Hadestown, the Broadway musical that tells the stories of Orpheus and Eurydice with the myth of Hades and Persephone, is set to make its way to Shadow Ridge High School on February 19th. Under the direction of theatre teacher Katina Hartley, this production promises to bring a fresh and dynamic meaning of the beloved show to the local stage. The musical will take place in the theatre, promising friends, family, and other community members a visually stunning experience. 

Under Hartley’s guidance, students have been hard at work rehearsing their lines, perfecting their singing, and honing their choreography while having fun all at the same time. The show is compacted with beautiful visuals, as it explores themes of love, sacrifice, and journey to the underworld. 

Playing the understudy for Orpheus, freshman Elijah Llanos says, “I hope the audience takes away how important their loved ones are and how fast they can be taken away from you if you aren’t paying attention.”

From the constant costume fittings to the daily rehearsals, Llanos makes sure to balance both his school life with his practices. Behind the scenes, Llanos makes sure his student co-stars have all been equally dedicated to the play. From mastering complicated vocal harmonies and intricate dance numbers to developing deep character interpretations, Llanos and his co-stars work together as a family to perfect their performances, highlighting powerful and memorable moments behind the scenes. 

“The most rewarding part is seeing the process and everyone working so hard every rehearsal. Our managers, director, tech, actors, and band work hard to make the show come alive,” states Llanos

The student cast spends hours after school together working together, creating unbreakable bonds that are similar to family relationships. This production is not only a show, but a testament to their tireless dedication and pure hard work poured in by the student cast and crew. 

Playing the understudy for Eurydice, freshman Stella Snow states,”I thought the aspect of it being about Greek mythology was interesting, and I was interested in any role. I personally connect with the themes because themes like societal issues are still very present today.”

The young actors diving into roles in a show like “Hadestown” often find a surprising depth of connection to their characters. While they might all not have experienced the same epic struggles as Orpheus or Eurydice, the core emotions of love, loss, hope, despair, and the desire for freedom are always understood. Their collaborative effort, guided by Hartley, promises a powerful and memorable performance that showcases not only their individual talents but also their collaborative spirit. It’s an opportunity to celebrate the vibrant artistic community within the school and to see firsthand the incredible results of young people pouring their hearts into a shared creative endeavor.

In the making of this musical, the actors have consistently been going to rehearsals after school to better their performances and to bond with one another. While it’s important to have better performances for when the musical arrives, the bonds between the student cast and crew never stop growing. The tireless students work hours perfecting their performances, whether it’s on or off campus. And of course, rehearsals are always a big commitment, especially for cast or crew members being a big part of the play.

An outstanding sophomore, Elizabeth Arroyo, is cast as a worker for the musical. She states, “Getting to see the show come together has been so rewarding! The cast and crew spend so many hours together trying to make something that we can be proud of and it’s always so special to have that moment where you can take a step back and say “Wow, this is looking like a show.”

Her contribution to the musical makes an incredible difference everyday towards the show. She loves that the music in the show is so moving and it’s hard to be a vocalist to not be fully immersed in the scenes. 

Freshman Aniya Jemison, an incredible cast member who has been cast to play the lead, Fate, states “As a freshman I love being in the musical Hadestown. Freshman year is your year where you try to find who you are. And I didn’t have to look much because right when I walked through those doors I was welcomed. You get to experience so many different sides of yourself that you didn’t know were there. Getting in character is the best part about theater, once you get on that stage under those lights you get to step out of your body for a moment, forget all your trials and errors and become someone else for a time.”