Take the Train to Hadestown

By Leah Castaneda, News Editor

Courtesy of HADESTOWN

A train is coming to Kennedy High, and anyone who wants to take a trip down to Hadestown should be prepared to secure their tickets for The Blarney Stone Theater’s (TBST) upcoming production.

The Broadway Musical “Hadestown” will open in the Kennedy Performing Arts Center (KPAC) on Thursday, April 17. TBST will run additional shows on Friday, April 18 and Saturday, April 19.

Kennedy’s theater troupe is excited to present their third musical since TBST returned to the stage in 2021 following the COVID-19 school closures. Students are especially excited to perform a show of such high critical and audience acclaim.

“Hadestown,” the vibrant, jazz-folk musical, made its Broadway debut in 2019 and has been a crowd-favorite since. The show reimagines the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice: a classic Greek tragedy of two lovers joined by song and broken by fate as the poverty around them forces the hungry Eurydice down into Hadestown. The post-apocalyptic subterranean world is ruled by the King and Queen of the Underground: Hades and Persephone.

In this tale, Orpheus must follow Eurydice down into the underworld and present a song of his love to Hades in hopes of winning his lover’s return. 

“Hadestown” has won eight Excellence in Theater Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Score. The show’s impact has reached all the way to La Palma and the Kennedy High cast of “Hadestown.”

“This show is one of my favorites,” sophomore cast member Tom Mora said. “The music is just so jazzy and catchy. It just sounds different from any other musical that I know”

To bring this production to life, the cast of “Hadestown” has stayed committed to rehearsal, often attending practice three nights a week. 

“It’s a lot of hard work, and I never get to go home,” junior cast member Shreena Suva said. “But it’s so worth it.”

“Hadestown” has been a passion project for Theater Director John Hoganson for nearly a year. Since TBST's production of “Mamma Mia!” last spring, Hoganson -- along with the TBST officer team -- has put in work behind the scenes to take this show from dream to production.

“(Hadestown) has been a long time in the making,” Hoganson said. “It’s such a privilege to see it coming to life. I am so proud of these kids.” 

The Blarney Stone Theater has worked tirelessly to bring this soulful production to life. They are excited to present Brookly Loken as Orpheus, Jianna Igama as Eurydice, Anthony Hernandez as Hades, Jolie Cordero as Persephone, Aethan Ly as Hermes, Trishna Malate as Fate 1, Leah Castaneda as Fate 2, and Aika Sales as Fate 3.

This vibrant group of students will take the stage in “Hadestown” on April 17, 18, and 19. Don’t wait to get your tickets and take the train down to Hadestown!