Overview
High Note: C5
Low Note: E3
Analysis
Persephone is the goddess of springtime and greenery. She is wife to Hades, the god and ruler of the underground factory Hadestown. The fun-loving, free-spirited Persephone detests living in Hadestown; she was wooed to Hades side many, many years ago, before she knew what she was signing up for. She and her husband have struck an accord: for six months of every year, she may live above ground, bringing spring, summertime and abundance to the world. The rest of the year she must remain with him, causing fall and winter in her absence. Still, she resents her husband’s overbearing need to keep her in a place she hates and for his harsh, unyielding treatment of his workers, whom are never again allowed to leave.
Persephone is sympathetic to the plight of Orpheus and Eurydice, two lovers who are separated after Hades lures the unsuspecting woman down to Hadestown with promises of stability and freedom. She is deeply moved by Orpheus’ music, enough that she is willing to press their side to her husband and, later, to give their relationship another try, rediscovering the love they share for one another. Persephone is independent, compassionate, and vivacious--the embodiment of warmth, abundance, and life.
To learn more about the mythological figure Persephone, start here.
Featured Songs
Suggested Audition Pieces
Auditioning for this character? Based off of his/her attributes, we recommend you consider these audition pieces!
Editor Picks & Commentary
When auditioning for Persephone, focus on embodying both her fiery spirit and her deep emotional weariness. Persephone is the queen of the Underworld, but she’s also a woman caught between worlds — longing for sunlight, freedom, and the joy of life above. She’s charming, witty, and magnetic, but beneath her playful bravado is real pain and frustration. In your audition, balance her lively humor and her underlying melancholy. Use sharp, rhythmic energy in dialogue or movement to match her jazzy musical style, and bring warmth and vitality to your performance — she’s the spark in a world of shadows. Vocally, Persephone’s songs sit in a soulful mezzo range with blues and jazz influences, so focus on storytelling, phrasing, and groove rather than power alone.
Persephone’s strength lies in her contradictions: she’s both glamorous and grounded, joyous and disillusioned. Show her complexity through subtle emotional shifts — a quick smile hiding heartbreak or a playful tone masking bitterness. Directors will look for a performer who can handle both her comedic timing (as in “Livin’ It Up on Top”) and her emotional truth (“Our Lady of the Underground”). Your acting choices should suggest a seasoned survivor — someone who’s seen it all but still finds reasons to laugh. Let your voice and movement radiate warmth, but keep an edge of tension beneath the surface, as though she’s always a little restless, always longing for spring.
Comparable Characters and Suggested Material
Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes
Reno Sweeney makes an excellent parallel to Persephone because both characters are confident, witty women who command attention and light up the stage with charisma. Reno’s jazzy vocal style and playful sophistication align well with Persephone’s musical tone and demeanor.
Suggested song: Her song “I Get a Kick Out of You” is a perfect audition piece — it lets you display a sense of humor, flirtatiousness, and musical phrasing in a swing style. Performing this number demonstrates the ability to mix glamour with grounded emotionality, just as Persephone does when she hides her exhaustion behind wit and charm.
Sally Bowles in Cabaret
Sally Bowles is another compelling comparison, as she also uses brightness and energy to conceal sadness and fear. Like Persephone, she thrives in nightlife and performance but feels trapped in a world she can’t control.
Suggested song: Her song “Maybe This Time” is an ideal audition choice because it allows you to show emotional vulnerability within a soulful, cabaret-influenced vocal style. The number starts introspectively and builds to hopeful determination — much like Persephone’s yearning for renewal and escape from the darkness. Singing it demonstrates emotional range, vocal richness, and the ability to reveal fragility beneath confidence — all essential traits for a nuanced Persephone.
More Suggestions
Monologues
Songs
* Our system only provides suggested monologues or songs for select characters if we have matching monologues and song information in our database.