By Chadd Clubine

Hadestown: The Musical is a filmed version of the West End production of the acclaimed stage musical, featuring the five principal cast members from the original Broadway production. I first learned about the film through a promotional email. After my wife told me more about the musical, I decided to check it out ahead of its exclusive five-night theatrical engagement beginning July 24. Having really enjoyed the filmed version of Hamilton, I went into this hoping for a similarly engaging experience. Even though I was completely unfamiliar with Hadestown, I came away genuinely impressed by what I saw.

I haven’t had the chance to see a Broadway musical in person yet, even though it’s something I’ve always wanted to experience. I’ve seen stage plays before, and they never fail to impress me because every performance has to come together from start to finish without the benefit of cuts or do-overs. Although Hadestown: The Musical was filmed across three live performances, the finished film does an excellent job of making you feel as though you’re sitting in the audience yourself. Since I wasn’t familiar with the musical beforehand, it was especially interesting to witness the audience’s enthusiastic reactions to the five original Broadway cast members returning to their roles.

Since the musical takes place on a single stage, the production team does an incredible job transforming the set to convey the characters’ journey through different locations. One of the most impressive elements is the rotating center of the stage, which allows the performers to move seamlessly through scenes in a way I hadn’t seen before. At 2 hours and 22 minutes, Hadestown: The Musical feels epic in scope, thanks to its sweeping storytelling and distinctive characters. The cast is phenomenal, delivering one showstopping musical number after another, making it easy to understand why the production has become such a celebrated hit. At times, I almost felt like I was seeing something I should have experienced in person first. As immersive as this filmed version is, I can only imagine how incredible it must be to witness the performance live, and I hope I’ll have the chance to do that someday soon.

As for the film’s shortcomings, my biggest issue wasn’t with the production itself, but I wish it had included subtitles, as there were several moments when I struggled to make out some of the lyrics. Because so much of the story is told through the songs, missing even a few lines occasionally left me playing catch-up as I tried to piece together what was happening. While the performances were consistently strong, having subtitles would have made it much easier to fully appreciate the lyrical storytelling and catch some of the finer details that I may have missed on a first viewing.

Overall, Hadestown: The Musical is one of the most unique and captivating musicals I’ve ever seen. Even as someone who had never seen the stage production or knew very little about the story going in, I found myself completely drawn into its world. The way it’s filmed captures the magic of live theater, making you feel as though you’re sitting in the audience at the West End production rather than watching it elsewhere.

I also have to mention how special it was to watch Reeve Carney and Eva Noblezada in the lead roles. Knowing that they’re married in real life adds an extra layer of authenticity to their performances, and their natural chemistry makes the relationship between Orpheus and Eurydice feel even more heartfelt and believable. It’s the kind of connection that can’t be manufactured and only elevates an already outstanding production.

Whether you’re a longtime fan of Hadestown or, like me, are experiencing it for the very first time, this filmed presentation is absolutely worth seeing. Just keep in mind that it’s only playing in theaters for a limited five-night engagement beginning July 24, so don’t miss the opportunity to experience one of Broadway’s most celebrated musicals on the big screen.

VERDICT: 4.5/5 – Amazing