Richland High School Actors Present: hadestown teen edition
The running time is approximately 2 hours + 15 minute Intermission. This show is appropriate for most audience members. It is similar to a PG movie in content.
APRIL 3-6, 2025
Book , Music, and Lyrics by Anaïs Mitchell
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This intriguing and beautiful folk opera delivers a deeply resonant and defiantly hopeful theatrical experience. Following two intertwining love stories – that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of immortal King Hades and lady Persephone – Hadestown invites audiences on a journey to the underworld and back. Inspired by traditions of classic American folk music and vintage New Orleans jazz, Anais Mitchell’s beguiling, sung-through musical pits industry against nature, doubt against faith, and fear against love.
Bringing the show to the RPAC
When we first experienced Hadestown on Broadway, we were deeply moved - by its hauntingly beautiful music, its gripping storytelling, and its breathtaking artistry. We also walked away convinced that this show was far too difficult for a high school to take on. And yet… here we are.
Winner of 8 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Hadestown is a completely sung-through production that weaves together the ancient Greek myths of Orpheus & Eurydice and Hades & Persephone, setting them against a soulful, jazz-infused folk score. It’s a tale of love, sacrifice, and the struggle between hope and despair.
Bringing this show to life has been an extraordinary challenge. Hadestown is one of the most demanding musicals ever written, requiring not only powerhouse vocal performances but also intricate musicianship, deep emotional storytelling, and seamless ensemble work. Our student actors have not only tackled this difficult material head-on, but some have also prepared two roles each, with our principal and understudy actors switching between their principal and Workers Chorus roles throughout the run.
Equally impressive, our student musicians have been working tirelessly on this complex score, rehearsing alongside the cast from the very beginning. Their dedication and skill are integral to recreating Hadestown’s signature sound.
It is a privilege to share this production with you. To see these talented young artists take on such a monumental show - and succeed - is nothing short of inspiring. We are so proud of their passion, perseverance, and artistry.
But the excitement doesn’t end here! We have an incredible lineup ahead for the rest of the season:
April 16 – Broadway’s own Kimberly Marable (a Hadestown original Broadway cast member!) will join us for a one-night-only Broadway Revue, …and All That Jazz, celebrating a range of iconic Broadway hits.
May – The Richland Rock Orchestra presents Smells Like Bittersweet Symphony, a high-energy tribute to the music of the 90s, bringing an unforgettable mix of nostalgia and rock.
June – We close out the season with our Summer Theatre Academy’s production of Xanadu Jr., a vibrant, feel-good musical that promises fun for all ages!
For updates, exclusive content, and to stay connected, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and our website. Thank you for supporting the arts in Johnstown - your enthusiasm and engagement make each season unforgettable.
HISTORY After its origins as a DIY community theatre project in 2006 and a studio album in 2010, Hadestown electrified audiences with its 2016 world premiere at New York Theatre Workshop, becoming the longest-running show in that celebrated theatre’s 40-year history. The production then received its Canadian premiere at Edmonton’s Citadel Theatre in 2017 and then a 2018 sold-out engagement at London’s National Theatre. Hadestown opened on Broadway at the Walter Kerr Theatre on April 17, 2019, developed with and directed by Rachel Chavkin, starring Reeve Carney, André De Shields, Amber Gray, Eva Noblezada and Patrick Page. Hadestown made its West End debut in February 2024 at the Lyric Theatre, London. Directed by Chavkin, the production featured Dónal Finn, Grace Hodgett Young, Zachary James, Melanie La Barrie and Gloria Onitiri.
Who should see this?: This show is similar to a PG rated movie and is appropriate for most audiences. There are mild drug and alcohol references.
