This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with 27-year-old Bryan Munar, who ended his career as an iOS engineer to pursue musical theater. It has been edited for length and clarity.

DETROIT – The national tour of “Hadestown” is wrapping up a short run at the Fisher Theatre in Detroit this weekend.

As a lover of Greek mythology all my life, I knew how the story of “Hadestown” would likely end. Despite never seeing the musical before, I was familiar with the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice — on ...