Lillias White to star as Hermes in 'Hadestown' on Broadway
She steps into the role beginning September 13.
Wait for her, she's comin'! Tony Award winner Lillias White joins the cast of Hadestown on Broadway as Hermes, making her the first female actor in the role. She begins performances at the Walter Kerr Theatre on September 13.
White has had a four-decade career on Broadway since making her debut in Barnum in 1981. She won a Tony Award for her performance in The Life in 1997, and got another nomination for Fela! in 2010. Her other notable Broadway credits include Dreamgirls as Effie, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying as Miss Jones, Once on This Island as Asaka, and Chicago as Matron "Mama" Morton. Earlier in 2022, she appeared in the world premiere of the musical Black No More off Broadway.
She now takes on the role of Hermes from T. Oliver Reid, who in turn followed Tony Award-winning original cast member André De Shields. In the Hadestown musical, Hermes is a messenger god who guides the musician Orpheus on his journey to the underworld to rescue his love, Eurydice. The show reimagines Greek myths with folk and jazz music.
The musical won eight Tony Awards in 2019, including Best Musical, and its cast album received a Grammy Award.
Photo credit: James Alexander of Sneakpeek Photography
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. 1 intermission.
What's the age requirement 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.
Is Hadestown appropriate for kids?
Hadestown is recommended for children 8 and older. There is no content that would be inappropriate for young children. Please note that children 4 and younger are not permitted in Broadway theatres.
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.
Is Hadestown good?
New York Theatre Guide's four-star Hadestown review reads, "Going to hell has never been as much fun as seeing a performance of Anaïs Mitchell's musical Hadestown." The show has a unique folk and jazz score and tells a timeless romantic tragedy, and it is among the best-reviewed Broadway shows on New York Theatre Guide.
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