Grammy Winner Allison Russell to Step Into Broadway’s ‘Hadestown’ as Persephone

Singer-songwriter Allison Russell had a song called “Persephone” on her debut solo album, so there may be some destiny in the fact that she will soon step into a role with that name in the Broadway production of “Hadestown,” starting on Nov. 12.

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The announcement made Tuesday by the Tony-winning musical’s producer solves the mystery of why Russell recently postponed her fall tour to the spring of 2025 — a rescheduling which, at the time, she had teased only by assuring fans that it had to do with a positive development, not an unfortunate one. Concurrent with the news of her taking on “Hadestown,” Russell’s reps simultaneously announced the rescheduling of the tour, which will now take place in April and May of next year.

Russell will replace another young Americana music great, Yola, as Persephone. Yola’s final date in the show will be Oct. 20, after which she will embark on her own series of delayed concerts to promote a new album project.

Meanwhile, prior to going into “Hadestown,” Russell will finish up her months-long stint as the opening act for Hozier on his international tour, including a three-night stand at L.A.’s Kia Forum that begins tonight. The Hozier tour wraps up Sept. 26 in Oklahoma City, and then Russell has one last show Sept. 28 at the Pilgrimage Music Festival in Tennessee before she begins preparation for Broadway.

She is also up for artist of the year this week at the Americana Honors & Awards, to be handed out in a ceremony Wednesday night in Nashville.

Said Russell in a statement: “I first heard Anaïs Mitchell sing ‘Why We Build The Wall’ in 2008 at the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara, Calif. She was opening the show at a concert series called ‘Sings Like Hell’ (really) for my partner’s band JT & the Clouds. I was transfixed. When Anaïs told me later that night that she was working on a ‘folk opera’ based on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, all my hairs stood on end — I had a premonition that it would be become a work that would outlive us all.”

She continued, “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 and the Her-storic Tonys sweep in 2019. Impossible for me to fully convey how deeply meaningful, resonant, uplifting and full-circle 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 timeless instant classic. I am 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!”

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The role of Persephone will be played by “Hadestown” alumnus Lana Gordon, who was featured on a national tour of the production, between Yola’s exit on Oct. 20 and Russell’s first show on Nov. 12.

Following are Russell’s U.S. tour dates the spring, mostly rescheduled from this fall, with the Ryman Auditorium as an addition:

APR 30 – Higher Ground Ballroom – South Burlington, VT
MAY 2 – Theatre of Living Arts – Philadelphia, PA
MAY 3 – Lincoln Theatre – Washington, DC
MAY 4 – Royale – Boston, MA
MAY 6 – Webster Hall – New York, NY
MAY 8 – The Vic Theatre – Chicago, IL
MAY 9 – First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN
MAY 12 – Gothic Theatre – Englewood, CO
MAY 13 – The Commonwealth Room – Salt Lake City, UT
MAY 15 – The Egyptian Theatre – Boise, ID
MAY 16 – The Showbox – Seattle, WA
MAY 17 – Wonder Ballroom – Portland, OR
MAY 19 – The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA
MAY 20 – Belasco Theater – Los Angeles, CA
MAY 23 – Scoot Inn – Austin, TX
MAY 24 – Tannahill’s Tavern & Music Hall – Fort Worth, TX
MAY 25 – The Heights Theater – Houston, TX
MAY 28 – Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN

Russell’s most recent album, “The Returner,” and her song “All Without Within” were on Variety ‘s lists of the best albums and songs of 2023, respectively.

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