shirt + shorts. AKNVAS
shoes. ANONYMOUS COPENHAGEN
socks. FALKE
Myra Molloy can still remember the first time she saw the hit Broadway musical ‘Hadestown’, on a visit to New York City in 2019. “It was the first time I saw a Broadway show and thought, I want to be on that stage,” she recalls. This year, Molloy — a rising actor-singer-producer originally from Bangkok — made history by stepping into the role of Eurydice, making her the first Thai woman to lead a Broadway show. As part of the Tony-winning production’s current cast, she now performs alongside some of the very actors she saw on stage six years ago. The significance of the accomplishment isn’t lost on her. “Even this far into my run, I still can’t believe I get to do this as my job,” she tells Schön!. “It’s very surreal. I don’t think it’s really gonna hit me until a year from now.”
In addition to her role in ‘Hadestown’, audiences will soon be able to catch Molloy in another major starring role: Molloy will play one of the leads in Hayley Kiyoko’s feature directorial debut, ‘Girls Like Girls’. Based on Kiyoko’s book and song of the same name, the upcoming film marks Molloy’s first time leading a major onscreen romance. To commemorate her groundbreaking role in Hadestown as well as her flowering acting career, Molloy collaborated with her friend Shana Purnama on “Blooming Shadows.” In a tribute to Molloy’s Thai heritage, the editorial was shot at Wat Buddha Thai Thavorn Vanaram in Queens, New York.
Molloy spoke with Schön! about making history in ‘Hadestown’, what she hopes to achieve next, and more.
This editorial was born from the creative partnership of Myra and Shana Purnama — two Thai women connected by friendship and a shared dedication to cultural storytelling — this shoot is a tribute to heritage, identity, and representation. It celebrates Myra Molloy’s groundbreaking debut as the first Thai woman to lead a Broadway production. Set against the serene, sacred backdrop of Wat Buddha Thai Thavorn Vanaram in Queens, New York, the location enriched the visual narrative with deep cultural resonance. Through layered textures, traditional symbolism, and evocative styling, the imagery honors Myra’s strength, grace, and presence as both a performer and a cultural trailblazer. It captures a mythic arc of descent and rebirth — an ode to feminine resilience, power, and transformation.
dress. TAOTTAO
hair clips. DAVID MALLETT
What was your journey to Broadway and ‘Hadestown’?
Broadway was really one of the main things that got me excited about singing and acting from a young age. I was lucky enough that my parents used to work and live in New York, so when I was really young, they’d bring me to New York over the summers.
I was born and raised in Bangkok, but we would keep coming back, and they would take me to see Broadway, and that was such a main pull for me as a kid. I had never really thought Broadway was going to be a real thing for me, because I always thought it was impossible. You have to be able to do so much. You have to be a real triple threat, and I’m definitely not a dancer. I just didn’t think I’d ever be good enough. I never thought that Broadway would be on the horizon, but it was always a pipe dream. So doing this, and this show specifically, has been so many dreams come true. ‘Hadestown’ really captured my heart, and I always thought, “Oh, it would be super cool,” but never would I have thought that I’d actually be doing it. This is super crazy for me.
I was having lunch with my agent this past October here in New York, and we were chatting about projects. She was like, “Do you have any ideas?” And I was like, “Well, this is super random, but I love ‘Hadestown’, and I don’t know what the deal is there, but I would love to be able to play Eurydice one day. It would be cool if I could be seen for that.” My agent got back to me and was like, “Well, they’re not looking to audition anyone right now, but just send in a tape of you singing ‘Flowers,’ and they’ll keep it on file.” I sent in a tape and didn’t hear back.
Then, lo and behold, maybe four or five months later, I get a call saying, “Hey, do you want to play Eurydice?” And I was like, “Is this a joke?” Because my whole life, I’ve just been auditioning. I’ve done thousands of auditions, and I’ve been rejected a gazillion times. To have a phone call like that come through, I thought, This must be a joke. There’s no way. That was a totally serendipitous, crazy moment for me. Life is crazy like that sometimes.
shoes. ANONYMOUS COPENHAGEN
socks. FALKE
opposite
full look. YUE XU
Some of the current members of the ‘Hadestown’ ensemble have been with the production for years. Did they offer any advice?
Yeah, so many people have been here since its pre-Broadway conception, since its workshop days. It’s crazy to see how things have shifted, and how people are still so in love with the show, and everyone who’s been there forever. I love them so much, and I can see how much they love the show and what it means to them. Being able to work with them every day is the true blessing of being in this show. The people in the building are genuinely my family, and I’m just so grateful that I’m surrounded by good people at work. It makes all the difference in the world.
Having first experienced the show as a fan, what were some aspects of the show that surprised you when you joined the production?
Oh my gosh, all day. I feel like it’s always funny, because to play both sides of the thing: being a patron and seeing the show and relishing in the magic of it, and then peeking behind the curtain and seeing how the magic is done. It’s like, “Oh, so the floor is moving, right, gotcha. This is what the lift that goes to hell looks like, this is how all these tricks happen.”
Now I know how the magic tricks are done. It’s really fun to see how the show is put together, but it doesn’t take away from the magic at all. I think the show itself is such a testament to incredible theatre, music, and everything combined. I think Hadestown is one of the best shows ever, and I’m not biased because I thought that before I joined.
dress. TAOTTAO
opposite
full look. YUE XU
You’ve made history with ‘Hadestown’ as the first Thai woman to lead a Broadway show. What aspects of your background have you been able to bring to this role?
Firstly, what a huge honour. I never planned for this, so I’m just so grateful for everything. I feel so blessed. It’s actually quite special because in the show, the director always encourages us to bring our own culture to the show, so I say “Sing it” in Thai during one of the songs in the first act of the show. I think that’s so cool and special. Also, on my coat, there’s a little accessory, and it’s in the colours of the Thai flag. It’s just really cool that I can bring such a huge part of my culture and identity into the show. It’s extra cool when Thai people come to see the show, and I meet them at the stage door, and they’re like, “Oh my God. We heard you say ‘Sing it’ in Thai,” or like, “We feel so seen, you representing us means the world to us.” It means the world to me. I’m so happy that I can do this for everyone.
In your next project, ‘Girls Like Girls’, you’ll be leading a romantic drama. What can you tell us about the film?
I’m so excited. Hayley Kiyoko — talk about someone I’ve looked up to since I was younger, ever since I was a kid. To see her journey with the music video, to adapting it to a book, to adapting it to a screenplay, to making the actual film… I have tremendous respect and love for her. I’m just so excited for the world to see the film and Haley’s mind, heart, and soul. This sounds corny as hell, but all my dreams are genuinely coming true right now. I wanted to be on Broadway, I wanted to be in an indie film — a romantic one, preferably, because that’s just who I am. I just love romance. ‘Before Sunrise’ is my favourite film. I’ve wanted to do these things, and now I get to do them, and I’m just so excited and so happy. I’m so, so, so stoked for everyone to see it.
shirt + shorts. AKNVAS
Like Hayley, you’re a multi-hyphenate who has worked across several industries and media. What do you hope to achieve next?
Unlike Haley, I don’t think I ever want to direct. I can’t do it all, but I love being an actor. I’ll keep doing that. But what have I not done? There are so many things, but I also make music. I think there are so many things in the music world that I want to do, people that I want to collaborate with as a producer. There are goals there that I have dreams of. I haven’t done a play here yet. I did play some plays in Thailand, but I really want to do a play here. I love singing, obviously, but I feel like the idea of a straight play, something I haven’t done, I think it’d be fun. And I definitely just want to do more movies. For sure, movies are number one in my heart.
full look. YUE XU
dress. TAOTTAO
photography + creative direction. Shana Purnama
fashion. Blair Cannon
talent. Myra Molloy
hair. Chika F.K
make up. Wakana Ichikawa
lighting. Sam Stulin
photography assistant. Gabriel Crawford Connelly
interview. Juliana Ogarrio
