The first standing ovation for Hadestown came during the opening moments on Thursday night, when a “Welcome back to Hadestown” announcement was almost drowned out by the thunder of cheering and applause. It took almost a full minute before the show could continue, reminding the audience to turn their cellphones down and keep their masks up.

Hadestown, at the Walter Kerr Theater on 48th Street, was one of two Broadway musicals that reopened this week almost a year and a half after the Great White Way went dark. (The other musical was Waitress, which is making a surprise, short-run return after closing in January 2020.)

The show is a New Orleans-flavored re-telling of the Eurydice and Orpheus myth, with a jazzy score from Anaïs Mitchell and hauntingly directed by Rachel Chavkin. It won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

Co-producer Jonathan DeMar was in the audience on reopening night, and said, “We’re coming back stronger than ever. I’m proud to be part of it, and to be in this room tonight with this audience — I couldn’t think of a better way to kickstart the Broadway season.”