If you love Hadestown, start with Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, a sung-through, live-band folk-pop opera from the same director, Rachel Chavkin, then try Once, Bright Star and Come From Away. These 10 musicals share Hadestown’s folk sound, mythic storytelling or sung-through heartbreak.
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Hadestown is hard to match. It’s a folk-and-jazz retelling of a Greek myth, almost entirely sung, with the band on stage and a story you already know ends badly. No show checks every box, so we’ve grouped the picks by what you loved most. Each entry tells you why it fits, what the tone is like, which song to start with and where to hear it legally. If you’re new to the score, our Hadestown songs explained and Hadestown characters explained guides are good companions.
What makes Hadestown different from other musicals?
Three things set it apart. First, the sound: Anaïs Mitchell’s score draws on American folk, blues and New Orleans jazz instead of Broadway pop (official Hadestown site). Second, the structure: the show is nearly sung-through, narrated by Hermes and built around repeating songs like the “Epics”. Third, the story: it is open about being a tragedy, telling you at the start that this is a sad song, and its love story sits beside a political one about workers, walls and power. It won eight Tony Awards in 2019, including Best Musical (Tony Awards).
Which musicals match what you loved about Hadestown?
- If you loved the folk-opera sound: Once, Bright Star, Come From Away, Floyd Collins.
- If you loved the sung-through storytelling: Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, Les Misérables, Jesus Christ Superstar.
- If you loved the myth retelling: The Lightning Thief, Into the Woods.
- If you loved the young-love heartbreak: Spring Awakening, Once.
Which 10 musicals should Hadestown fans see next?
1. Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812
Why it fits: Dave Malloy’s musical adapts a section of Tolstoy’s War and Peace as a sung-through “electropop opera”, mixing Russian folk, indie rock and EDM. Rachel Chavkin, who directed Hadestown, directed it on Broadway in 2016, and it shares the same intimate, band-in-the-room staging. Tone: romantic, funny and melancholy, with a big emotional payoff. Start with: “Dust and Ashes”, Pierre’s searching solo. Where to hear it: the Original Broadway Cast Recording is on major streaming services.
2. Once
Why it fits: based on the 2007 Irish film, with songs by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, Once is a folk love story told by actors who play their own instruments on stage. It won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2012. Like Hadestown, it’s about music as a way to survive hard times. Tone: gentle, bittersweet and understated. Start with: “Falling Slowly”. Where to hear it: the Original Broadway Cast Recording, and the original film soundtrack.
3. Bright Star
Why it fits: Steve Martin and Edie Brickell’s bluegrass musical, set in North Carolina in the 1920s and 1940s, has the same roots-music warmth as Hadestown and an on-stage band. It ran on Broadway in 2016. Tone: heartfelt and old-fashioned, with real heartbreak before the hope. Start with: “If You Knew My Story”. Where to hear it: the Original Broadway Cast Recording.
4. Come From Away
Why it fits: Irene Sankoff and David Hein’s Celtic-folk score tells the true story of the Newfoundland town that took in thousands of stranded air passengers after September 11, 2001. Like Hadestown, it is a tight ensemble piece with the band on stage and no real stars. Tone: uplifting, funny and moving. Start with: “Welcome to the Rock”. Where to watch: a filmed Broadway performance streams on Apple TV+ (Broadway Direct; availability varies by country).
5. The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical
Why it fits: if the Greek gods were your favorite part, this rock musical adapts Rick Riordan’s novel about a modern teenager who discovers he is the son of Poseidon. It even includes a trip to the underworld. It played a limited run on Broadway in 2019. Tone: funny, high-energy and family-friendly, much lighter than Hadestown. Start with: “Good Kid”. Where to hear it: the original cast recording.
6. Spring Awakening
Why it fits: Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater’s rock musical about teenagers in 19th-century Germany has the same mix of young love, rebellion and tragedy. It won the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2007. Tone: raw and intense, with mature themes including sexuality, abuse and suicide. Start with: “Mama Who Bore Me”. Where to hear it: the Original Broadway Cast Recording. The reunion documentary Spring Awakening: Those You’ve Known streams on HBO Max in the US.
7. Les Misérables
Why it fits: another sung-through epic about the poor against power, Les Mis has its own barricade the way Hadestown has its wall. Both shows reprise melodies to show characters changing. Tone: sweeping and tragic, with a hopeful finale. Start with: “Bring Him Home”. Where to hear it: the London cast and anniversary-concert recordings; our Les Misérables songs explained guide walks through every number, and our list of musicals like Les Misérables goes further.
8. Jesus Christ Superstar
Why it fits: Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s rock opera is sung-through and, like Hadestown, retells a story whose ending everyone knows, with sympathy for the people caught up in it. Tone: intense and driven by rock guitar. Start with: “Gethsemane”. Where to hear it: the 1970 concept album and the many cast recordings.
9. Into the Woods
Why it fits: Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine weave fairy tales together and then ask what happens after “happily ever after”, much as Hadestown questions whether stories can change. Tone: witty in Act One, darker in Act Two. Start with: “No One Is Alone”. Where to watch: the 2014 Disney film streams on Disney+ (Broadway Direct); read Into the Woods characters explained and Into the Woods songs explained first.
10. Floyd Collins
Why it fits: Adam Guettel’s bluegrass-tinged score tells the true story of a Kentucky cave explorer trapped underground in 1925 while a media circus grows above him. It’s another descent story with roots-music textures. Tone: haunting, intimate and sad. Start with: “The Ballad of Floyd Collins”. Where to hear it: the original cast recording.
Which musical is most like Hadestown?
For overall feel, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 comes closest: it’s sung-through, intimate, built around a live band and was directed on Broadway by Hadestown’s director, Rachel Chavkin. If the folk sound matters most, try Once or Bright Star; if it’s the Greek gods, try The Lightning Thief.
Want to play these songs yourself? Folk and roots-based scores like Hadestown, Once and Bright Star are built on simple, repeating chord patterns, which makes them great for learning piano by ear. Try Pianoforall.
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Which of these can you hear or watch right now?
Every show on this list has at least one official cast recording on the major music streaming services, which is the easiest way to sample them. Two can also be watched at home in the US: Come From Away on Apple TV+ and the 2014 Into the Woods film on Disney+ (Broadway Direct). If you’re starting from scratch, here’s a simple listening order:
- Once, for the closest folk sound and an easy, gentle way in.
- Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, for the same sung-through, band-forward storytelling.
- Bright Star, for banjo and fiddle with a big emotional payoff.
- Les Misérables, for the epic, politically charged side of Hadestown.
- The Lightning Thief, when you want the Greek gods without the heartbreak.
Hadestown itself is also now on screen: Hadestown: The Musical, filmed in London with the original Broadway leads, played in cinemas in 2026 and is available to rent or buy digitally in the US.
How should you choose your next show?
Start with what kept you listening. If you replay “Wait for Me” and “Epic III”, go for the sung-through picks. If you loved the band and the banjo, choose the folk picks. If you want something lighter after Hadestown’s ending, Come From Away or The Lightning Thief will lift you up. Cast albums are the cheapest way to test-drive a show before buying tickets.
For more lists in this series, see musicals like Wicked, musicals like SIX, musicals like Dear Evan Hansen, musicals like The Phantom of the Opera and our combined Hamilton and Wicked watch-next list.
Frequently asked questions
Which musical is most similar to Hadestown?
Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 is the closest match for its sung-through, live-band storytelling and shared director, Rachel Chavkin. Once and Bright Star are closest in folk sound.
Are there other musicals based on Greek myths?
Yes. The Lightning Thief draws directly on Greek gods and includes a trip to the underworld. Many operas also retell the Orpheus myth, including works by Monteverdi, Gluck and Offenbach.
Is there a Hadestown sequel?
We haven’t found any announced sequel. The newest way to experience the show is Hadestown: The Musical, the 2026 filmed stage production with the original Broadway leads.
Which of these can I watch online legally?
In the US, Come From Away streams on Apple TV+ and the Into the Woods film on Disney+, per Broadway Direct. Availability varies by country; see our guide on how to watch musicals outside New York and London.
What should I see if I liked “Wait for Me”?
Try Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 for its driving, immersive energy, or Spring Awakening for rock-driven youthful urgency.
