‘Hadestown’ on Broadway. (Photo: Matthew Murphy)
You don’t need to live in New York City to see Tony Award-winning musicals!
Hadestown (winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards including Best New Musical) announced on ABC’s “Good Morning America” that the show will launch a National Tour beginning in the fall of 2020. In its first year, the tour will visit more than 30 cities coast to coast, including (alphabetically) Denver; Houston; Los Angeles; Minneapolis; New Orleans; Philadelphia; Tempe; and Washington, DC; with more to be announced shortly.
Hadestown is the most honored show of the 2018-2019 Broadway season. In addition to the show’s eight Tony Awards, it has been honored with four Drama Desk Awards, six Outer Critics Circle Awards including Outstanding New Broadway Musical and the Drama League Award for Outstanding Production of a Musical.
The acclaimed new musical is by celebrated singer-songwriter and Tony Award winner Anaïs Mitchell and developed with innovative director and Tony Award winner Rachel Chavkin. Hadestown marks the first time in over a decade that a woman has been the sole author of a musical: writing the music, lyrics, and book, and is the fourth time in Broadway history a woman has accomplished this creative feat.
Producers Mara Isaacs, Dale Franzen, Hunter Arnold, and Tom Kirdahy said jointly, “Throughout its development, Hadestown has been deeply influenced by diverse audiences around the world. We have been overwhelmed by the response on Broadway and are thrilled and humbled to now share this beautiful story, written and directed by two amazingly talented women, with audiences across the country.”
‘Once On This Island’ (Photo: Joan Marcus)
Once On This Island, which won the 2018 Tony Award for Best Revival of Musical, also hits the road, helmed, once again, by director Michael Arden. The touring production with feature “American Idol”‘s Tamyra Gray as Papa Ge and Courtnee Carter in the lead role of Ti Moune.
“This company of Once On This Island is truly an embarrassment of riches for me as a director. I cannot wait for audiences across the country to witness this group of incredible actors transport them to our island,” said Arden on BroadwayWorld.com. The touring production will also try to capture a bit of the revival’s immersive experience with onstage seating.
“At each performance, there will be onstage seating, creating a unique experience within the footprint of every theater we play,” said Arden. “Audiences will be invited to put their feet in the sand and surround our company, becoming part of the show. It’s our goal to give all audiences a unique perspective of the communal nature of what theater can be in hopes that Once On This Island‘s story of love, hope and forgiveness might inspire young minds and hearts all across the United States to lead their lives with compassion and empathy.”
