Hadestown at McAllen Performing Arts Center

This summer, McAllen Performing Arts Center in Mcallen will host the critically acclaimed Broadway phenomenon Hadestown. This mythological story follows a couple, Orpheus and Eurydice as they navigate the challenges of love and poverty while their lives become intertwined with Hades, the Greek god of the underworld. Tickets for this Wednesday 3rd June 2026 showing start at $174 per seat.

History

Hadestown originated in 2006 with a regional performance and a concept album. Years later, the creator, Anaïs Mitchell, developed the broadway musical, after taking inspiration from Les Misérables. After enhancing character backgrounds, it eventually opened off-Broadway in 2016. 

The show went on to successfully tour Canada and London in the next couple of years. It appeared on Broadway in 2019 and went on to set a record for the longest-running show at the Walter Kerr Theatre by early 2023. Hadestown started a North American tour beginning in 2021. It was an underdog at the time when it opened off-Broadway in 2016. However, it has become a highly respected and admired musical for many fans.

Story

The Greek mythology adaptation of the Hadestown musical opens by showcasing Orpheus and Eurydice. Orpheus proposed to Eurydice, but she is unsure because both of them live in poverty. Eventually, they fall in love. 

Hades and Persephone enter the picture when Hades comes to the surface to return Persephone back to the Underworld. During this time, Eurydice becomes intrigued by working in the Underworld as a way out of poverty. Hades is tired of arguing with Persephone about the charms of the Underworld. In his desperation, Hades visits the surface to find someone who will learn to like working in the Underworld before finding Eurydice. She chooses to join Hades in the Underworld, leaving her partner, Orpheus behind.

When Orpheus discovers what happened, he decides to travel to the Underworld to rescue Eurydice. By the time he travels to the Underworld, Eurydice realizes working in the Underworld is not the rewarding experience Hades made it seem to be. Orpheus and Eurydice talk to Hades about releasing Eurydice from her contract and allowing her return to the surface. The journey tests the love Orpheus and Eurydice share.

Recognitions

Reviewers offer constant praise of Hadestown. The Hollywood Reporter called it “a furnace-like blast of creativity,” while Forbes said it’s “an epic celebration of music, togetherness, and hope.” It received Tony Awards in eight different categories, including Best Musical and Best Original Score. Hadestown garnered 14 Tony Award nominations in all.

The musicians 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 album features the Broadway cast recording of the production’s songs. Some attendees see the show after hearing the album, while others hear the music for the first time when attending a performance.