Allison Russell Will Make Her Broadway Debut as Persephone in ‘Hadestown’
Written by djfrosty on September 17, 2024
Grammy winner and Americana luminary Allison Russell is set to make her Broadway debut in the eight-time Tony Award-winning musical Hadestown.
Beginning on Nov. 12, Russell will perform as the Greek goddess Persephone in the lauded musical. Hadestown is based on the 2010 concept album adapting the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice by folk singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell, who then went on to create the show’s music, lyrics and book.
On her Instagram, Russell celebrated her upcoming debut, while recalling her first time seeing Mitchell perform the show’s song “Why We Build The Wall” in Santa Barbara, California in 2008.
“I was transfixed,” Russell wrote. “When Anaïs told me later that night that she was working on a ‘folk opera’ based on the myth of Orpheus & Eurydice all my hairs stood on end — I had a premonition that it would be become a piece that would outlive us all…”
Trending on Billboard
After Mitchell released Hadestown in 2010, the project was later turned into a stage musical and made its U.S. debut in 2016. Three years later, the musical opened on Broadway and won eight Tony Awards that same year, including best musical.
“It has been a keen and continuous joy to have a front row seat to the evolution of this great opus — from the 2010 album to Off Broadway to the Edmonton Theatre to the London Theatre and finally to Broadway and the Walter Kerr Theatre,” Russell wrote. “Anaïs has been and is a lodestar artist, writer and friend to me since that night in 2008 … impossible for me to fully convey how deeply meaningful, resonant, uplifting, full circle and THRILLING it is to be making my Broadway debut, starring in the role of Persephone (a Goddess and archetype I have explored in both poetry and song myself since childhood) in this generational masterpiece and my favourite musical.”
Russell also added that she is “proud to be joining the sisterhood of artists who’ve embodied Persephone, proud to be joining this extraordinary ensemble, proud to become a part of this living, growing legacy. This is a World I’ve dreamt of and one I get to live in now. I am excited and grateful beyond measure to be joining @hadestown! See you way down under the ground.”
For Russell, early 2025 is slated to be filled with performances. The singer-songwriter, who has been supporting Hozier’s Unreal Unearth Tour this year, is also slated for a brief run of tour dates in Australia in April 2025, and will then embark on her rescheduled All Returners Tour later than month, with the tour launching April 30 in South Burlington, Vt. and including shows in New York, San Francisco and Nashville.
At this week’s Americana Music Awards — set for Wednesday, Sept. 18 in Nashville — Russell is also nominated for the evening’s artist of the year trophy, alongside Tyler Childers, Charley Crockett, Sierra Ferrell and Noah Kahan.
See Russell’s announcement post below: