Bringing Characters to Life on the Stage
As a lifelong musical theater enthusiast, I’ve always been fascinated by the art of character transformation. There’s something truly magical about watching an actor seamlessly inhabit a role, effortlessly conveying the nuances of a character’s personality, emotions, and motivations. It’s a skill that requires a unique blend of technical prowess, creative imagination, and emotional depth.
Recently, I had the opportunity to delve deeper into this captivating aspect of the performing arts by exploring the creative process behind one of the most acclaimed musicals of the modern era: Hadestown. In this in-depth interview, I gained invaluable insights from the show’s visionary composer and writer, Anaïs Mitchell, as well as its acclaimed director, Rachel Chavkin.
These talented women shared their experiences of bringing the legendary Orpheus and Eurydice myth to life, exploring the challenges and joys of character development, and shedding light on the importance of diversity and inclusion in the theater industry. Their insights have not only deepened my appreciation for the art of character transformation but have also inspired me to share some of the key lessons I’ve learned.
Embracing the Complexity of Character
One of the most fascinating aspects of character transformation in musical theater is the opportunity to bring complex, multi-layered personas to life. As Anaïs Mitchell explains, the task of writing for a character like Orpheus, the young, optimistic dreamer at the heart of Hadestown, was particularly challenging.
“Orpheus was by far the hardest character for me to write,” Mitchell confesses. “In part because he’s more pure than any other character. Hades, Persephone, and even Hermes and Eurydice have a sort of jaded quality, a world-weariness that is much easier to grasp and to write for. Orpheus is a dreamer, a genuine optimist, and that has been a challenge to discover and to express in writing. It’s hard to take an optimist seriously.”
This insight underscores the importance of embracing the complexity of character in musical theater. Rather than gravitating towards the easy archetypes, the most captivating performances often arise from characters who defy simplistic categorization. By delving into the nuances of human nature and exploring the contradictions and complexities that make us who we are, actors can craft truly compelling and multidimensional characters that resonate with audiences on a deeper level.
Fostering Collaborative Creativity
Another key lesson from the Hadestown creative team is the power of collaborative creativity. As Rachel Chavkin, the show’s director, explains, her partnership with Anaïs Mitchell was crucial in shaping the characters and the overall narrative.
“Anaïs is probably the slowest and most specific writer I’ve ever worked with because she’s such a poet, and so she gets angry when songwriters describe, ‘Oh, I just sat down with my guitar and the song came out,'” Chavkin shares. “But she does admit the fact that ‘Why We Build the Wall,’ as the song came to her, almost cosmically in its full form, as if it had always existed in the atmosphere and she just heard it.”
Chavkin’s role as a “gifted dramaturg” who wasn’t afraid to “really roll up her sleeves in the development process” was instrumental in helping Mitchell, a seasoned singer-songwriter with limited dramatic writing experience, craft characters and storylines that were dramatically satisfying.
This collaborative dynamic is a testament to the power of bringing together diverse perspectives and skillsets. By fostering an environment where creatives can challenge, inspire, and support one another, the Hadestown team was able to elevate the characters and the overall storytelling in ways that may not have been possible through solo efforts.
Embracing Diversity and Inclusion
Perhaps one of the most striking aspects of the Hadestown creative process was the team’s unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion. As Anaïs Mitchell and Rachel Chavkin both emphasized, their goal was to assemble a team and cast that truly reflected the diversity of the human experience.
“All of Rachel’s shows are gloriously diverse,” Mitchell notes. “Theater depicts and celebrates humanity, and humanity is diverse. The main thing we were looking for in our casting was a kind of singular, rockstar unicorn quality. The music is really built for people to bring the individual force of their personality to it.”
Chavkin, in turn, explains the importance of this approach from her perspective as a white woman with significant privilege. “I think diversity is inextricable from excellence, and I think all too often people, and in particular the dominant culture, tends to frame it as a choice that you have to make between diversity and excellence. I personally think it’s the opposite. I think a diverse room is far more interesting, just purely on a dramatic level. It’s so much better stylistically, emotionally, to have varied voices.”
This commitment to diversity and inclusion extended beyond the creative team and cast, as the Hadestown team also sought out theater critics of color to review the show, recognizing the importance of a diversity of voices in shaping the critical discourse.
By embracing diversity and inclusion as core values, the Hadestown team not only created a richer, more authentic theatrical experience but also set a powerful example for the industry, demonstrating that excellence and representation are not mutually exclusive.
Adapting to the Audience
As the Hadestown team learned through their journey from a small regional production to a Broadway smash, the art of character transformation is also deeply influenced by the audience’s experience. Anaïs Mitchell and Rachel Chavkin shared insights into how their characters and the overall show evolved to resonate with diverse audiences across North America and beyond.
“Hadestown had a very long road to Broadway with pitstops not just out of state but out of country,” Mitchell explains. “We did a production in Edmonton, Canada, in 2017, and then London’s National Theatre in 2018. The Edmonton production was so important as we were trying to figure out how to scale-up the show from the tiny in-the-round version at New York Theater Workshop to a proscenium-style theater with a larger ensemble of actors. We learned so much from those Canadian audiences about what the show did—and didn’t—want to be.”
Chavkin further elaborates on the importance of adapting to regional differences in audience reception. “You know, I tend to try to trust the fact that the audiences are really smart, and also they are very individual. An audience in Texas is going to experience a very different thing than an audience in California than an audience in Minnesota. And so all I can really do as a director is try to adjust to what feels most meaningful to me. And then I have to trust that because I’m not an alien, some other humans out there will resonate with it as well.”
This flexibility and responsiveness to the audience’s needs and preferences is a crucial aspect of character transformation in musical theater. By continuously fine-tuning their performances and the overall storytelling to resonate with diverse crowds, the Hadestown team was able to create a truly captivating and universally accessible theatrical experience.
Navigating Changing Times
As the world grapples with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the role of character transformation in musical theater has taken on new significance. Rachel Chavkin and Anaïs Mitchell shared their thoughts on how Hadestown might resonate with audiences in a post-pandemic landscape.
Chavkin believes that the show’s core message of community and fellowship will be especially resonant in these challenging times. “For me, Hadestown has always been about community,” she explains. “I talked about it in my TONY speech about how power tries to make us feel alone, but that if we can stand, if we can remember that our lover or our friend may be right behind us, we’re all walking side by side. And I don’t think you need to literally—as in the case of Orpheus and Eurydice—be holding someone’s hand in order to feel fellowship.”
Mitchell echoes this sentiment, expressing hope that the music and the message of Hadestown will help to “heal” audiences in the aftermath of the pandemic. “Most simply, I hope audiences will feel healed by the music—at the risk of sounding like a hippie. I also think the message of Hadestown is one that really speaks to this present moment. It’s a story about hard times and how people respond to those hard times, sometimes with fear, sometimes with love. And it’s about the necessity of continuing to try, even in the face of what feels at times futile. It’s also, in a sense, at its climax, a story about the necessity of believing in each other and in our togetherness, even when we feel alone.”
As the world navigates the challenges of the pandemic, the power of character transformation to foster connection, empathy, and a renewed sense of hope will undoubtedly be more important than ever. The lessons learned from the Hadestown team’s creative journey serve as a powerful testament to the transformative potential of the performing arts.
Embracing the Transformative Power of Musical Theater
In the end, the art of character transformation in musical theater is not just about technical mastery or creative brilliance; it’s about tapping into the profound human experience and using the stage as a canvas to explore the complexities of the human condition.
As I reflect on my journey of discovery through the lens of Hadestown, I’m reminded of the wise words of Anaïs Mitchell, who eloquently captures the essence of this transformative art form: “It’s a story about hard times and how people respond to those hard times, sometimes with fear, sometimes with love. And it’s about the necessity of continuing to try, even in the face of what feels at times futile.”
In a world that can often feel overwhelming and uncertain, the power of character transformation in musical theater to inspire, challenge, and connect us is more vital than ever. By embracing the complexity of human nature, fostering collaborative creativity, celebrating diversity, and adapting to the ever-evolving needs of our audiences, we can unlock the true transformative potential of this enchanting art form.
So, let us step into the spotlight, ready to breathe life into characters that will captivate, move, and inspire audiences far and wide. The stage is ours, and the possibilities are boundless.
