Reviewed by Amanda Callas.
Hadestown is a must-see modern musical at the Hollywood Pantages through November 2nd. Hadestown is the rare kind of musical that even people who hate musicals will probably love — and to anyone who already appreciates musical theatre, it is a sublimely exhilarating treat. Hadestown at the Hollywood Pantages is one of those shows you should drop everything to go see.
Hadestown premiered on Broadway in 2019, going on to win eight Tonys and a Grammy Award. This production is a new original tour concept by Rachel Chavkin, who developed the show its creator, indie folk singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell.
Hadestown is the retelling of two tragic Ancient Greek love stories involving the underworld, Orpheus and Eurydice, and Hades and Persephone. Rather astonishingly, Hadestown does not feel gimmicky in setting these classic myths in a stylized steampunk world of fedoras, slinky dresses, trombones, industrial retro-futuristic factories, and shanty railway towns. Hadestown operates from a place of textured thoughtfulness, lush depth, and raw heart.
The luminous Hadestown score by singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell is a palate-cleanser from the hegemonic 1970s – 1990s Broadway sound — those slightly acidic, quippy, sing-song-y, tuneless songs that are always talk-singing, the contemporary pop crossover musical sound is equal parts wisecracking middle schooler and schtick lounge singer. For years, the mysterious popularity of Andrew Lloyd Weber demolished any hope of hearing something that does not sound like a soggy egg sandwich left in the rain. But more recently. there has been a spectacular diversification of the Broadway sound that is nothing less than a true renaissance of this great American art form. Hadestown is a shining example.
With strong, peppery notes of jazz, blues, indie folk, and rock, Hadestown is refreshingly original. The live musicians are prominently featured on stage, although the truly brilliant drummer, Luman Yano Mzi, remained oddly invisible until curtain call.
Hadestown has a spectacular cast, with performances that are consistently bold, nuanced, and deeply felt, with understatedly great direction by Keenan Tyler Oliphant.
Nickolaus Colón as Hades is the dazzling superstar of Hadestown the granddaddy of the underworld, all Jazz Age mobster, Trumpian uber-capitalist, and sly silver fox. Colón’s voice is lavishly gorgeous, midnight velvet luscious and deep. Colón brings delicious levity and irresistible sexy menace to the role of Hades in one of the standout performances of the year. Nickolaus Colón has sparky chemistry with Namisa Mdlalose Bizana as Persephone, in another standout star performance. Bizana is equal parts radiance, mischievous humor, and raw poignancy as a springtime goddess caged in a bittersweet, failing marriage with a gloomy underworld kingpin, sliding into alcoholism while trying everything to maintain her optimism and her natural love of life.
As Eurydice, Megan Colton has a rare luminous beauty, with the fresh-scrubbed but slightly edgy look of a nineties fashion model, and stunning vocal and dance skills to match. Colton brings all the heart and the heat to her relationship with Orpheus, and her moments of raw heartbreak are profoundly affecting.
While there is nothing wrong with Jose Contreras’ Timberlake-esque falsetto, it does not feel like the kind of voice that could melt stone and hypnotize monsters. As Orpheus, Contreras is fine, but in a cast stacked with sensational performances, he stands out for his extraordinary level of averageness.
Costuming by Michael Krass is often quite inventive — with stunning, magical costumes for Persephone, Hermes, and Hades. This a very engaging, moody, enchanting stage to get lost in, with scenic design by David L . Arsenault. Lighting by Aja Jackson is utterly mesmerizing.
Hadestown feels like a particularly special treat in the sumptuous Hollywood Pantages. A historic, opulent Art Deco palace, the Pantages is a spectacular landmark theatre, one-of-a-kind and thoroughly transportive. The Hollywood Pantages is honestly, for me, one of the top reasons to live in Los Angeles.
Hadestown plays at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre through November 2, 2025. Showtimes are Tuesday – Thursday at 7:30pm, Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm & 8pm Sunday at 1pm & 6:30pm. For any performance schedule variations, including holiday week schedules, visit the official website. The Hollywood Pantages Theatre is located at 6233 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028. Paid lot parking is available at nearby lots. For tickets and more information, please visit the Hollywood Pantages Box Office in person or BroadwayInHollywood.com or Ticketmaster.com.