Hadestown: Teen Edition is a full-length adaptation of Anais Mitchell’s Hadestown, modified for performance by teen actors for family audiences. The Teen Edition is only available for school and youth groups with performers 19 years old and younger.

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Changes made for the Teen Edition include:

• Adjusted vocal arrangements to better accommodate teen voices, including modified FATES features and transposed keys.

• Original five-member WORKER chorus converted into a flexible and expandable SATB WORKER chorus.

• Removal of stage action and language related to substance abuse and sexual references.

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 hell-raising journey to the underworld and back. Inspired by traditions of classic American folk music and vintage New Orleans jazz, Mitchell’s beguiling sung-through musical pits industry against nature, doubt against faith, and fear against love.

 

CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS

Orpheus

A dreamer and hopeless romantic, Orpheus is a musician with an otherworldly talent – his music has the power to charm animals, change the course of rivers, and cause action in trees & rocks. He’s got big ideas about love and believes that music can change the world. Orpheus is sensitive, passionate, innocent, someone who sometimes gets lost in his own world, and a little naïve—he always sees the good in people, even when it’s hard. His journey shows the power of hope and the risks of following your heart, even when the odds are against you.

Traits: Optimistic, artistic, sensitive, loves deeply, courageous yet vulnerable.

Tenor with strong falsetto: D3-Eb5

 

Eurydice

Strong and independent, Eurydice is street-smart and knows how to survive in a world that isn’t always kind. She’s tough but has a softer side when it comes to Orpheus, though her need for security sometimes gets in the way of her desires. Eurydice is caught between following her heart or making practical choices, making her a relatable character for anyone who's ever struggled to find balance in life.

Traits: Independent, practical, tough, realist, conflicted, yearning for love and stability.

Mezzo-Soprano/Alto: F#3-D5

 

Hades

The intimidating ruler of the underworld, Hades is powerful and calculating. He runs his kingdom with an iron fist, always yearning for more, but beneath his cold exterior, there’s a complex character who longs for control and order.

Traits: Commanding, mysterious, powerful, obsessed with control, cold yet hiding vulnerability.

Bass: F2-C#4

 

Persephone

Persephone is the queen of the underworld and goddess of spring. She’s full of life, rebellious, sassy, and has a sharp sense of humor, but there’s also a sadness in her when she returns to the dark world of Hades each year. She’s wild, free-spirited, and sometimes at odds with Hades’ strict rules.

Traits: Fun-loving, rebellious, energetic, witty, torn between light and dark.

Mezzo-Soprano/Alto: F3-C5

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Hermes

The smooth-talking messenger of the gods, Hermes is the charismatic storyteller of the production, guiding the audience and the characters through the twists and turns of the journey. He’s clever, charming, and always in the know. Hermes has a  mentor-like relationship with Orpheus, acting as both a guide and a friend.

Traits: Charismatic, wise, quick-witted, charming, a natural leader.

Tenor/Baritone: C3-B4

 

The Fates (3)

The Fates are three sisters, vicious and delicious who always seem to know more than they let on. They represent destiny and fate, controlling the threads of life and death. They are often sarcastic and a little spooky, but they also have an eerie beauty in their singing and presence.  They are the voices in your head.

Traits: Mysterious, all-knowing, sarcastic, haunting, powerful.

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto:  E3-Eb5

 

Company/Workers 

The Workers represent the souls trapped in Hades’ underworld, toiling endlessly under his strict control. They’re the backbone of his dark kingdom, working hard but dreaming of freedom. The Workers are a symbol of resilience, and while they’ve been beaten down, there’s a spark of hope that still exists within them. They bring the haunting, industrial world of Hadestown to life, with powerful ensemble singing and dynamic movement.

Traits: Hardworking, oppressed, resilient, longing for freedom, united by hope.

Soprano: F#3-E5,   Alto: Eb3-D5,   Tenor: G2-Ab4,   Bass: (C2)Eb2-Ab4

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*While this production has been adapted for teen performers, it still retains some of the language and themes from the original musical, including content that may not be suitable for very young audiences.