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To Hell and Back
Hadestown heads to the PACA Footlights stage
4 hours ago
Rick Klein Photography
Following two stories from Greek mythology – Hades and Persephone and Orpheus and Eurydice – the Footlights Youth Theatre program presents Hadestown: Teen Edition, a reimagining of these tales that parallels the original Hadestown script closely.
BEGINNING THURSDAY, OCT. 9
A story of love and loss, Anaïs Mitchell's award-winning musical Hadestown transports us back to ancient times on the Footlights Theatre stage. With popular songs such as "Way Down Hadestown" and "Wait for Me," the show combines the somber tones of vintage New Orleans jazz with upbeat American folk music to create an unforgettable experience for audiences worldwide.
Hadestown follows two of the most memorable love stories of Greek mythology: Hades and Persephone, and Orpheus and Eurydice. In this reimagined tale, we are thrown into an impoverished overworld and industrialized underworld – each realm presenting their own challenges for these characters whose worlds are about to intertwine.
Operating within the Performing Artists Collective Alliance (PACA) building, Footlights Theatre showcases young talent in the Erie community through their mission, "To ignite creativity and nurture talent through high-quality theatre experiences that uplift, challenge, and connect."
In addition to offering full-scale stage productions, Footlights prides themselves on "making theatre that matters," offering age-appropriate workshops in acting, voice, and movement, as well as a specialized outreach ensemble.
Although intended to be performed as a "teen edition" of the musical, Director KC McCloskey expressed that the storyline has remained mostly the same, with the only real changes being to accommodate younger voices and a larger casting.
A long-time lover of mythology, she believes that the show offers something to resonate for everyone with its beautiful score and immersive storytelling.
McCloskey also noted that Hadestown has been widely requested by her students. "When it became available, we knew we had to make it happen. It's so important to me that they have a voice in what shows are available to them," she said.
Weekends, Oct. 9 through Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. // Thursdays, Oct. 9 and Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. and Sundays, Oct. 12 and Oct. 19 at 2 p.m. // PACA, 1505 State St. // $15 // For tickets and info: tickets.eriereader.com
