Diversity and the Dynamic Women Behind

Creating a new benchmark for Broadway, Hadestown demanded that theater make space for diverse voices. The show’s modern premise reflects the values of our changing culture through a transformative musical experience that reimagines Greek mythology. Hadestown intertwines two mythical 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.

In 2019, Hadestown garnered 14 Tony® nominations, winning eight including Best Musical. Critics praised the show as a “theatrically resonant tale” (Elysa Gardner, New York Stage Review), and “a haunting gut-punch of a new musical” (Naveen Kumar, Towleroad). Hadestown will go down in history as one of Broadway’s most celebrated productions, but beyond its critical acclaim, it is the show’s diversity that cements the musical’s lasting influence.

The women behind the show’s greatness – writer and composer Anaïs Mitchell and director Rachel Chavkin – accentuate and deepen. Between them, they found compatibility, commitment to the project, and the meaning of excellence.

“I will say it was an extraordinarily empowering experience working with so many women. I felt my instincts were really trusted,” says Mitchell. Hadestown’s great success shows that diversity is not simply about gender or racial differences; it is also about differences in background and mindset.

Initially a DIY community theater project in Vermont, Mitchell developed the show into a studio album and then a touring concert. Mitchell decided to seek out Chavkin’s talents to develop Hadestown into a full-length professional musical. “Rachel has a great feel for music and musicals and how to bring the best aspects of concert culture into the theater.” Hadestown became a product of each artist’s greatest strengths, blending Mitchell’s eloquent songbook with Chavkin’s innovative directorial style.

Chavkin says that she was drawn to Hadestown because of its poetic nature, admiring its balance of innovation and tradition: “I’ve never encountered a score that feels so singular in its style while still taking up some of the storytelling rules that musical theater goes by.” Although Chavkin says Hadestown is the hardest show she’s ever directed, Mitchell liked the way Chavkin challenged her and the show.

Chavkin’s contributions helped escort Hadestown to Broadway, where she was also recognized for excellence. She was the only woman nominated for a 2019 Tony for Best Direction of a Musical, which she won. Chavkin used the platform of her acceptance speech to advocate for the hiring of women and people of color in theater.

“There are so many women who are ready to go. There are so many artists of color who are ready to go. And we need to see that racial diversity and gender diversity reflected in our critical establishment, too. This is not a pipeline issue. It is a failure of imagination by a field whose job is to imagine the way the world could be,” Chavkin said in her acceptance speech.

When assembling teams for her productions, Chavkin draws from the best and selects the most talented artists. By intentionally embracing inclusivity, she builds a diverse company that understands the needs of a global audience.