A woman in a bright green dress stands smiling with baskets on stage while several people seated at tables applaud. Musicians perform in the background.

Playing a goddess on Broadway is 'a blessing' for Amber Iman (and her fans)

Q: Who wrote Hadestown?

Anaïs Mitchell wrote both the script and the songs of Hadestown. She had been working on the musical since 2006, when an early version premiered in Vermont, and worked with director Rachel Chavkin to turn that show and its 2010 concept album into a full-fledged musical.

Q: Which songs are in Hadestown?

The songs in Hadestown include "Wait For Me," "Livin' It Up on Top," "We Raise Our Cups," and "When the Chips Are Down." Hadestown is mostly sung-through, so snippets of songs appear throughout the show in place of traditional scenes. Learn about all the songs in Hadestown on Broadway.

Q: Who directed Hadestown?

Rachel Chavkin is the director of Hadestown and won a 2019 Tony Award for her work. She is also a creative consultant on the musical, as she helped Anaïs Mitchell expand Hadestown from a concept album into a full-fledged musical.

Q: Which Greek myth is Hadestown based on?

Hadestown is primarily based on the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, but the musical also weaves in the myth of Hades and Persephone. Learn more about the Greek mythology that inspired Hadestown.

Q: When did Hadestown open on Broadway?

Hadestown began Broadway performances in March 2019 and won eight Tony Awards that year. The show is now the longest-running production to ever play the Walter Kerr Theatre.

Hadestown devotees have long clamored for the Tony Award-nominated actress to play Persephone in the mythic musical. Now, their wishes are coming true.

Summary

Tony Award nominee Amber Iman (Lempicka) currently stars as Persephone in Hadestown on Broadway
Fans have long shared posts on social media about wanting Iman to play the role
Iman discusses the fan response to her casting, the experience of doing Hadestown across the street from where Lempicka played, and the unique challenges of playing Persephone

Joe DziemianowiczSeptember 24, 2026, 04:00

On September 1, Tony Award nominee Amber Iman took over as Persephone in Hadestown, a folk- and jazz-infused take on the Orpheus and Eurydice myth, set in a modern underworld. She continues to marvel each time she arrives at the Walter Kerr Theatre.

“Every day I walk to the stage door and I look over at the Longacre [Theatre], and I just kind of grin,” said Iman, whose last Broadway musical, Lempicka, ran at that venue just a carnation’s throw away in 2024. “I am across the street. It’s been pretty cool.”

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Bolstering a feeling of familiarity is the fact that Tony Award winner Rachel Chavkin directed both musicals. “Rachel had two shows going at the same time,” said Iman. “We did a photo shoot in the middle of the street, and there was so much love.”

Iman is keenly aware that many fans have expressed a desire to see her play Persephone, the wife of Hades and the goddess of spring. “I have been dreamcast 7,000 times. They’ve tagged me [on social media],” said Iman, who first saw Hadestown early in its run in 2019. “I’ve seen every post. I think all that dreamcasting got me here. So thank y’all. But I do believe things happen exactly when they’re supposed to happen.”

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Alongside Iman, Kayko (Orpheus), Jasmin Savoy Brown (Eurydice), Norbert Leo Butz (Hermes), and Ben Davis (Hades) joined the production earlier this month. “It’s a blessing to be with these four other brilliant artists,” said Iman, who’s been getting “a lesson in pacing” performing in creator Anaïs Mitchell’s show. “This is probably the hardest, most strenuous work I’ve ever done.”

“I’ve really had to learn where to breathe, where to rest,” she added. “We don’t sit down. We’re on stage the whole time. That’s something I’ve never really had to work through as an actor. I love when a show reveals different things you need to work on and figure out. You’re always learning.”

Get Hadestown tickets now.

Bridget Gross contributed reporting to this story.

Photo credit: Amber Iman and the cast of Hadestown on Broadway. (Photos by Matthew Murphy)

Frequently asked questions

What is Hadestown about?

This eight-time Tony-winning Best Musical puts a fresh spin on Greek myths, infusing them with jazz and folk music. Struggling to survive, Eurydice agrees to work at Hades's soulless factory, and Orpheus embarks on a dangerous quest to rescue her. Get tickets to the genre-defying Hadestown, which combines disparate histories and music styles into a groundbreaking story.

Where is Hadestown playing?

Hadestown is playing at Walter Kerr Theatre . The theatre is located at 219 West 48th Street (between Broadway and 8th Avenue), New York, 10036.

How long is Hadestown?

The running time of Hadestown is 2hr 30min. Incl. 15min intermission.

What's the age recommendation for Hadestown?

The recommended age for Hadestown is Ages 8+. Children under 5 are not permitted in the theater..

How do you book tickets for Hadestown?

Book tickets for Hadestown on New York Theatre Guide.

Who wrote Hadestown?

Anaïs Mitchell wrote both the script and the songs of Hadestown. She had been working on the musical since 2006, when an early version premiered in Vermont, and worked with director Rachel Chavkin to turn that show and its 2010 concept album into a full-fledged musical.

Which songs are in Hadestown?

The songs in Hadestown include "Wait For Me," "Livin' It Up on Top," "We Raise Our Cups," and "When the Chips Are Down." Hadestown is mostly sung-through, so snippets of songs appear throughout the show in place of traditional scenes. Learn about all the songs in Hadestown on Broadway.

Who directed Hadestown?

Rachel Chavkin is the director of Hadestown and won a 2019 Tony Award for her work. She is also a creative consultant on the musical, as she helped Anaïs Mitchell expand Hadestown from a concept album into a full-fledged musical.

Which Greek myth is Hadestown based on?

Hadestown is primarily based on the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, but the musical also weaves in the myth of Hades and Persephone. Learn more about the Greek mythology that inspired Hadestown.

When did Hadestown open on Broadway?

Hadestown began Broadway performances in March 2019 and won eight Tony Awards that year. The show is now the longest-running production to ever play the Walter Kerr Theatre.

Originally published on Sep 25, 202612:00