After a “very tumultuous and transitional” 2023, Jordan Fisher is thrilled to be venturing into hell ― a theatrical model of it, that’s ― eight occasions per week.
The Alabama-born actor and singer rose to prominence on the Disney Channel greater than a decade in the past and has since continued his success streak in movies like “To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You” and as a recording artist. Along the way in which, he’s discovered methods to focus on his love of musical theater each onstage and tv. This winter, he’s delivering a dynamite efficiency in Broadway’s “Hadestown,” now enjoying at New York’s Walter Kerr Theatre.
Written by Anaïs Mitchell, “Hadestown” is a musical reimagining of the Greek tragedy of Orpheus (performed by Fisher) and Eurydice (Solea Pfeiffer). Their love story is intertwined with that of Hades (Phillip Boykin) and Persephone (Betty Who), the king and queen of the underworld. After Eurydice is lured into the underworld by Hades’ guarantees of security and safety, Orpheus units out on a mission to rescue his beloved.
But you gained’t discover any togas or laurel wreaths in “Hadestown,” which gained eight Tony Awards after its 2019 Broadway premiere and stays a scorching ticket. The present is staged in a steam-punk, fantastical model of New Orleans, whereas its rating is a sweeping mixture of jazz, blues and rock.
As a self-professed “mythology nerd,” Fisher first turned conversant in “Hadestown” by means of the musical’s 2010 idea album. Once he noticed unique solid member Reeve Carney painting Orpheus on Broadway, he knew it was “instantly something I wanted to be a part of.”
And although his Broadway résumé consists of “Hamilton” and “Dear Evan Hansen,” Fisher stated “Hadestown” feels “unlike so much of the theater I know and love” in a lot of crucial methods.
“I love Greek mythology, Norse mythology, and I read all of it that I can get my hands on,” Fisher informed HuffPost in an interview. “I love the music, love the story, love the storytelling, love how it’s so honest right from the rip and leaves you with a hug. It’s the most complete storytelling experience I’ve had on a Broadway stage.”
Catch a clip of Fisher performing “Wait For Me” from “Hadestown” beneath.
As Orpheus, Fisher additionally performs guitar all through a lot of the present — granting him a uncommon alternative to infuse his efficiency along with his well-honed abilities as a pop-rock musician.
“I got to know Orpheus by researching and listening and watching and reading, and taking elements of my own personal journey and incorporating them into [the role],” he stated. “Being able to be in the band and play with the band — all of that was something that grabbed my heart. The musicians who are onstage with me aren’t really theater people. They’re touring, gigging musicians that love this craft from a different angle.”
Prior to becoming a member of the “Hadestown” solid in late November, Fisher was at a private {and professional} crossroads. Last spring, he starred as Anthony Hope within the Josh Groban-led revival of “Sweeney Todd,” changing into the primary Black actor to play the position on Broadway. He exited the present after about three months as a result of a lot of initiatives he had within the works, which had been then halted by the Hollywood writers’ and actors’ strikes. He stated he ended up utilizing the surprising downtime to get shoulder surgical procedure.
Behind the scenes, Fisher and his spouse, Ellie, had been navigating the challenges of first-time parenthood after relocating from Florida to New York early in 2023 with their 1-year-old son, Riley.
“The moment Riley was born, everything else shrunk,” he defined. “The art changed, the creativity changed, perspective shifted. We had a lot of personal revelatory experiences that helped shape what we know we want as a family moving forward. My purpose is completely different. It’s fresh and new and exciting — and that is to love, to bring support, to take care of the family.”
Last month, Fisher bought the prospect to meld his inventive ardour along with his duties as a dad by following within the footsteps of stars like Neil Patrick Harris and Lin-Manuel Miranda as a narrator for Walt Disney World’s Candlelight Processional vacation occasion.
“Neil said to me, ‘Jordan, this is what you have to do when you get married and have kids,’ so that, for years, has been my dream,” he stated. “I’m a very proud Disney adult — I grew up loving the parks, loving everything that Disney brought to my childhood. It helped mold my imagination and love of the arts.”
Festive excursions to the happiest place on Earth apart, Fisher is grateful to be placing down roots along with his household in New York and expects stay theater to grow to be an even bigger focus of his profession shifting ahead.
“We’re in the city that we know we’re supposed to be in and doing the things we’re supposed to be doing,” he stated. “Now that I live here, I have a constant tether to Broadway and this community. There’s so much joy in all of that.”
