“Hadestown” on Broadway. (Photo: Matthew Murphy)
After more than a year of Zoom concerts, virtual interviews and Cameo appearances, many of Broadway’s best are ready to get back to work. Unfortunately, the pandemic has wreaked havoc on the entertainment industry, with shows closing and actors transitioning to other careers. But many of our favorites have remained, along with a stronghold of talent to bring Broadway back better than ever.
Two shows have announced complete casting for their return:
Myles Frost (Photo: Regina Mogilevskaya)
MJ
The big news several weeks back was the announcement that Myles Frost would step into the iconic role of Michael Jackson. Ephraim Sykes was originally slated for the role, but scheduling conflicts prohibited him from returning to the rescheduled production.
Joining Frost are Quentin Earl Darrington as Joseph Jackson / Rob, Whitney Bashor as Rachel, Gabriel Ruiz as Alejandro, Antoine L. Smith as Berry Gordy / Nick, Joey Sorge as Dave, John Edwards as Jackie Jackson / Ensemble, Ayana George as Katherine Jackson, Apollo Levine as Quincy Jones / Tito Jackson, Tavon Olds-Sample as Michael, Lamont Walker II as Jermaine Jackson / Ensemble, Zelig Williams as Marlon Jackson / Ensemble, with Raymond Baynard, Kali May Grinder, Oyoyo Joi, Carina-Kay Louchiey, Renni Anthony Magee, Aaron James McKenzie, Aramie Payton, Kamille Upshaw, Ryan VanDenBoom, and Darius Wright rounding out the ensemble.
MJ features a book by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage and a score comprised of some of the best-loved, top-selling songs in recording history. Tony Award-winner Christopher Wheeldon (An American in Paris) will direct and choreograph.
(l to r) Reeve Carney and Eva Noblezada in ‘Hadestown.’ (Photo: Matthew Murphy)
Hadestown
When the Broadway production of Hadestown takes the stage of the Walter Kerr Theatre on Thursday, September 2, making it the first musical to play the rialto in more than 18 months, it will be led by original Broadway cast members Grammy Award winner Reeve Carney as Orpheus, Tony Award winner André De Shields as Hermes, Tony Award nominee and Outer Critics Circle Award winner Amber Gray as Persephone, and two-time Tony Award nominee Eva Noblezada as Eurydice. Joining the Broadway cast for a limited engagement will be Tony Award nominee Tom Hewitt. Hewitt will play the role of Hades until original Broadway cast member and Tony Award nominee Patrick Page, who is in production for a new film project, returns on Tuesday, November 2.
They are joined by Jewelle Blackman, Jessie Shelton, and Mariand Torres as the Fates. The chorus of Workers is played by Anthony Chatmon II, Afra Hines, Timothy Hughes, John Krause, Trent Saunders, and Kim Steele. The cast includes swings Malcolm Armwood, Adam Hyndman, Tara Jackson, Yael “YaYa” Reich, T. Oliver Reid, and Khaila Wilcoxon.
Hadestown also hits the road this fall with a North American tour starring Drama Desk Award nominee Nicholas Barasch as Orpheus, Morgan Siobhan Green as Eurydice, Tony Award winner Levi Kreis as Hermes, Kimberly Marable as Persephone, and Olivier Award nominee Kevyn Morrow as Hades.
The Fates will be played by Belén Moyano, Bex Odorisio, and Shea Renne. The Workers Chorus will feature Lindsey Hailes, Chibueze Ihuoma, Will Mann, Sydney Parra, and Jamari Johnson Williams. The swings for the touring production will include Kimberly Immanuel, Alex Lugo, Eddie Noel Rodríguez, and Nathan Salstone. Performances begin October 15 and Washington DC’s Kennedy Center.
