Video 1: Cast of ‘Hadestown’ performs “Way Down Hadestown” and “Wait For Me” on “GMA” Good Morning America, Premiered Aug 14, 2019
Video 2: “Hadestown” Broadway Show Clips
“Welcome to Hadestown, where a song can change your fate. This acclaimed new musical by celebrated singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell and innovative director Rachel Chavkin (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812) is a love story for today…and always.
Hadestown intertwines two mythic tales — that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone — as it invites you on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back. Mitchell’s beguiling melodies and Chavkin’s poetic imagination pit industry against nature, doubt against faith, and fear against love. Performed by a vibrant ensemble of actors, dancers and singers, Hadestown is a haunting and hopeful theatrical experience that grabs you and never lets go”
We saw “Hadestown” on December 8, 2019 on Broadway. Not only is it an exciting show, both visually and musically, but I was happy and greatly surprised to see two accordions onstage played continuously throughout the show. Liam Robinson is the conductor, pianist, vocal arranger, and accordionist, onstage with the orchestra for the entire production. He has been associated with several Tony Award- winning productions: “War Horse” which which won five Tonys in 2011, including Best Play. Robinson played Song Man in the original Broadway cast. And presently, “Hadestown,” which won eight Tonys, including Best Musical. He was appointed to the positions by Anais Mitchell, who won the Tony for Best Original Score. Robinson attended the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire before studying at the Manhattan School of Music.
I watched Liam effortlessly switching from piano to accordion many times. The accordion was featured in several of the songs. One of the actresses sang, played and danced with the accordion. See above videos. You can hear the accordion in most of the selections.
The musical tells a version of the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, where Orpheus goes to the underworld to rescue his fiancée Eurydice.
The Broadway production opened to critical acclaim and received numerous awards and nominations. At the 73rd Tony Awards, Hadestown received a total of 14 nominations (the most for the evening) and won eight of them, including Best Musical and Best Original Score.
Dr. Wiliam Schimmel shares, “The musical director for Hadestown, Liam Robinson, was my student in accordion, orchestration, theory, etc.” Dr William Schimmel is a leading accordionist, composer and academic, based in New York, where he organizes the annual ‘Master Class and Concert Series (The Seminars)’ sponsored by the American Accordionists’ Association. He received a Merit Award from the AAA for his contributions spanning fifty years plus the “Accordionist of the Year” Award in 1988. He has performed with many major symphony orchestras in the US, many chamber groups, as well as with rock), jazz, and avant-garde groups.
Dr. Leslie Strong commented, “The accordion added spirit and joviality to a magnificent performance of the Greek tragedy, “Orpheus” in “Hadestown” The accordion added a another meaningful dimension.”
The accordion has made it to Broadway again! I highly recommend that you experience it. Additional Broadway shows that include the accordion are “The Great Comet of 1812” with Josh Groan playing the accordion onstage and two dancers also playing the accordion onstage; “Carousal”, “Evita”, “Fiddler on the Roof” etc.
“Hadestown” is playing now at the Walter Kerr Theatre in New York City. See it on your next trip to NYC.
