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Hadestown: The Musical will be screened as the opening night film, preceded by a conversation with creator Anaïs Mitchell and MNFF Artistic Director Jay Craven. The screening will be held in Middlebury College’s Dana Auditorium on Wednesday, August 26th.
If you have not seen the incredible Broadway production, you will be astonished by this brilliant “proshot” or live recording of the acclaimed musical. If you have seen the Broadway show, you’ll relish director Brett Sullivan’s innovative approach to capturing the dynamism, richness and electricity of this singular production.
The genre-defying musical blends modern American folk music with New Orleans-inspired jazz to breathtakingly reimagine this sweeping ancient tale. The show follows two intertwined love stories between the young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, alongside King Hades and his wife Persephone. Hadestown: The Musical tells an epic, mythological tale which invites audiences on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back.
The stage production of Hadestown won eight Tony Awards in 2019, including Best Musical, and a 2020 Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album. The show remains a beloved hit on Broadway, and MNFF is honored to host the Vermont festival premiere of the film.
In addition to the aforementioned critical acclaim and accolades received for Hadestown, Mitchell was named in Time magazine’s prestigious TIME100 list in 2020. Her first book, Working On A Song – The Lyrics of Hadestown was published by Penguin/Plume the same year. Heralded by NPR as “one of the greatest songwriters of her generation,” Mitchell comes from the world of narrative folksong, poetry and balladry. She has released multiple albums and toured worldwide both as a solo artist and with her folk-rock band Bonny Light Horseman.
Sharing his thoughts on this upcoming special event, MNFF Artistic Director Jay Craven noted that “I couldn’t be happier that Tony and Grammy winner Anaïs Mitchell will join us for our opening night at MNFF12, which will pay tribute to her extraordinary imagination and success as the creator of Hadestown, which has exceeded all expectations – with all ages – and is now touring worldwide.”
Tickets are NOW available for purchase on the MNFF website and can be accessed via the button link below. Your purchase of an Opening Night Ticket includes entry to both the film and the Opening Night AfterParty at the Winter Garden, located at the Axinn Center on the Middlebury College campus.
Due to limited availability for this exciting event, ticket purchases are limited to 2 per buyer. Please note that Combo Passholders already have Opening Night Tickets built into their pass, and DO NOT need to purchase an additional ticket!
We also have a small number of Combo Passes (All Access + Opening Night) still available!