not worth returning to. That said, sincere thanks to the wonderful staff at the Walter Kerr Theatre for handling the situation with care and respect.
I saw this performance at the Saturday matinee on December 13 at 2pm. The principal cast included Jack Wolfe as Orpheus, Morgan Dudley as Eurydice, Allison Russell as Persephone, Kurt Elling as Hermes, and Paulo Szot as Hades.
Jack Wolfe might be my favorite Orpheus now. No, he is. For sure. His vocal control is extraordinary, and his phrasing feels intentional and emotionally grounded in a way that really works for me. Morgan Dudley has the voice of an angel and stands comfortably alongside the best performers to ever take on Eurydice. She is luminous and clear, and every note feels earned.
I really liked Kurt Elling’s take on Hermes. He brought an edge of humor and playfulness that you do not always see in the role, and it worked well for me. Allison Russell as Persephone did not stand out sharply in my memory as I write this, but I remember enjoying her performance quite a bit in the moment. She felt warm and connected to the world of the show.
The main reason I wanted to see this cast was Paulo Szot as Hades. I first saw him in & Juliet as Lance and was excited to see what he would do here. Vocally, he was perfection. No notes there. However, his thick speaking accent, which I enjoyed in & Juliet, pulled me out of the story a few times in this context. Because I know Hadestown so well, I could follow everything, but I suspect a first timer might struggle with clarity in certain moments.
Everything else about the show remains as perfect as ever. The set, the chorus, the band, the atmosphere. This show is art. It still hits me in the chest, even after multiple visits. I cannot recommend it enough.
I already owned a magnet, but I did manage to collect a few abandoned show cups on my way out. Hadestown will always be a show I come back to again and again.
