I recently watched one of my favorite musicals, Hadestown, at the Saenger Theater. The Tony-award winning show tells the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice, a Greek myth, in a new way.
The atmosphere in the theater I attended twice was nothing short of electric. People dressed in their finest clothes, cosplays, or show-specific merchandise filed in. You could hear attendees share stories in line with their history with the show. Conversations floating in the air of first times, returning audiences, dear memories bringing the show to life before the overturn even began. The Saenger Theater is beautiful as always, with celestial ceilings and statues decorating the balconies.
As for the show itself, this touring cast was phenomenal. Since I went two nights in a row, I got the honor of seeing Miracle Myles and Jose Contreras as Orpheus. Both bring different creative freedom to the role so effortlessly. Myles had this wide eyed, head over heels approach that makes you believe in love again, while Contreras truly played into the optimistic poet, and made you see the world through Orpheus’ eyes.
The rest of the main cast was jaw dropping and I left the theater in tears both nights. Some highlights from the show for me were “Living it Up on Top”, “Hey Little Songbird”, and “How Long”. The vocals and acting made me forget that I was seeing a musical on stage and not viewing a Greek tragedy first hand.
I was curious going in to see how the set would differ from the Broadway version. The touring cast performs without the elevator and turn tables that the show is known for, but this does not take away from the performance in the slightest. Instead, the moments usually associated with these two devices are replaced with choreography and a foggy exit/entrance symbolizing Hadestown placed in the stage left wing. For the iconic moment at the end (spoiler ahead), Eurydice is lifted into the air as if in a coffin instead of dropping, which I personally liked just as much as the original Broadway version.
As a theater lover, I will take any chance to go watch live theater, and Hadestown is no exception. In a world where Artificial Intelligence and screens are taking over, it is now of utmost importance to go out and support the arts. Live theater gives you an experience that is not transferable to a screen. The buzz in the lobby, the laughter during the show, the tears at the end, and meeting the cast afterwards (which I got to do, they were all so sweet!) makes live theater unforgettable. The Saenger Theater especially is a great place to see shows, not only due to the architecture and show choices, but with their student discounts for day-of tickets. Live theater is something everyone should experience in their lifetime, so be sure to go see the rest of the Broadway New Orleans season and other local productions!
