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Madison, Wisconsin — Chibueze Ihuoma was still in college when he heard there was an audition for “Hadestown.” He wasn’t sure what it would be like to win the role, but he was sure of one thing.
The show follows Eurydice working in the underworld to escape a world plagued by chaos and poverty caused by climate change. Her lover, Orpheus, rescues her, and her couple show others how to escape the “hell” environment.
Then the pandemic hit and the national tour of “Hadestown” was postponed.
Ifoma was still in the audition process when the world came to a screeching halt. His drama classes moved online, but he eventually graduated from New York University’s Tisch in 2021. This probably wouldn’t have happened without the pandemic, he said.
Once school was over, the tour reverted. The creative team reached out to many Hadestown hopefuls who had seen the audition for the first time, including Ifuoma.
Ifoma dreamed of leading roles. The casting team thought, “He’s a little green to lead a national tour,” but still wanted him to be part of the show.
(Courtesy of T. Charles Erickson)
Ifoma appeared in the ensemble and also stood in for Orpheus. Ihuoma was delighted to be working on her dream tour in September after completing her degree.
As Orpheus, he had several opportunities to stand out on the stage, and each time he did his best. He said he saw the lead role every night as an opportunity to re-audit for the part. He said he hoped to one day pass the ranks of “Hadestown”.
He didn’t have to wait too long.
That May, he was in an Uber in California when his agent called.
“It caught me off guard,” Ihuoma said. “Usually when there’s news that something’s going on, they call me and say, ‘I haven’t auditioned for anything lately, so I don’t know what this is all about.'”
Unknown to the cast yet, the actor playing Orpheus had left the show, and Ihuoma had been offered the role.
“It was a total whiplash,” he recalled. “I had a little party with my Uber driver. It was lovely.”
He took the reins as Orpheus in June.
Dancing in an ensemble one Sunday, he made his Orpheus debut by the following Tuesday.
He admitted it was an adjustment and had to key in a new level of stamina. We managed to find a balance while still being able to do it eight times a week.
(Courtesy of T. Charles Erickson)
“I hope that people will take away the general power of love, the power of how love affects those in your immediate vicinity,” he said. At the beginning of the show, Hermes says that the love of Hades and Persephone makes the world go round, literally for our show. In the sense that it controls the seasons.”
And as Ihuoma said, if you love something, you have to trust it.
“You trust them to be there for you, and you trust them to come back to you,” he explained. When they come back, it’s the greatest demonstration of love they can give.”
“Hadestown” runs January 24-29 at the Overture Center for the Arts. Click here for ticket information.
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