Write-Up: Bailey Guinigundo
Photos: Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade
(Dr. Phillips, Orlando FL) The touring production of Hadestown arrived at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts for a short but unforgettable run from November 28 through November 30, 2025. Opening night proved to be a powerful and emotional experience—one that invited the audience to surrender completely to the show’s sweeping music, mythic storytelling, and raw humanity.
A Brief, Spoiler-Free Synopsis
Hadestown reimagines the ancient Greek myths of Orpheus and Eurydice, and Hades and Persephone, transporting them into a stark, industrial, Depression-era world of folk, jazz, and blues. Through narration, song, and movement, the story follows two lovers navigating harsh realities, temptations, and the pull between freedom and security. Rather than relying on literal retellings, the musical leans into metaphors, emotion, and atmosphere—offering a timeless exploration of love, choice, and consequence without revealing any of the story’s defining twists.
A Deeply Emotional Interpretation
This touring cast leaned fully into the emotional core of Hadestown, allowing audiences to feel the fragility, hope, danger, and devotion embedded in the show’s dual love stories. It was an interpretation rooted in vulnerability and resonance—one that made the mythological world accessible, immediate, and deeply human.
Cast Highlights
Nickolaus Colon – Hades
Nickolaus Colon’s performance as Hades was commanding from the moment he stepped on stage. His bass voice was immense—otherworldly in depth and power—yet never overshadowed the emotional nuance he brought to the role. Colon balanced dominance with vulnerability, revealing a ruler whose authority is unquestionable but whose buried emotions seep through in telling moments. His presence alone shifted the atmosphere in the theater.
Megan Colton – Eurydice
Megan Colton delivered a captivating Eurydice whose evolution was one of the evening’s most compelling arcs. Beginning with a fierce, independent spirit, she gradually unfolded into a tender, sincere love interest—yet never lost the backbone that defined her early portrayal. Her emotional range was extraordinary: resolute confidence, fragile insecurity, grounded hope, and aching longing. Vocally, she was expressive and stunning, giving Eurydice both strength and breathless vulnerability.
Jose Contreras – Orpheus
As Orpheus, Jose Contreras brought a refreshing authenticity and warmth to the stage. He was instantly likable, embodying the idealism and pure-hearted devotion at the center of Orpheus’ story. Contreras tapped into the emotional bravery of the character—the willingness to love fully, openly, and without reserve. His voice carried hope; his acting carried truth. It was a beautifully genuine performance.
Rudy Foster – Hermes
Rudy Foster’s Hermes was charismatic, playful, and effortlessly engaging—a true master of guiding the audience through this mythic tale. His carefree energy lit up the stage, but it was his emotional shifts that truly held the audience captive. When he smiled, the crowd smiled; when he grew somber or tense, a hush fell across the room. Foster was the perfect narrator: magnetic, expressive, and deeply in tune with the show’s emotional rhythms.
Namisa Mdlalose Bizana – Persephone
Namisa Mdlalose Bizana delivered a spirited and heartfelt Persephone. She was wonderfully expressive, bringing warmth, humor, and poignancy to every scene. Her vocals burst with power—rich, resonant, and full of emotion—and her stage presence radiated with the chaotic joy and aching melancholy that define Persephone. She was both comforting and heartbreaking, a perfect embodiment of the character’s duality.
Miriam Navarette, Alli Sutton, Jayna Wescoatt (The Fates)
The Fates were a captivating trio—eerie, alluring, and spellbinding every moment they appeared. Navarette, Sutton, and Wescoatt each brought their own flavor of intensity, weaving together harmonies that were as haunting as their physical performances. Their facial expressions, timing, and movements created a mesmerizing contrast to Hades’ commanding fire, making them an essential atmospheric force in the show.
Jonie Bernard, Ryaan Farhadi, Erin McMillen, Miracle Myles, Joe Rumi (Workers Chorus)
The five-member Workers Chorus was an incredible backbone to the production. Each performer brought strong theatrical instincts and rigorous training to the stage—from backgrounds in touring theatre, regional productions, university programs, and professional dance work. Their collective experience showed in every moment: the discipline of their choreography, the emotional clarity in their ensemble storytelling, and the physical intensity required to create the “Underworld” through movement alone.
Their performances were immersive and committed—at times transporting the audience straight into the industrial grit and shadowed depths of Hadestown. Whether through synchronized physicality or raw vocal power, they elevated the entire show and enriched its thematic weight.
A Stunning Production
Visually, Hadestown was breathtaking. The scenic design painted a world that was both mythic and familiar, with dramatic lighting that shifted seamlessly between warmth, despair, tension, and transcendence. The imagery was rich, evocative, and cinematic—full of silhouettes, glowing amber tones, and stark industrial shadows.
The mythological storyline was easy to follow and emotionally potent, allowing the audience to invest fully in the parallel love stories of Hades and Persephone, and Eurydice and Orpheus. The pacing balanced intensity with introspection, giving viewers time to feel every rise and fall in these characters’ journeys.
The production was beautifully cast, emotionally cohesive, and profoundly moving. It guided audiences through love, loss, yearning, power, courage, and hope—making it effortless to connect with and empathize with each figure onstage.
Final Thoughts
This Hadestown tour delivered a magnificent, emotionally rich experience that soared from start to finish. With a gifted cast, remarkable music, and visuals that linger long after, it is a production well worth seeing. Highly recommend catching this extraordinary show before its final curtain call in Orlando on Sunday!!
Photos: Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade
(Dr. Phillips, Orlando FL) The touring production of Hadestown arrived at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts for a short but unforgettable run from November 28 through November 30, 2025. Opening night proved to be a powerful and emotional experience—one that invited the audience to surrender completely to the show’s sweeping music, mythic storytelling, and raw humanity.
A Brief, Spoiler-Free Synopsis
Hadestown reimagines the ancient Greek myths of Orpheus and Eurydice, and Hades and Persephone, transporting them into a stark, industrial, Depression-era world of folk, jazz, and blues. Through narration, song, and movement, the story follows two lovers navigating harsh realities, temptations, and the pull between freedom and security. Rather than relying on literal retellings, the musical leans into metaphors, emotion, and atmosphere—offering a timeless exploration of love, choice, and consequence without revealing any of the story’s defining twists.
A Deeply Emotional Interpretation
This touring cast leaned fully into the emotional core of Hadestown, allowing audiences to feel the fragility, hope, danger, and devotion embedded in the show’s dual love stories. It was an interpretation rooted in vulnerability and resonance—one that made the mythological world accessible, immediate, and deeply human.
Cast Highlights
Nickolaus Colon – Hades
Nickolaus Colon’s performance as Hades was commanding from the moment he stepped on stage. His bass voice was immense—otherworldly in depth and power—yet never overshadowed the emotional nuance he brought to the role. Colon balanced dominance with vulnerability, revealing a ruler whose authority is unquestionable but whose buried emotions seep through in telling moments. His presence alone shifted the atmosphere in the theater.
Megan Colton – Eurydice
Megan Colton delivered a captivating Eurydice whose evolution was one of the evening’s most compelling arcs. Beginning with a fierce, independent spirit, she gradually unfolded into a tender, sincere love interest—yet never lost the backbone that defined her early portrayal. Her emotional range was extraordinary: resolute confidence, fragile insecurity, grounded hope, and aching longing. Vocally, she was expressive and stunning, giving Eurydice both strength and breathless vulnerability.
Jose Contreras – Orpheus
As Orpheus, Jose Contreras brought a refreshing authenticity and warmth to the stage. He was instantly likable, embodying the idealism and pure-hearted devotion at the center of Orpheus’ story. Contreras tapped into the emotional bravery of the character—the willingness to love fully, openly, and without reserve. His voice carried hope; his acting carried truth. It was a beautifully genuine performance.
Rudy Foster – Hermes
Rudy Foster’s Hermes was charismatic, playful, and effortlessly engaging—a true master of guiding the audience through this mythic tale. His carefree energy lit up the stage, but it was his emotional shifts that truly held the audience captive. When he smiled, the crowd smiled; when he grew somber or tense, a hush fell across the room. Foster was the perfect narrator: magnetic, expressive, and deeply in tune with the show’s emotional rhythms.
Namisa Mdlalose Bizana – Persephone
Namisa Mdlalose Bizana delivered a spirited and heartfelt Persephone. She was wonderfully expressive, bringing warmth, humor, and poignancy to every scene. Her vocals burst with power—rich, resonant, and full of emotion—and her stage presence radiated with the chaotic joy and aching melancholy that define Persephone. She was both comforting and heartbreaking, a perfect embodiment of the character’s duality.
Miriam Navarette, Alli Sutton, Jayna Wescoatt (The Fates)
The Fates were a captivating trio—eerie, alluring, and spellbinding every moment they appeared. Navarette, Sutton, and Wescoatt each brought their own flavor of intensity, weaving together harmonies that were as haunting as their physical performances. Their facial expressions, timing, and movements created a mesmerizing contrast to Hades’ commanding fire, making them an essential atmospheric force in the show.
Jonie Bernard, Ryaan Farhadi, Erin McMillen, Miracle Myles, Joe Rumi (Workers Chorus)
The five-member Workers Chorus was an incredible backbone to the production. Each performer brought strong theatrical instincts and rigorous training to the stage—from backgrounds in touring theatre, regional productions, university programs, and professional dance work. Their collective experience showed in every moment: the discipline of their choreography, the emotional clarity in their ensemble storytelling, and the physical intensity required to create the “Underworld” through movement alone.
Their performances were immersive and committed—at times transporting the audience straight into the industrial grit and shadowed depths of Hadestown. Whether through synchronized physicality or raw vocal power, they elevated the entire show and enriched its thematic weight.
A Stunning Production
Visually, Hadestown was breathtaking. The scenic design painted a world that was both mythic and familiar, with dramatic lighting that shifted seamlessly between warmth, despair, tension, and transcendence. The imagery was rich, evocative, and cinematic—full of silhouettes, glowing amber tones, and stark industrial shadows.
The mythological storyline was easy to follow and emotionally potent, allowing the audience to invest fully in the parallel love stories of Hades and Persephone, and Eurydice and Orpheus. The pacing balanced intensity with introspection, giving viewers time to feel every rise and fall in these characters’ journeys.
The production was beautifully cast, emotionally cohesive, and profoundly moving. It guided audiences through love, loss, yearning, power, courage, and hope—making it effortless to connect with and empathize with each figure onstage.
Final Thoughts
This Hadestown tour delivered a magnificent, emotionally rich experience that soared from start to finish. With a gifted cast, remarkable music, and visuals that linger long after, it is a production well worth seeing. Highly recommend catching this extraordinary show before its final curtain call in Orlando on Sunday!!
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