Reeve Carney has set a final-performance date in “Hadestown.” The original cast member will take his final bow as Orpheus on Nov. 19 at the Walter Kerr Theatre. A replacement for Carney has not yet been announced.
Carney is the final original principal cast member to leave the musical. In addition to originating the role of Orpheus on Broadway, Carney played the role in the pre-Broadway production at Edmonton’s Citadel Theatre as well as in London’s West End.
“Hadestown,” which won the 2019 Tony Award for Best Musical, features a Tony-nominated book and Tony-winning score by Anaïs Mitchell. “My gratitude goes out to Anäis Mitchell and all who have touched this show with their divine intention,” Carney said in a statement.
Direct Rachel Chavkin said in a statement, “Reeve helped define both stories at the center of this show — the cosmic love story of a young man who changes the laws of the space-time continuum to save his lover, and the political story of a ‘poor boy’ who gets angry enough to question ‘the king.’ His extraordinary musicianship as guitarist and singer was an endless source of inspiration to both Anaïs and [me] in the creation of the show, and his elegant leadership as an actor and company member, both onstage and off, will be deeply missed.”
This announcement comes on the heels of a number of principal cast changes: Solea Pfeiffer joined the company as Eurydice on Aug. 15, and Betty Who and Phillip Boykin began turns as Persephone and Hades, respectively, on Sept. 5.
The “Hadestown” company also features Lillias White as Hermes and Amelia Cormack, Lindsey Hailes and Brit West as the Fates. The Workers chorus includes Emily Afton, Malcolm Armwood, Chibueze Ihumoa, Alex Puette and Grace Yoo. Swings are Sojourner Brown, Brandon Max Cameron, Tara Jackson, Max Kumangai, Alex Lugo and Tanner Ray Wilson. Casting is by Whitley Theatrical.
“Hadestown” is produced by Mara Isaacs, Dale Franzen, Hunter Arnold and Tom Kirdahy.
