Hadestown: Teen Edition, takes over Townshend Theatre

The Townshend Theatre is Hadestown this week.

A teen edition of the award-winning musical is being performed by the drama students at Fort Frances High School.

Grade 12 student Alexis Latter plays one of the Fates and says the all-music story centres around Greek mythology.

“A musician named Orpheus falls in love with a girl named Eurydice, and then she passes away, and he ventures down into the underworld to convince Hades to let her bring her back,” says Latter.

It features over 30 songs sung by various cast members.

Grade 11 student Alexander Bombay Morrison is Hermes, described as the story narrator and mentor to Orpheus.

This is also Alex’s first musical performance.

“I’ve always been doing stuff with music. I play guitar and piano and stuff like that,” says Morrison.

“I’ve always been asked since I got into high school, ‘ Why haven’t you joined the musical?’ I’ve never really been interested in it until this year.”

“My friends kind of pushed me out of my boundaries, and I joined it this year.”

Latter has been in other high school musicals and musical revues, but is excited to be performing in one that she was able to see live during a recent trip to New York.

“The songs are absolutely phenomenal. The characters of the fates are able to have such great harmonies, which I love personally performing,” says Latter.

“It’s been amazing. We have such an amazing cast to be able to work with. Our directing team is amazing. I’m really excited for everybody to see the dances because I was able to help with the choreography for some of the dances.”

Grade 12 student Chloe Morrison also plays one of the Fates.

She was mesmerized by the story after watching online videos.

“I just saw a lot of videos online, and I thought that the songs were really catchy,” says Morrison.

“I started listening to it, and I learned the story, and it’s really beautiful. It’s a really heartbreaking love story.”

Students have been putting in long hours in preparation.

They will showcase that hard work with their premier showing on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Repeat performances take place on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, also at 7 p.m. each night.

Tickets are available online, but will also be available at the door.