Phayvanh LuekhamhanThe show with roots in Montpelier that went on to win eight Tony awards among other accolades, comes home with a teenaged twist, thanks to an upcoming production that is a unique collaboration between area schools. “Hadestown: Teen Edition,” a story that intertwines the mythic tales of Orpheus and Eurydice, and of Hades and Persephone, opens on Jan. 23 at U-32 Middle and High School.
The drama troupes of Montpelier High School and U-32 consulted with Matchstick and Anais Mitchell, who wrote the book, music, and lyrics for this production.
The creators originally workshopped the show at Montpelier High School and staged a fully-sung production performed at the Barre Opera House in 2006. The story takes place in an industrial underworld where Hades presides and where he’s persuaded Eurydice to live. The jazz-inflected folk-opera follows Orpheus’s quest to overcome Hades and regain the favor of his one true love, Eurydice.
“Hadestown” is currently playing at the Walter Kerr Theater, where it opened on Broadway in 2019. The local Teen Edition opens on Jan. 23 and runs through Feb. 1 at U-32 Middle and High School, 930 Gallison Hill Road, Montpelier. Tickets can be purchased at Theater Engine: theaterengine.com/productions/2775
