Upcoming Hadestown dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
What Hadestown is
Hadestown is a sung-through musical that sets two Greek myths side by side: the young poet Orpheus trying to rescue Eurydice from the underworld, and the strained marriage of Hades, king of that underworld, and Persephone. It plays on Broadway at the Walter Kerr Theatre on West 48th Street, where it opened on April 17, 2019, and it won eight Tony Awards that year, including Best Musical and Best Original Score. Anaïs Mitchell wrote the music, lyrics and book, and Rachel Chavkin directed.
The god Hermes acts as narrator, welcoming the audience and introducing the characters, the ensemble and the band, which plays on stage throughout. The underworld is a place of hard labor, and the show draws out themes of poverty, labor and a changing climate without losing the love story at its center.
From a Vermont stage to Broadway
Few Broadway musicals have a longer road behind them. Mitchell first staged an early version in Barre and Vergennes, Vermont, in 2006 and toured it through Vermont and Massachusetts in 2007. In 2010 she released it as a concept album, with Justin Vernon as Orpheus, Ani DiFranco as Persephone and Greg Brown as Hades.
After Mitchell met Chavkin in 2012, the two rebuilt the piece with new songs and dialogue. That version opened at New York Theatre Workshop in May 2016, then played Edmonton in late 2017 and London's National Theatre from November 2018 before reaching Broadway. The original Broadway cast included Reeve Carney, Eva Noblezada, Patrick Page, Amber Gray and André De Shields, and the cast album won the Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album. Hadestown is now the longest-running show in the Walter Kerr's history.
Broadway, the tour, London and the film
- Broadway: Walter Kerr Theatre, 219 West 48th Street, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue.
- North American tour: the first company opened at the Kennedy Center in October 2021 and closed in Toronto in May 2024 after more than 980 performances in 85 cities. A second, non-Equity company (one that uses performers outside the Actors' Equity union contract) began in October 2024 in Waterbury, Connecticut, and was scheduled to run into 2027.
- London: the Lyric Theatre in the West End, open since February 2024, with a separate UK and Ireland tour.
- Film: a filmed version of the production was released in 2026.
Tour dates change, so confirm the current route on the official Hadestown site.
Runtime, age guidance and content notes
Hadestown runs 2 hours and 30 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission. The production recommends it for ages 8 and up, and children under 5 are not permitted in the theater.
Nearly everything is sung, so a child needs to follow lyrics to follow the plot. Anyone who knows the myth knows the ending is sad, and the underworld scenes are moody and dimly lit. The show suits older children, teenagers and adults who enjoy story told through song, and it rewards anyone who listens to the cast album first.
Best seats at the Walter Kerr Theatre
The Walter Kerr opened in 1921 as the Ritz Theatre and was renamed in 1990 for the critic Walter Kerr. With about 975 seats (some guides list closer to 935), it is one of Broadway's smaller houses, so even the back of the orchestra feels close by the standards of the big musical theaters. It has an orchestra and two upper levels, a mezzanine and a balcony; only the orchestra is wheelchair accessible.
Center orchestra
Rows in the front-to-middle center orchestra, roughly D through H, put you at the right height for the revolving stage floor and the lighting, which carries much of the storytelling. Row A is very close, which suits fans who want faces, but the band and the upper playing level are easier to take in a few rows back.
Center mezzanine
The center mezzanine sees the full stage picture, including the band and the raised platform where Hades often appears. Sightlines are generally clear, though the back half of the mezzanine loses some of the effect of the lighting and the revolve. The right side of either level gives a slightly better angle on the band.
Where to be careful
- Balcony: steep, cramped and short on legroom; in a house this size, rear orchestra or rear mezzanine is usually the better buy.
- Extreme side seats, especially house left: the angle cuts off part of the set.
- Tall patrons: legroom shrinks sharply above the orchestra, so choose orchestra seats or aisle seats.
Demand patterns and buying tips
Because the Walter Kerr has far fewer seats than the large houses that host Wicked or The Lion King, good seats for a specific date can disappear quickly even in ordinary weeks. Demand peaks at Thanksgiving, over the Christmas and New Year's holidays, during spring break and on summer Saturdays, and rises when a well-known performer joins the cast.
- Best selection: Tuesday through Thursday evenings outside holiday weeks.
- Day-of options: the production runs a digital lottery and sells a limited number of standing-room tickets at the box office on performance days, as of 2026.
- Planning ahead: center orchestra and center mezzanine go first; side orchestra is the usual compromise.
Every GoodSeats order comes with no digital transfer fees.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Hadestown on Broadway?
2 hours and 30 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission.
What age is Hadestown appropriate for?
The production recommends ages 8 and up, and children under 5 are not permitted. The show is nearly all sung and has a sad ending, so it suits older children best.
Where is Hadestown playing on Broadway?
At the Walter Kerr Theatre, 219 West 48th Street, where it opened in April 2019.
Is the balcony at the Walter Kerr Theatre worth it?
Usually not. The balcony is steep with tight legroom, and in a house of fewer than 1,000 seats, rear orchestra or rear mezzanine seats see more for a similar outlay.
Is Hadestown on tour?
A non-Equity North American tour began in October 2024 and was scheduled to run into 2027, and a separate UK and Ireland tour is running. Check the official site for current cities.