Changes to Hadestown Staging

[soulmistin]

Posted: 9/5/21 at 4:23pm

Has the Hadestown staging changed now that it's reopened? I saw the show just a couple of days before it shut down, and have seen **various versions** throughout the years, and I couldn't help but notice some changes after the reopening and can't help but wonder if I'm imagining them.

I noticed that the subtext of Eurydice being sexually taken advantaged of by Hades seems to be more textual now than it was before, especially in Persephone's choreography. Other things were a little more subtle and difficult to point out, but I swear they were there.

Did anyone else notice anything? Excuse my ignorance, but I was under the impression that once shows finished previews that they actually were not allowed to do this.

Updated On: 9/6/21 at 04:23 PM

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 9/5/21 at 4:36pm

Oh, boy. Tons of shows change things up during their runs. Disney’s BEAUTY & THE BEAST added a song for Toni Braxton. Streisand regularly cut verses of her songs at matinees during her run in FUNNY GIRL. Verdon cut “Where Am I Going?” at performances she wasn’t up to singing it. The revival of CHICAGO modifies the choreography to suit each actress playing either lead. Nothing is “frozen.” Ever.

[bway0]

Posted: 9/5/21 at 4:36pm

I haven’t seen it since reopening but it’s possible that the Eurydice being taken advantage of is played differently between Page and Hewitt. Hewitt might be more forward than Page.

I’ve written to Rachel Chavkin asking about the direction of a few things within the musical. I wanted clarity on something specific and she wrote back to me. Her answer helped understand my question and I’m excited to see the show again now knowing the direction on how she sees it vs what I, the audience member, was seeing from my seat. It wasn’t about Eurydice or Hades but it’s possible others have also written to her asking about that specifically and it’s possible they changed a few things to make it more clear for the viewer. Or, like I mentioned earlier, it’s just how the scene is played out with a new Hades. Updated On: 9/5/21 at 04:36 PM

[bway0]

Posted: 9/5/21 at 4:37pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Oh, boy. Tons of shows change things up during their runs. Disney’s BEAUTY & THE BEAST added a song for Toni Braxton. Streisand regularly cut verses of her songs at matinees during her run in FUNNY GIRL. Verdon cut “Where Am I Going?” at performances she wasn’t up to singing it. The revival of CHICAGO modifies the choreography to suit each actress playing either lead. Nothing is “frozen.” Ever. "

Speaking of Frozen- they also did a complete rework of the entire show right before covid shut everything down. 

[Fosse76]

Posted: 9/5/21 at 4:54pm

As has been said, no show is truly frozen. When the creatives revisit the show, either because of a new production (such as a tour or foreign production), they may come up with a new idea that they see as an improvement. Creatives also check-in on a show every now and then and make tweaks or subtle changes (mostly direction, but Gillian Lynn famously made changes to the Masquerade choreography in Phantom a few years ago). No doubt some of the returning shows will have subtle or not-so-subtle changes. I even noticed a line change in the promo video for Come From Away.

[MattieIce2018]

Posted: 9/5/21 at 5:28pm

For another show that's coming back soon, one of the actors in the Broadway company of Hamilton has been posting videos from rehearsal on social media and I noticed that in his score, the opening number said "rev. 6/2021." I'm curious what would've been changed.

[the.hard.part]

Posted: 9/6/21 at 3:45pm

I was told they actually brought in Ahmad Simmons who was in the original cast as a consultant since the original coreographer wasn't available during the re-rehearsal process. They apparently worked on creating more opportunities for the ensemble to act as opposed to them just being present when in the background on stage.

[Alexander Lamar]

Posted: 9/6/21 at 4:31pm

Wicked and The Lion King are other examples of shows that have implemented changes to their Broadway productions long after opening.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/6/21 at 5:34pm

I'm sure she's working on the tour staging, which, I'm sure will be different from the Broadway version which relies on the elevator quite a lot. 

[bway0]

Posted: 9/6/21 at 6:14pm

RippedMan said: "I'm sure she's working on the tour staging, which, I'm sure will be different from the Broadway version which relies on the elevator quite a lot."

I went backstage a few times in 2019 with one of the workers and during one of the conversations we had, we talked about what happens if the elevator or the turntable failed. She mentioned that only once during the show the turntable stopped. They do have a, let’s say, plan B but since they’re so used to the moving floor it throws them off when it stops suddenly. She said the turntable was reset and got it working a few minutes later but the choreography is adjusted slightly for stationary floor vs moving floor. So I’m assuming the plan B choreography is what will be used on tour or at least something similar. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/6/21 at 6:24pm

Rachel is such a great director, I'd hope she'd restage it for the tour and come up with something different, but I guess just getting rid of the elevator and keeping everything else is the easier solution. 

[wish i were here2]

Posted: 10/4/21 at 4:11pm

Was on Broadway.com earlier and noticed they released pics of the Hadestown Tour cast and set

https://www.broadway.com/buzz/201365/exclusive-take-a-first-look-at-the-hadestown-national-tour/

Looks like the area underneath the balcony/stairs is going to be utilized in a new way instead of using trap doors!

Updated On: 10/4/21 at 04:11 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/4/21 at 4:43pm

soulmistin said: "Did anyone else notice anything? Excuse my ignorance, but I was under the impression that once shows finished previews that they actually were not allowed to do this."

Ellen (from Miss Saigon)'s multiple solos would like to have a talk...

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/4/21 at 7:47pm

wish i were here2 said: "Was on Broadway.com earlier and noticed they released pics of the Hadestown Tour cast and set

https://www.broadway.com/buzz/201365/exclusive-take-a-first-look-at-the-hadestown-national-tour/

Looks like the area underneath the balcony/stairs is going to be utilized in a new way instead of using trap doors!"

Hm, I'd be interested to see how that's utilized. 

[MattieIce2018]

Posted: 10/4/21 at 10:59pm

I wonder where the drummer will be located now - that area that's being used as the replacement for the elevator is the drum booth in NYC. My first thought is offstage somewhere but that would be a shame with the way Persephone introduces everyone in Our Lady of the Underground.

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 10/4/21 at 10:59pm

bway0 said: "I’ve written to Rachel Chavkin asking about the direction of a few things within the musical. I wanted clarity on something specific and she wrote back to me. Her answer helped understand my question and I’m excited to see the show again now knowing the direction on how she sees it vs what I, the audience member, was seeing from my seat. It wasn’t about Eurydice or Hades but it’s possible others have also written to her asking about that specifically and it’s possible they changed a few things to make it more clear for the viewer. Or, like I mentioned earlier, it’s just how the scene is played out with a new Hades. "

If you don't mind sharing, what was Rachel Chavkin's response as far as her directorial vision for whatever you were asking about?

Also I just saw the show last week and I wouldn't be the person to ask about any staging changes since I was much further away the first time I saw it and wouldn't say I know it super well, but I did notice a bit more of a sexual undertone between Hades and Eurydice than I did before. 

 

[bway0]

Posted: 10/5/21 at 12:59am

.

Updated On: 10/6/21 at 12:59 AM

[Rainah]

Posted: 10/5/21 at 2:00pm

That was certainly my impression from the staging as well. Specifically the scene where the fates act as the 'wind' stealing things from Eurydice. She doesn't react as if there's an actual person there, taking something from her. In that moment they are just a representation of forces of nature. 

[Nolan LuPone]

Posted: 10/5/21 at 2:13pm

I'm pretty sure that Hades enters from a different place during Why We Build The Wall. I thought I remembered him entering from the opening Up-Stage-Right, but when I saw the show on Saturday he entered from the balcony and went down the stairs to the microphone.

[Valentina3]

Posted: 10/6/21 at 10:23am

wish i were here2 said: "Was on Broadway.com earlier and noticed they released pics of the Hadestown Tour cast and set

https://www.broadway.com/buzz/201365/exclusive-take-a-first-look-at-the-hadestown-national-tour/

Looks like the area underneath the balcony/stairs is going to be utilized in a new way instead of using trap doors!"

Is it just me or Persephone's wigs are... disproportionally massive? Or just styled in a way which is not very conscious of actress' actual face shape, at the very least.

[bway0]

Posted: 10/6/21 at 10:53am

Nolan LuPone said: "I'm pretty sure that Hades enters from a different place during Why We Build The Wall. I thought I remembered him entering from the opening Up-Stage-Right, but when I saw the show on Saturday he entered from the balcony and went down the stairs to the microphone."

I thought that’s how it always was? He brought Eurydice upstairs, he closes the door. Then the workers and Persephone come out on stage, Eurydice enters through the elevator. And Hades opens the door at the top and comes down the steps. 

[Nolan LuPone]

Posted: 10/6/21 at 11:30am

bway0 said: "I thought that’s how it always was? He brought Eurydice upstairs, he closes the door. Then the workers and Persephone come out on stage, Eurydice enters through the elevator. And Hades opens the door at the top and comes down the steps."

Really? I saw it in Summer 2019 and distinctly remember Hades entering from the opening in Up-Stage-Right, crossing to the microphone, and then starting the song. When I saw it on Saturday, Hades entered from the green doors on the balcony and made his way down the spiral stairs and to the microphone.

Updated On: 10/8/21 at 11:30 AM

[bway0]

Posted: 10/6/21 at 11:56am

Ah Nolan LuPone you’re right! I found a bootleg from March 2020 on YouTube where he enters at the bottom with Persephone. I’m thinking of a different entrance in Act 2.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 10/6/21 at 3:20pm

Valentina3 said:
Is it just me or Persephone's wigs are... disproportionally massive? Or just styled in a way which is not very conscious of actress' actual face shape, at the very least."

It's not just you, those wigs are huge.

[aimeric]

Posted: 10/7/21 at 9:35pm

You can see in the replica Korean production how they work around not having an elevator.  They have the same open space under the balcony for entrances and exits, just like the US tour set, and it seems to open and close like a garage door.  As seen in this video: