‘I would sleep anywhere’: Anais Mitchell’s journey from homelessness to Broadway legend

Seen by millions and adored by fans all around the world, the acclaimed Broadway musical Hadestown is now playing in Sydney, but it has been a rocky path to success for its creator, Anais Mitchell.

The mastermind behind one of the world’s greatest musicals has arrived to view Australia’s version — but few would know she was once homeless.

Seen by three million, streamed by over 350 million and adored by fans all around the world, Anaïs Mitchell’s acclaimed West End and Broadway musical Hadestown may be labelled a ‘masterpiece’, but it wasn’t an easy journey.

“In my early days of writing I would sleep in my car,” Mitchell said.

“I would sleep anywhere, in anyone’s house just to make it and get by.

“The music industry is wild. I’m so grateful to have a job now because I have so many brilliant friends that can’t make ends meet with their music and have to find another way to do it. I feel so grateful.”

American singer and songwriter Anais Mitchell is in Sydney to see her musical Hadestown. Picture Thomas Lisson

The 44-year-old American singer-songwriter admitted that Hadestown took much longer to reach Broadway than many might expect.

“I started it in 2006 and it took about 13 years to make Broadway,” Mitchell said.

“It was a very long, slow learning process. The first version of the show was like a DIY community theatre project.

“Then a few years later, I made a studio record of the track, then it wasn’t until seven years later that it made it.”

Mitchell, who began crafting the musical’s soundtrack in her early 20s, never imagined she’d one day be witnessing an Australian production of her work.

“It’s beyond my wildest dreams,” Mitchell said.

Hadestown is running at Theatre Royal Sydney until April 26. Picture Thomas Lisson

“Having worked live with it for so long, and then to for all of us, I think that worked on it, like, in the moment that you let it go, it feels like this is not ours at all, like it has its own life. It’s got its own, its own culture like and so I’m so excited to see what Australia makes of it, not just the audience, but also the company. You know, how they make it their own stand in their own lived and felt experience, and bring that to the characters.

Now a Tony Award-winning phenomenon with eight wins to its name, Hadestown has landed in town, running at Theatre Royal Sydney until April 26.