Hadestown: Teen Edition follows the Greek myths of Orpheus and Eurydice, and of the gods Hades and Persephone. Hades controls a mine (“Hadestown”) and his wife Persephone splits her time between there and the world of humanity. Orpheus is a poor poet and musician who falls in love with Eurydice and promises to give her a good life despite his poverty.
Hades and Persephone’s marriage has deteriorated, and Persephone spends more time in the Underworld, causing a famine up above from an imbalance of the seasons. The starving Eurydice meets her Fate and is tempted by Hades to go live in the Underworld. While Orpheus is too focused on his music to notice her struggle, Eurydice signs her life away to work in the mine.
ACT II
*****
Orpheus, with the god Hermes as his guide, ventures down to Hadestown to change Eurydice’s Fate and bring her home. But Hades is resistant to setting one of his workers free, especially when the Fate of his kingdom hangs in the balance. Persephone convinces Hades to hear Orpheus’ music and plea of love, which softens the king’s hardened heart. Hades’ guise of tyranny is challenged by his army of workers, inspired by Orpheus and the dream of freedom. Hades reluctantly agrees to offer the young lovers a trial for the chance to escape the Underworld.
Can Orpheus and Eurydice trust each other, and their love, enough to make it back to their world up above?
*****
