HADESTOWN pro-shot film breaks box office records

The pro-shot was released in American cinemas over the weekend and has already grossed $10.2 million across just under 2000 cinemas. The initial run of screenings was only going to be five days, but due to success and popular demand, the film's run has been extended indefinitely, with new dates and showtimes being added. The film will see a UK release in October.

Hadestown was filmed during three live performances at London’s Lyric Theatre on February 28 and March 1, 2025. Several of the original Broadway cast returned to star for the filming, including Reeve Carney as Orpheus, André De Shields as Hermes, Amber Gray as Persephone, Eva Noblezada as Eurydice, and Patrick Page as Hades. Fun fact: Reeve Carney and Eva Noblezada, who play tragic lovers Orpheus and Euridyce, first met during the original Broadway run and got married last year!

Blending American songwriting traditions, from indie folk, to pop, blues, and New Orleans-inspired jazz, Hadestown is a reimagining and retelling of the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, whose star-crossed love for each other takes them into the heart of the underworld, ruled by the tyrant Hades and his jaded wife Persephone. It has music, lyrics, and book by acclaimed Tony and Grammy-winning singer-songwriter and BBC Radio 2 Folk Award-winner Anaïs Mitchell, who originated Hadestown as an indie theatre project and acclaimed album.

We're seeing more and more theatre productions being filmed in recent years. Hamilton was filmed in 2016, with much of the original cast starring, and released for streaming on Disney+. This month, a performance of Oh, Mary! will be filmed, though there has been no official confirmation about whether it will be released in cinemas or on a streaming platform. This has raised an interesting debate about the impact of filming live theatre productions. On one hand, it makes theatre accessible to those who otherwise wouldn't have been able to see those productions, whether due to the rising cost of theatre tickets or because they don't live in a city like London or New York. It also gives fans of a particular show the chance to see original cast members perform. On the other hand, film can never truly be a substitute for live theatre: the uniqueness of each performance, the chance to see actors live and breathe the roles in real time, and the communal experience.

While you wait for the film to release in the UK this autumn, Hadestown, which recently announced an extension, continues to play at the Lyric Theatre until 27 June 2027.

Hadestown Tickets