A Note From Our Costume Designer Lillian Heinlein
The inspiration for Hadestown costumes was to display the dichotomy of 1920s Gilded Age lifestyles, where some people were living in glitz and glamour, but most weren’t making enough to get by. In Hadestown, the gods hold the highest power and status, while the overworld and workers ensemble are at the lowest pits of society. You can see the glamour in the flapper designs of the Fates, the glittery chains and jewels that adorn Hermes, Hades, and Persephone, and the overall sophistication that their costumes hold. That is juxtaposed with the 1920s-30s inspired looks that the ensemble bears, filled with lots of deep, natural colors and heavy silhouettes that make the overworld people look dull, cold, and poor, while the gods pop on the stage.
For the bulk of the cast, costumes were altered to fit the actors’ bodies properly, with special attention to the comfort of the actors when it comes to both modesty and dancing in their pieces. For Orpheus, Eurydice, and Persephone, the floral decals and designs were all added to the garments to suit their character designs. The chains that drape Hades and Hermes’ costumes were also added to give them a sophisticated look. A shift for the costumes comes when both Persephone and Eurydice go down to the underworld, and instead of their bright and light dresses that they wore before, they are dressed in deep reds to show their bond to Hades. As a complete look, the costumes tell a part of the story in themselves, allowing the characters’ personalities and emotional journeys to be represented visually.
A priority for the hair and makeup design for the gods was to make sure they looked as if they had a magical quality to them that stands out from the ensemble. Hermes’ and Persephone’s hair have flickers of silver and gold hair tinsel that represent just a piece of the magic they contain, as well as striking blues, pinks, and greens in their eye makeup to give just a taste of their bold and bright personalities. Hades’ hair is perfectly coiffed and gelled to represent his strict and demanding attitude that he holds throughout the show. Eurydice’s hair contains some golden wire jewelry that is meant to mimic the jewelry that Greek goddesses would have been thought to wear, and it makes Eurydice stand out from her poor brethren as someone who is “special.” The ensemble are meant to blend into the background. Much of their makeup design is a nude and neutral color palette, and when they switch to their worker characters down in Hadestown, the hard work they do is exemplified by the coal and dirt smudges across their bodies and faces. Their hairstyles resemble those that were popular in the 20s and 30s, with large curls with lots of volume for the women, and neatly gelled back hair for the men. Overall, the hair and makeup design add small details that truly make the overall look of the show.
- Lillian Heinlein
