From her hometown to Hadestown: How Cleveland’s Hannah Whitley landed her dream role

CLEVELAND, Ohio — 20 years in the past, Jessica Whitley took her two-year-old daughter, Hannah, to Playhouse Sq. to see her first musical, “The Lion King.” On January 31, Jessica, a doctor from Twinsburg, will as soon as once more be within the viewers at Playhouse Sq.. However this time, Hannah Whitley, now 22, will likely be on stage on the Connor Palace enjoying the lead position of Eurydice within the nationwide tour of “Hadestown.”

“Each time we noticed a efficiency collectively, Hannah would say, ‘I actually want that I might carry out right here,’” Jessica instructed cleveland.com.

“It was at all times a dream of mine,” Hannah confirmed, calling in from a tour cease in Kansas Metropolis.

These journeys downtown to see Broadway reveals as a toddler sparked her curiosity in musical theater, however Hannah didn’t assume it might truly turn into her profession till the eighth grade.

“I used to be at all times torn,” she mentioned. “Do I’m going the medical route, which appeared like a logical path laid out for me, or do take an opportunity on my goals?”

“I didn’t at all times consider that she would find yourself as a star of a Broadway musical,” her mother admitted. “I truthfully needed her to pursue a extra secure profession the place she had a excessive chance to be employed.”

Neither, nevertheless, might deny her ardour for theater. So, Hannah began singing classes at Aurora Faculty of Music and took dance courses at Shaker Academy of Dance. That led to roles in productions at Beck Middle for the Arts and Twinsburg Neighborhood Theatre throughout her center and highschool years.

The majority of Hannah’s coaching got here at Ball State College in Indiana, the place she graduated final Might with a level in musical theater. She was residing at residence in Twinsburg making ready a transfer to New York Metropolis when she obtained the decision in August that she had booked “Hadestown.” By October, she was on the highway performing eight reveals every week.

“This present is a lot attributed to my mentors and my academics far more than it’s to myself,” she mentioned.

Hannah couldn’t have imagined a extra good launch to her skilled profession. “Hadestown” contains a rating by Anaïs Mitchell that blends jazz, people, gospel and rock. She first fell in love with the music when it got here out as an idea album in 2010 and regularly sang its songs. In 2019, she obtained the prospect to see the unique manufacturing on Broadway.

“What I beloved about it’s that it felt like residence,” she mentioned. “I noticed Amber Grey up on stage enjoying Persephone and I used to be like, ‘Oh my God, she appears like me.’ It’s actually a type of reveals that everyone can see themselves in these characters.”

“It’s kismet that Hannah’s first present has a heavy New Orleans affect,” added Jessica, who was born and raised there. Though the supply materials for “Hadestown” goes again to Greek mythology, the set is impressed by Preservation Corridor, a well-known jazz venue within the Crescent Metropolis. “The New Orleans spirit and vibe that’s a lot part of ‘Hadestown’ has been rising in Hannah since she was a bit of lady,” her mom mentioned. “Lots of her members of the family are skilled jazz musicians that performed at Preservation Corridor. My uncle, Maynard Chatters, is a Preservation Corridor grasp trombonist.”

Hannah additionally inherited a few of her aptitude for acting from her father’s facet of the household. Scott Whitley, a Cleveland architect, had an aunt and uncle who had been notable opera singers. His sister (Hannah’s aunt) is Kym Whitley, a comic and actress who had memorable guest-starring roles on “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “Grasp of None.”

Primarily based on the traditional legends of Orpheus and Eurydice, and Hades and Persephone, “Hadestown” facilities on two units of lovers who, let’s simply say within the curiosity of time, are going via some stuff. Director Rachel Chavkin has taken these 2,500-year-old tales and spun them into a contemporary musical fable that’s as related as it’s entertaining.

“It’s a lovely fusion of various genres of music, however inside that non-traditional musical sound, we now have a really traditional and conventional love story,” Hannah mentioned. “It’s about loss, hope, pleasure, worry, all these human feelings that we really feel, however it additionally does a terrific job of reflecting the present world, our present political system and our present crises of local weather change and poverty.”

“Hadestown” received eight Tony Awards together with Finest Musical in 2019. Hannah admitted she was nervous at first about enjoying such a sophisticated and beloved character in Eurydice. Dwelling as much as the legacy of the half in Mitchell’s e book and former productions, to not point out the expectations of the present’s devoted legion of followers was additionally intimidating. Seems, she had nothing to fret about. The Charlotte Observer wrote that Whitley “owns the position,” the Houston Press known as her efficiency “transferring” and Broadway World mentioned she is “completely solid.”

“So long as individuals are saying I’m doing my job and upholding this character on this story, I’m joyful,” she mentioned.

The fourth present on this season’s KeyBank Broadway Collection, “Hadestown” is on the Connor Palace from Jan. 31 to February 19. Hannah’s mother can’t await opening evening.

“Acting at Playhouse Sq. is a dream of Hannah’s since she was a younger lady,” Jessica mentioned. “Once I see her on the stage, I’m positive I’m going to cry tears of pleasure as I feel to myself, ‘Wow, she truly did it.’”

The second goes to imply the world to her daughter, too.

“Not solely to return residence but in addition to share this story with individuals who’ve by no means seen it earlier than,” Hannah mentioned. “That’s actually particular to me.”

“Hadestown” is enjoying on the Connor Palace, 1615 Euclid Ave. in Cleveland, from Jan. 31-Feb. 19. Tickets, $25-$120, can be found at playhousesquare.org.