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This weekend, catch the final performances of Hadestown: Teen Edition at The Sarasota Players. The Tony-award winning musical by Anais Mitchell finishes its run at The Players on August 2.

“Hadestown is the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice that is combined with some mythology of Hades and Persephone,” says Amanda Heisey, marketing director at The Players. “The story is set in New Orleans, during the Great Depression, so the music is very much of that style. There is also a lot of contemporary folksy-rock, which is different from traditional musical theater music.”

In Hadestown, Hades’ dominion, or hell, is actually a factory dubbed Hadestown. Narrated by the Greek god Hermes, the story follows the poverty-stricken Orpheus and Eurydice. Desperate for food and money, Eurydice goes to work in Hadestown, only to discover that there is no escaping. Orpheus, who has fallen in love with Eurydice, tries in vain to rescue her. “Because of their love, Orpheus and Eurydice are offered the chance to escape Hadestown—Orpheus can lead her out of Hadestown, only if she follows behind him and he doesn’t look back at her,” says Heisey. “If he looks back, then she has to stay. He becomes so doubtful that she’s following him because he cannot see her, so right before he gets out, he turns and looks at her and she has to stay in Hadestown.”

For Heisey and the team at The Players, these summer shows are a way to inject new blood into their productions. Hadestown: Teen Edition features a slew of actors on high school and college summer break, paving the way for a well rounded, youthful production. “We’re very lucky that we get to have these kids in our productions one last time while they’re still in town,” says Heisey. “They are doing an incredible job. The set is beautiful, the costumes are great and the choreography is amazing.”

Hadestown: Teen Edition, July 23-August 2, The Sarasota Players, 3501 S Tamiami Trail, Suite 1130, Sarasota

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