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• 1 2021-04-14T04:05:59+00:00 Rose from Hadestown 12 Object 1 Submission plain 2021-05-12T23:35:08+00:00

  By Ayouba Swaray 

  The first item I’m including in the cabinet of curiosity is the rose I got from the show Hadestown, which happens to be the last show I saw before Broadway closed down. This show first originated all the way in 2006, and it follows the story of young lover and musician Orpehus as he chases his soulmate Eurydice's through the Underworld in hopes of breaking Hades curse. I first listened to the live cast album in 2019 and absolutely fell in love with it. It was a sound on Broadway I’ve never heard before. It mixes and the rugged textures of blues with a New Orleans inspired sound packaged in a broadway musical. Learning about how it got to broadway made my respect for the show reach new bounds. The creator of the show, Anais Mitchell, released it as a concept album instead of a stage production in 2007 because she was unsure of how it’d be received, but it became critically acclaimed. It made its way from local productions, to regional productions, to the Oliver theatre in London, to off-Broadway, and finally Broadway in 2019. Eventually, due to me constantly talking about the show, my friend eventually found a means for me to get to it on Broadway. I was beyond elated! The Broadway cast was different from the off-Broadway cast so I was excited to go into it with a completely different sound and vision. We hopped the train, walked along broadway, admitted our tickets and boom, it was showtime. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that the show transformed me. This show is what theatre was. From the literal groundbreaking set/scenery, to the flawless executed characters and music, to the story as old as time that never ceases to get me, my love for theatre had resurgence. At the stage door, it was funny noticing how I was the only black patron present, especially since I’ve been struggling trying to find my place in the theatre world. A black ensemble member came out and, though I can’t presume, I’m sure he noticed and proceeded to give me a rose. The rose symbolizes the endless cycle of love and nature that is present in the show and I had to hold back tears when I received this gift. This is why I love theatre. Then, Broadway closed down. 
  
  The reason why this needs to be included in the cabinet of curiosity is because of the abundance of symbolic energy it holds. This show, the last show I saw since broadway’s closure, perpetuates the notion of chasing what you want and not falling prey to whatever cards are set for you, because of having the power to change your destiny. Since 2016, I’ve been going back and forth, essentially lying to myself about what I want to do in reaction to fear. Covid originally made me think I should lay my dreams to rest because of how unstable they are, but I’ve entered a paradigm shift since my tenure at Trinity. I now know I have to do everything in my power to get this dream to a reality, because tomorrow isn't promised and it isn’t up to anyone but me to crave out my future. That's why I bring the rose with me everywhere: as a reminder of my goal and why I won’t stop till I get it.