Parkway Playhouse is thrilled to open its 2026 Junior Season with Hadestown: Teen Edition, showing April 17-25, 2026!
This award-winning Broadway musical is a reimagining of ancient Greek Myths, focusing on the love stories of Orpheus and Eurydice, and Hades and Persephone. It follows the musician Orpheus’s quest to rescue his love, Eurydice, from the underworld after she’s lured there by Hades. Intertwined is the story of Hades and his wife, Persephone, as they rule this other realm. The story is told by narrator Hermes, chorused by The Fates, and is brought into modern times in this jazzy retelling of these classic stories.
Creating a full-length production with teens is a first for Parkway Junior, with a talented cast that demonstrates both emotional depth and strong storytelling. As Eurydice and Orpheus, beautifully portrayed by Addison Amos and Carter Sturgill (seen as Lydia and Beetlejuice last fall), share an authentic connection, with a natural chemistry that draws the audience into their joy, grief, and uncertainty. Santos Mondragon as Hades, and Jaye Polgar as Persephone (last seen as Charles and Adam in Beetlejuice), have created a multi-layered dynamic onstage that rivals most adult actors. As the tension between them escalates, their relationship cracks, but is healed and repaired. As Hermes, the charismatic narrator, Wilhelmina Wygand (Beetlejuice’s Delia) expertly guides the audience through the journey through the underworld, anchoring the production. The Fates, played by Kai’ana Stella, Chloe Deyton, and Ariana Lawrence, serve as a constant presence, meddling in the minds of the other characters and influencing their choices. Finally, the “hardest working Chorus in the gods’ almighty world,” the ensemble of Workers (Ben Deyton, Lauren Dzioba, Julia Early, Opal Ferrel-Felts, Emerson Martin, Claire Riley, and Jace Schilling), tie the show together with their incredible harmonizing storytelling.
Are you new to learning about Greek Mythology? Here are a few introductions! Orpheus: A legendary musician, bard, and poet. He’s Eurydice’s love and travels to the Underworld to rescue her. Eurydice: Orpheus’s love, lured to the Underworld by Hades. Hades: Greek God of the Underworld, he’s married to Persephone. Persephone: Greek Goddess of Spring. She lives with her husband, Hades, in the Underworld for half the year. Hermes: Greek God of Heralds, Travelers, and Merchants. The Fates: The Ancient Greek personification of destiny. The Underworld: Where the Ancient Greeks thought souls went when they died. Ruled by Hades, it’s represented by three realms. Asphodel Meadows, Elysium, and Tartarus where souls were placed based on how they spent their lives.
“This is truly a bucket-list show for me,” says Addison (Eurydice), a Junior at Mountain Heritage High School. “The music is incredible, and we’ve been challenged by the harmonies and the range, but it has been so worth it.” Jenny Martin, director, added, “Even if you aren’t familiar with the Broadway show or the music, this is a life-changing production. Every time we re-read the script, learn a song, or block a scene, the kids and I find a brand new nuance, some gorgeous play on words we’ve never noticed before. I am incredibly lucky to share this beautiful piece of literature with this talented cast.”
Music, Lyrics, and book by Anaïs Mitchell. Hadestown: Teen Edition is presented through special arrangement with Concord Theatricals. All authorized performance materials are also supplied by Concord. Directed by Jenny Martin, with Music Direction by Melanie Veazey, and Choreography by Kelli Hall. Tickets are on sale now! Grab yours at www.parkwayplayhouse.com/
Parkway Playhouse is a professional theater company located at 202 Green Mountain Drive, Burnsville, North Carolina 28714. The oldest continually operating summer theater in North Carolina, they are celebrating their 79th season this year. Parkway Playhouse offers something for everyone, including shows, classes, community events, and more! To find out more about Parkway Playhouse, please visit their website at www.parkwayplayhouse.com, or check out their Facebook or Instagram pages.
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