Hadestown, a project that began nearly 20 years ago and just recently celebrated its 2000th performance on the Great White Way, has some serious staying power.
This New Orleans jazz-infused, inventive iteration of a Greek mythological tragedy is, perhaps, an unlikely crowd-pleaser, at least on paper. Its enduring appeal is certainly connected to this breathtaking score and poetic lyricism by author/composer Anaïs Mitchell, but at its core is an irresistible, timeless story with deeply human themes that resonates with audiences across generations.
Hadestown first establishes a stasis of a broken world desperate for releif and change. Our version, set in Southwestern United States in the midst of the Dust Bowl's ravaging storms and bleak economic outlook, begins with a gathering place where where everyday people come to find community amidst a world that feels broken around them. Perhaps not unlike the chairs you're sitting in right now and the world just outside those windows.
In our story, these gatherers come to tell a tale from long ago so that we might learn from it. That we might see a bit of ourselves in these stories and these characters and might reflect on our own instances of loss, love, doubt, hope, compassion, greed, hopelessness, optimism, grief, and growth. As we follow Orpheus' journey we meet characters along the way who represent the best and worst of humanity, and we realize, ultimately, that humans are inherently fallible.
Jesus, too, used stories to connect with His people. Stories are powerful journeys made of vivid imagery and relatable characters that make lessons easier to recall and apply. Stories like the Parable of the Good Samaritan break down complex ideas of love, forgiveness, and judgement to help us recall lessons we should learn as stories are passed on from generation to generation.
So too can we learn from the character's pursuits in Hadestown: Teen Edition. As we struggle to make sense of the broken world outside, here inside we can reflect on how love cannot exist without trust, hope is more powerful than fear, and that the faith of a mustard seed can indeed move mountains.
Clap along, hum as you wish, and feel the beauty of a powerful, timeless story in Hadestown: Teen Edition.
Sarah Patterson, Director
