Original cast member and understudy T. Oliver Reid will take over the role of Hermes in Broadway's Hadestown at the Walter Kerr Theatre June 14, succeeding Tony winner André De Shields who played his final performance in the show May 29.
Reid has understudied the roles of Hermes, Hades, and members of the Workers Chorus. In March, the performer went on as one of the Fates, a role normally played by female-presenting actors. Reid made his Broadway debut in Chicago. Prior to Hadestown, he was most recently seen onstage in Once on This Island. His 13 Broadway credits include Follies, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Mary Poppins. Reid along with Warren Adams, founded Black Theatre Coalition, an organization created to dismantle the systemically racist and biased ideology in theatre.
READ: Hadestown Swing T. Oliver Reid Saves the Day as 'Auntie Fate'
In addition to Reid, the Broadway cast is led by Jewelle Blackman as Persephone, Grammy winner Reeve Carney as Orpheus, Tony nominee Tom Hewitt as Hades, and two-time Tony nominee Eva Noblezada as Eurydice. They are joined by Soara-Joye Ross, Jessie Shelton, and Kay Trinidad as the Fates. The chorus of Workers is played by Emily Afton, Malcolm Armwood, Alex Puette, Trent Saunders, and Grace Yoo. The cast includes swings Sojourner Brown, Tara Jackson, Sayo Oni, Yael “YaYa” Reich, and Davis Wayne.
Singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell’s folk- and jazz-infused musical, inspired by two intertwining myths of gods and mortals, began as a theatrical concert performed by Mitchell. The creative team features Tony winner Rachel Hauck in set design; four-time Tony nominee Michael Krass in costume design; two-time Tony winner Bradley King in lighting design; Tony winners Nevin Steinberg and Jessica Paz in sound design; David Neumann in choreography; Liam Robinson in music supervision and vocal arrangements; Tony winners Michael Chorney and Todd Sickafoose in arrangements and orchestrations; and Ken Cerniglia in dramaturgy.
