“HADESTOWN” ANNOUNCES COMPLETE CASTING, REHEARSALS BEGIN TODAY
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Rick Miramontez / Aaron Meier / Sammy Wolfin
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE
“HADESTOWN”
ANNOUNCES
COMPLETE CASTING
REHEARSALS BEGIN TODAY
FOR THE NEW MUSICAL’S
EAGERLY ANTICIPATED BROADWAY PREMIERE
New York, NY (February 11, 2019) – Today, producers Mara Isaacs, Dale Franzen, Hunter Arnold, and Tom Kirdahy announced complete casting for Hadestown, the new musical by celebrated singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell, developed with innovative director and Tony Award® nominee Rachel Chavkin.
Joining the previously announced principal cast of Reeve Carney, André De Shields, Amber Gray, Eva Noblezada, and Patrick Page will be Jewelle Blackman, Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer, and Kay Trinidad as the Fates. The chorus of Workers will be played by Afra Hines, Timothy Hughes, John Krause, Kimberly Marable, and Ahmad Simmons. The full cast will also include swings Malcolm Armwood, T. Oliver Reid, Jessie Shelton, and Khaila Wilcoxon.
Preview performances for Hadestown begin Friday, March 22 ahead of a Wednesday, April 17 official opening night at the Walter Kerr Theatre (219 West 48th Street). Tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or by calling (877) 250-2929 with the Walter Kerr box office opening on Tuesday, February 19.
Hadestown marks the first time in over a decade that a woman has been the solo author of a musical: writing the music, lyrics, and book, and is the fourth woman in Broadway history to accomplish this creative feat. The show originated as Mitchell’s indie theater project that toured Vermont which she then turned into an acclaimed album. With Chavkin, her artistic collaborator, Hadestown has been transformed into a genre-defying new musical that blends modern American folk music with New Orleans-inspired jazz to reimagine a sweeping ancient tale.
Following two intertwining love stories — that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone — Hadestown invites audiences on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back. Mitchell’s beguiling melodies and Chavkin’s poetic imagination pit industry against nature, doubt against faith, and fear against love. Performed by a vibrant ensemble of actors, dancers, and singers, Hadestown delivers a deeply resonant and defiantly hopeful theatrical experience.
Welcome to the intriguing and beautiful world of “your next musical theater obsession” (Vogue).
The creative team for Broadway features Drama Desk Award nominee Rachel Hauck (set design), three-time Tony Award nominee Michael Krass (costume design), Tony Award winner Bradley King (lighting design), Tony Award nominee Nevin Steinberg and Jessica Paz (sound design), three-time Bessie Award® winner David Neumann (choreography), Liam Robinson (music direction and vocal arrangements), Michael Chorney, Todd Sickafoose (arrangements and orchestrations), Ken Cerniglia (dramaturgy), and Stewart/Whitley (casting).
Hadestown electrified audiences with its 2016 world premiere at New York Theatre Workshop before receiving its Canadian premiere at Edmonton’s Citadel Theatre in 2017. This winter’s sold-out engagement at the National Theatre in London recently ended its run at the Olivier Theatre. Hadestown was developed with funding from the Eli and Edythe Broad Stage at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center and was further developed by The Ground Floor at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Hadestown was co-conceived by Ben t. Matchstick.
The Hadestown live original cast recording is available in stores and digitally. For more information on where to get the album and to sign up for email updates for Hadestown, please visit www.hadestown.com.
BIOGRAPHIES
JEWELLE BLACKMAN (Fate) is thrilled to be making her Broadway debut in Hadestown. This actor, singer-songwriter, playwright, and violinist is a native of Toronto, Canada. Favorite credits include the Canadian companies of Hadestown; The Lion King; We Will Rock You; Caroline, or Change; Dreamgirls; and three seasons at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. Television: “Kim’s Convenience,” “Frankie Drake,” “Private Eyes,” and “Shadowhunters.” Film: Nine Lives and Crossword Mysteries. Her first musical you know my name, not my story will soon be receiving its first fully staged reading in Toronto. Much love and thanks to my family. For Zion. Follow her on social media: @jewelleblackman.
YVETTE GONZALEZ-NACER (Fate) is an actress, singer, songwriter, and producer best known for playing the role of Kiki on the Emmy Award-winning series “The Fresh Beat Band,” where she received two Imagen Award nominations for Best Actress in a Television Series. She played Cha Cha in Fox’s “Grease: Live,” Phyllis on Disney’s “Goldie & Bear,” and Kiki on Nick Jr.’s “Fresh Beat Band of Spies.” Other television credits include: “Madam Secretary,” “Criminal Minds,” “Guiding Light,” and “Boston Legal.” Select stage credits include: In the Heights (first national tour), West Side Story, Sweet Charity, Much Ado About Nothing, 3 Mo’ Divas, and Corridos Remix for which she won a Craig Noel Award for Outstanding Female Lead. Gonzalez-Nacer’s music can be heard on various television shows and movies, and she has performed with artists such as Ne-Yo, Jason Mraz, Gloria Estefan, Justin Bieber, and Engelbert Humperdinck. www.yvettenacer.com. Follow her on Instagram: @yvettenacer.
KAY TRINIDAD (Fate). Broadway: The Little Mermaid (Aquata; original Broadway cast). Off-Broadway: Bare (Diane Lee) and The Roar of the Greasepaint… (York Theatre). Regional: Lempicka (world premiere, Williamstown Theatre Festival), Waterfall (U.S. premiere, Pasadena Playhouse, 5th Avenue Theatre), Allegiance (world premiere, Old Globe), Children of Eden in concert (Aysha; Kennedy Center), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Marcy Park; Cape Playhouse, Cleveland Playhouse), The King And I (Tuptim; Maltz Jupiter Theatre, Music Theatre Wichita), Little Shop Of Horrors (Ronette; Berkshire Theatre Group), Beauty and the Beast (MUNY), The Addams Family (MUNY), Bye Bye Birdie (Casa Mañana). Tour: Seussical. Love and gratitude to friends, family, DGRW, Mike, and God! www.kaytrinidad.com
AFRA HINES (Worker). Broadway credits include Summer: The Donna Summer Musical (understudy for Disco Donna), Shuffle Along… (Astaire Award for Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway Show), Motown The Musical, Soul Doctor, Ghost, In The Heights (ACCA Award for Outstanding Broadway Chorus), and Wicked. National Tour: Hamilton. Television: “Fosse/Verdon” and “Boardwalk Empire.” Other: The Radio City Christmas Spectacular (Rockette). Hines lives in Harlem with her husband and two cats. www.afrahines.com. Follow her on social media @afrahines.
TIMOTHY HUGHES (Worker) is so grateful to be a part of Hadestown. On Broadway, he originated the role of Pabbie in Frozen, and appeared in Chaplin: The Musical. Film and television: The Strong Man in The Greatest Showman (20th Century Fox), Blood Bound, and “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee.” Other favorite credits include Paint Your Wagon at Encores!, the national tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and shows at Goodspeed, MUNY, Music Theatre Wichita, Fulton Theatre, Maine State, Cincinnati Playhouse, Music Theatre West, and Long Wharf Theatre. Proud graduate of NYU’s Tisch School/CAP21. Abundant thanks to Talent House, his loving family, and friends. As always, for Dad.
JOHN KRAUSE (Worker) recently toured nationally with Wicked as a member of the ensemble and understudy for the role of Fiyero. Other professional credits include Davy in Newsies (Sacramento Music Circus), understudying Roy and others in Fun Home (Broadway), Drew in Rock of Ages (NCL and Las Vegas), and ensemble member and understudy for Johnny, Will, and Tunny in Green Day’s American Idiot: The Musical (International Tour).
KIMBERLY MARABLE (Worker) is thrilled to go “way down under the ground!” Broadway: The Lion King and Sister Act. National tours: The Book of Mormon (first national), Sister Act (Deloris standby in first national), Dreamgirls, Hairspray, and The Wedding Singer (first national). Workshops: The Wanderer and Pal Joey. Television: “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” and “Dancing with The Stars.” Voiceover: Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire (Ikawha/Waenglith) and “Every Day is Halloween with Lucy Loud” (Nickelodeon/YouTube). Marable was born and raised in Brooklyn and is a proud Dartmouth College graduate. She co-founded Broadway Serves, which provides volunteer opportunities for theater professionals. Follow her on social media: @misskimizzo www.kimberlymarable.com. Salaams!
AHMAD SIMMONS (Worker) will be appearing as Ben Vereen in the upcoming miniseries “Fosse/Verdon” on FX. His most recent Broadway stage appearance was in the Broadway revival of Carousel featuring the Tony Award-winning choreography of Justin Peck. Previous credits include Alonzo in the revival of Cats choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler, and as a principal dancer in the ABC telvision remake of Dirty Dancing. A graduate of Point Park University, he has toured Russia, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and all over the United States as a dancer with Parsons Dance Company, River North Dance Chicago, and Eisenhower Dance.
MALCOLM ARMWOOD (Swing) is over the moon to be making his Broadway debut in Hadestown! He was last seen in American Repertory Theater’s production of The Black Clown. He has been seen across the country with the 2017 national tour of Motown and the 2014 tour of Smokey Joe’s Cafe with director and choreographer Chet Walker. Regional credits: Grease; Ragtime; Showboat; Hairspray; and Kiss Me, Kate. BFA: East Carolina University. Follow him on Instagram: @marmwood214
OLIVER REID (Swing). Hadestown marks T. Oliver’s 13th Broadway show. A multiple award-winning Broadway, cabaret, and recording artist, he made his debut in the Tony Award-winning revival of Kiss Me, Kate starring Marin Mazzie and Brian Stokes Mitchell, has been seen in Follies, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Never Gonna Dance, La Cage Aux Folles, Chicago, The Wedding Singer, Mary Poppins, Sister Act, After Midnight, Sunset Boulevard, and most recently in the Tony-winning revival of Once On This Island. He has been featured on several Grammy Award-nominated recordings. Television includes “Sex and The City” and “Girls.” He is also on faculty at NYU/Tisch in the Graduate Acting Program. His solo CD, Do I Love You, is available in iTunes. Follow him on social media: @toliverreid
JESSIE SHELTON (Swing) is an actor and multidisciplinary performer based in New York City. She is fresh off the road from the first national tour of Waitress and could not think of a better way to make her Broadway debut than with Hadestown, a piece wildly dear to her heart! Some recent favorite roles include Lady Dare Bellingdon in Conflict (Mint Theatre) and Judith in 36 Questions, a musical podcast in which she starred opposite Jonathan Groff. Education: Carnegie Mellon, B.F.A.; Moscow Art Theatre/Eugene O’Neill Theater Center; Rhodopi International Theater Lab. Huge thanks to the team at Wolf Talent, Andy, and the entire company of Hadestown(s) past and present. Love to Maya, M&P, and new niece Nora. More at www.jessieshelton.com
KHAILA WILCOXON (Swing) recently made her Broadway debut in Ruben and Clay’s First Annual Christmas Carol Family Fun Pageant Spectacular Reunion Show in December 2018. She is a Kenosha, Wisconsin native who graduated in 2018 from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point. There she took on a variety of challenging roles with her final bow being Joanne in the university’s production of Company. Wilcoxon is currently represented by The Mine Agency. She is a firm believer that hard work, patience, dedication, and consistency help you reach your goals.
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