Grammy winner Ani DiFranco made her Broadway debut in the Tony-winning Hadestown February 9 at the Walter Kerr Theatre.
DiFranco, who succeeded Betty Who as Persephone, and co-star Jordan Fisher, who plays Orpheus, recently were guests on Tamron Hall. Watch the duo perform a medley of "Epic II" and "Our Lady of the Underground" from the hit musical in the video above.
DiFranco’s history with Hadestown began in 2010 when she invited composer Anaïs Mitchell to release the original studio album of the musical on her label, Righteous Babe Records. DiFranco originated the role of Persephone on the album and will continue in that role on Broadway through June 30.
Purchase Hadestown memorabilia in the Playbill Store.
The Hadestown cast also currently features Lola Tung as Eurydice, Tony winner Lillias White as Hermes, and Phillip Boykin as
Hades. They are joined by Belén Moyano, Kay Trinidad, and Brit West as
the Fates. The chorus of Workers is played by Emily Afton, Malcolm
Armwood, Chibueze Ihumoa, Alex Puette, and Grace Yoo.
The company also includes swings Sojourner Brown, Brandon Cameron, Tara Jackson, Max Kumangai, Alex Lugo, and Tanner Ray Wilson.
Singer-songwriter Anaïs 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.
The show, featuring a book and score by Mitchell, won eight 2019 Tony Awards: Best Director of a Musical (Rachel Chavkin), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (André De Shields), Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Bradley King), Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Rachel Hauck), Best Sound Design of a Musical (Jessica Paz and Nevin Steinberg), Best Orchestrations (Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose), Best Original Score (Mitchell), and Best Musical.