Betty Who will make her Broadway debut in the Tony-winning musical Hadestown in September at the Walter Kerr Theatre.
The Australian pop star will step into the role of Persephone September 5. That same day Tony nominee Phillip Boykin (The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess) will join the cast as Hades. The two artists will succeed Jewelle Blackman and Tom Hewitt, who will both play their final performances September 3.
As previously announced, two-time Tony nominee Eva Noblezada will play her final performance as Eurydice August 13; her successor will be announced shortly.
Betty Who, known for such chart-topping singles as “I Love You Always Forever” and “Somebody Loves You,” says, “The opportunity to play Persephone in this incredible show is a dream come true. Musical theatre was one of my first loves—one of the main reasons I wanted to sing in the first place. So, to have arrived at this place in my life, making my Broadway debut … I am just completely overwhelmed and excited.”
Boykin, also seen on Broadway in The Music Man, Once On This Island, Sunday in the Park With George, and On The Town, comments, “I’m extremely excited to join this amazingly gifted cast, superb creative team, and fantastic crew and staff. I am beyond honored to step into a role created by the phenomenal Patrick Page. This really is a dream come true! When I was much younger, I played the role of Orpheus in a musical called Famous Orpheus. I never thought that I’d have the privilege of telling this story in a bright, new, fantastic, and historical way. After seeing the first scene, I was hooked. I fell in love with this masterpiece and am now I’m a huge fan of Hadestown. I can’t wait to join the show and tell this wonderful story."
Directed by Rachel Chavkin, Hadestown currently also stars original cast member and Grammy winner Reeve Carney as Orpheus and Tony winner Lillias White as Hermes. They are joined by Amelia Cormack, Lindsey Hailes, and Brit West as The Fates. The Workers chorus is played by Emily Afton, Malcolm Armwood, Alex Lugo, Sayo Oni, Alex Puette, and Grace Yoo. The cast also includes swings Brandon Cameron, Max Kumangai, Yael "YaYa" Reich, Eddie Noel Rodríguez, and Allysa Shorte.
Singer-songwriter Mitchell’s folk- and jazz-infused musical layers the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice with that of Hades and Persephone, intertwining the actions—and consequences—of gods and mortals. Hadestown originally began as a theatrical concert performed by Mitchell.
The creative team features Tony-winning set designer Rachel Hauck, Tony-nominated costume designer Michael Krass, Tony-winning lighting designer Bradley King, Tony-winning sound designers Nevin Steinberg and Jessica Paz, choreographer David Neumann, and dramaturg Ken Cerniglia. Musical supervision and vocal arrangements are by Liam Robinson, with arrangements and orchestrations by Tony winners Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose.
