Here, Mills, 67, talks to Vogue about returning to Broadway for the first time in 40 years, her show-day wellness routine, and why it may not be long before we see her on the New York stage again. The conversation has been edited and condensed.
Vogue: I understand that you’re usually based in Charlotte. How has it been, settling down in New York again this year?
Stephanie Mills: I like it. I’ve made my home in Charlotte for the last 30 years, but I was born and raised in Brooklyn. I don’t spend a whole lot of time in New York, but when I come, I enjoy it. I don’t like walking the streets of New York, but I love doing theater, so I’m having a great time.
Can you tell me how you came to join this production?
My agent called me and she said, “The people at Hadestown are really interested in you coming to do the show.” I remembered André De Shields—who was my Wiz—doing it a few years ago, and he won the Tony for it. I didn’t know that much about it, so I went to see it and I liked it. And then I saw André and he really, really encouraged me to do it. So I said, “I believe I could do it”—until I got to the rehearsals. Then it was hard. This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
Were you actively seeking out theater roles at the time?
Well, not really, no. I don’t even know how they came about my name. I had just signed with CAA and I had a group of people that were going to be my team at that agency, and my theater agent was the one who called and said, “They really are interested in you, if you want to pursue it.” And I said, “Let’s see! Let’s pursue it.”
And once you saw the show, what struck you about it?
I had never read about Greek mythology, and I loved that it was something different that I had never done. I’m always up for new challenges.
A few people have played Hermes since André De Shields departed the show, including Jon Jon Briones and Lillias White. How was the part tailored to your particular tools as a performer?
