It turns out the King of the Underworld is still vulnerable to gravity.
Patrick Page took to social media February 10 to inform London patrons that, due to injury, he has been forced to step out of his return as Hades in the mythic musical Hadestown for at least one week. Phillip Boykin, who previously played Hades on Broadway, will step in for Page for the length of his convalescence.
Said Page, "I have good news and bad news. The bad news is I have been sidelined by an injury—hence the crutches. I will not be performing this week. I will keep you updated as to my condition, my rehab, and when I am able to return. I promise you it will be as soon as possible."
Additionally, Page revealed that the timing for the live filming of the original Broadway principal cast, who will resume their roles on the West End for the purpose of the filming, has been moved up, indicating he expects to be back in time for those performances. Previously announced as being filmed on February 28 and March 1, Page stated that the production will now begin filming February 25. To see his full post, including a brief video of co-star Amber Gray rehearsing, check out the link below.
The West End production of the Tony-winning musical Hadestown plays London's Lyric Theatre. The other original Broadway principals set to return February 11 to complete the filming include Reeve Carney as Orpheus, André De Shields as Hermes, Amber Gray as Persephone, and Eva Noblezada as Eurydice. As previously reported, the actors will play a limited engagement through March 9. Phillip Boykin will now step in for Page until he is healed.
The production also features Bella Brown, Madeline Charlemagne, and Allie Daniel as the Fates; Lauren Azania, Tiago Dhondt Bamberger, Waylon Jacobs, and Christopher Short as Workers; and Lucinda Buckley, Francessca Daniella-Baker, Winny Herbert, Ryesha Higgs, and Miriam Nyarko as Swings.
Anaïs Mitchell's underworld-set folk opera, which premiered Off-Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop in 2016, made its London premiere at the National Theatre in November 2018. The production subsequently opened on Broadway, where it continues at the Walter Kerr, in April 2019.
The creative team features set designer Rachel Hauck, costume designer Michael Krass, lighting designer Bradley King, sound designers Nevin Steinberg and Jessica Paz, choreographer David Neumann, music supervisor and vocal arranger Liam Robinson, arrangers and orchestrators Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose, and dramaturg Ken Cerniglia. Casting for the London production is by Jacob Sparrow.
Following two intertwining love stories—that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone—Hadestown invites audiences on a hell-raising journey to the underworld and back.
The show, featuring a book and score by Mitchell, won eight 2019 Tony Awards: Best Director of a Musical (Rachel Chavkin), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (André De Shields), Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Bradley King), Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Rachel Hauck), Best Sound Design of a Musical (Jessica Paz and Nevin Steinberg), Best Orchestrations (Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose), Best Original Score (Mitchell), and Best Musical.
Hadestown is produced in London by Mara Isaacs, Dale Franzen, Hunter Arnold, Tom Kirdahy, and the National Theatre in association with JAS Theatricals.
Visit UK.Hadestown.com.
