Anaïs Mitchell, the highly acclaimed Grammy and Tony Award-winning singer, songwriter and playwright who created the hit Broadway folk opera Hadestown, will headline opening night of the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival on August 26. The Addison County native and Middlebury College grad returns to her alma mater to host the Vermont premiere of Hadestown: The Musical, a live-capture movie of the award-winning stage play, which begins screening nationwide on July 24. Mitchell began developing her folk-opera concept album in 2006, based on the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. She then wrote the book, lyrics and music using a blend of blues, folk and New Orleans-inspired jazz. Following the show’s successful off-Broadway and London runs, Hadestown opened on Broadway in 2019 to huge critical acclaim. The show won eight Tony Awards that year, including Best Musical and Best Original Score for Mitchell, as well as the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. Daniel Breaker as Hermes in a 2025 performance of ‘Hadestown’ Credit: Courtesy The film, directed by Brett Sullivan, captures all the dynamism, richness and electricity of the stage production and features the five original principal cast members. Sullivan has directed numerous filmed theatrical productions on Broadway, including the record-setting 2016 theatrical release of Miss Saigon. “I couldn’t be happier that Tony and Grammy winner Anaïs Mitchell will join us for our opening night … which will pay tribute to her extraordinary imagination and success as the creator of Hadestown,” Jay Craven, the festival’s artistic director, said in a press statement. Andy Mitchell, the festival’s new managing producer, described Hadestown as “the kind of show that stays with you for years.” Now in its 12th year, the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival, which runs from August 26 through 30, showcases the work of more than 80 filmmakers, all of whom are first- or second-time directors. Last November, MovieMaker magazine included the annual event among the “coolest 25 film festivals in the world” for its “laid-back atmosphere, with free drinks and food each night.” (Welcome to Vermont.) Tickets to Hadestown: The Musical are available for purchase on the Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival website. Opening-night tickets include entry to both the film screening at Middlebury College’s Dana Auditorium as well as the opening-night after-party at the Winter Garden, located in the campus’ Axinn Center. Due to limited capacity, purchases are limited to two tickets per buyer. The post ‘Hadestown’ Creator Anaïs Mitchell to Headline Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival in August appeared first on Seven Days. ...read more read less