RIVER FALLS – River Falls High School Theatre will perform “Hadestown: Teen Edition” starting Dec. 5 for two weekends, so make sure to get your tickets now. The show is unlike any other RFHS has performed.

Performances will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 5, 6, 12 and 13 and at 2 p.m. Dec. 7 in the Doris Fuka Auditorium at River Falls High School (818 Cemetery Road). People can purchase tickets online at rfpa.ludus.com or at the door an hour before the show.

Director Sarah Plum said the rights for the show became available last year, so not many schools have produced it yet.

“The plot is based on the Greek tragedy of Orpheus and Eurydice. It intertwines the Greek story of Hades and Persephone as well. The themes of the show are love, doubt, power, and hope,” Plum said. “Throughout the production, we are constantly questioning if love can overcome everything else. You'll have to attend to find out.”

The theatre program prides itself on giving students a variety of theatre experiences throughout their time at RFHS. Seniors who have been with the program all four years have had the opportunity to produce a classic with “Fiddler on the Roof,” a golden age show with “Anything Goes,” a pop contemporary with “SpongeBob” and now a jazz-inspired Greek tragedy.

“Our hope is to provide a well-rounded experience to them so that if they choose to participate in theatre after high school, they are equipped with necessary skills,” Plum said. “I'm looking forward to the audience seeing the huge amount of talent our students in the cast, crew, and pit possess. This is an incredibly challenging show, as it is completely sung through with no dialogue. This means nobody ever gets a break. The students' stamina and passion are incredible, and I am impressed by them every single day.”

Plum said the most fun part of rehearsals have been seeing the students take risks.

“Theatre is vulnerable, and our students are putting themselves out there every single day, showing us what they are capable of,” she said. “I love that we have created a space where they can make big choices and be confident in who they are.”

The most challenging part of rehearsals has been the continuity of the show. Once it starts, it doesn't stop until intermission. Once they're back on in act 2, it doesn't stop until the curtain closes.

“The challenge for me was design a fluid show that maintains energy. I've grown a ton from this production as a director,” Plum said. “I think one of the biggest differences from this show to previous shows is how we feel at the end of it. But I don't want to spoil that.”

Plum is adamant that she works with “the best team ever” who can read her mind and know exactly what she is thinking in terms of design, music, staging and everything else.

“We communicate well, and I'm so glad to call them my friends. I am also incredibly proud of my students. We wouldn't have a production without them. Their talent amazes me every day, and I aspire to be as creative and expressive as they are,” Plum said.

She is especially appreciative of Set Designer Troy Dixen and Costume Designer Sydney Summers, who have set the production in 1920s New Orleans Prohibition.

“They both took the ideas I had in my head and created incredible set designs and costumes. Like I mentioned before, I can mention an idea, but they make it come to life. You won't want to miss this incredible set and costume design,” she said.

Plum wants the audience to take away the theme of hope from this show. Life doesn’t always turn out as we plan, but there’s always hope for the future.

Student Q&A
The Journal asked student senior performers for their perspectives on “Hadestown.” Here are their answers.

Elizabeth Baillargeon plays Eurydice.

What do you want the audience to take away from this show? 

While “Hadestown” is a love story, it's not a fairytale romance. The show explores raw, universal themes of both the best and worst parts of loving another person. Because of this, I would love for audiences to walk away from the show with new perspectives about the ways our love for others manifests; more specifically, the consequences (whether good or bad) of the actions our love compels us to do. 

What are you most proud of in this show?

The thing I've worked the hardest on and am most proud of in this show is my character development. Finding Eurydice as a person and adapting to and portraying her in the show has been challenging but so rewarding and so much fun! 

What makes this show different from previous productions?

“Hadestown” is fully "sung-through." This means that while there are plenty of lines and speaking in the show, everything is underscored with music. I think this makes the poetic meaning of the songs shine through even more, and keeps the audience immersed throughout the performance. 

What have been the most fun parts of rehearsals? The most challenging?

My favorite part of rehearsal has been learning the choreography for "Living it Up on Top." It's our big group number, and it's such a high-energy, upbeat song! The most challenging part of rehearsal has been putting all of the dancing and singing together. I think this is challenging every year, though!

What is something you're looking forward to the audience experiencing? 

I'm really looking forward to the audience getting pulled into the world of the show. Our production is set in the 1920's, so audiences will be able to catch references to this time period in costuming and design and become even more immersed into the world of “Hadestown!”

Samantha Miller is a member of the ensemble.

What is something you're looking forward to the audience experiencing? 

I can't wait for the audience to see the show with fresh eyes. Even if they've seen “Hadestown” before, our telling will be different. It's also exciting because we, as a cast, are so used to the show at this point that sometimes we forget how phenomenal it is. The audience will be seeing it for the first time, so they can appreciate all the little things we forget about. 

What have been the most fun parts of rehearsals? The most challenging?

The most fun part of rehearsal has been spending time with my fellow cast members. The inside jokes with this show are insane. On the road to hell there was a road to hell. I love getting to know the freshmen in particular. I like seeing people laughing together and watching everyone cheer each other on when they crush a scene, a song, or a dance. 

The most challenging thing has been realizing I'm a senior and that this is my last high school musical season. 

What makes this show different from previous productions? 

-This show is sung through, which means there's not a lot of downtime. Even when not in a scene, there's still little time backstage when you're not singing. I honestly think it helps the cast stay engaged in the show. It also means I get to see my friends perform even more because I'm watching from the wings. I feel like I've been more present for this show, which fuels my performance to be even stronger. 

What are you most proud of in this show?

I'm really proud of the growth I've seen in every single cast member. Between singing, dancing, and acting, there's always an area people are less confident in. I've seen people take on the challenge of asking for help. They reach out to the dance captain to learn a step or ask for clarification when they receive a note. I've just seen leaps and bounds of confidence on stage as everyone grows together. 

What do you want the audience to take away from this show? 

I want the audience to feel a heart-wrenching shock in their soul that makes them consider the things they enjoy, people they love, and parts of their society they want to change. When I first saw this show, I genuinely forgot how it ends. I got so sucked in that I hoped it would be different, that the story wouldn't have it's inevitable end. I want people to feel that too, and I hope it will encourage them to make changes in their own lives. 

Ben Jaeckel plays Hermes.

What is something you're looking forward to the audience experiencing? 

I am looking forward to the audience getting to experience a musical different than anything they have seen before. This musical is a spin on one of the most popular stories in all of Greek mythology, however, the way that it is presented is so unique and different than any musical out there, the music is a mix between pop, folk, and even some rock. The choreography encapsulates something that doesn’t feel choreographed and feels more natural and authentic than most musicals out there. And because of all that, I look forward to seeing the audience’s reaction and hearing about their experience with this program.

What have been the most fun parts of rehearsals? The most challenging?

It's been extremely fun to be allowed to make choices as a character and as a cast to make this show our own while also representing the story that needs to be told. Because of that I’ve found a lot of joy in doing that with the other cast members. The most challenging thing is representing this story and paying respect to the original version and characters while also learning how to create our own roles and parts within the assigned characters. It’s been a very challenging mix.

What makes this show different from previous productions? 

The cast is a little smaller; however, the true difference is the immersiveness of this show. I step on stage and just feel like I am a part of our “Cafe” or “Hadestown.” I don’t feel like I am at River Falls High School when I step on stage in my character. This really helps to embody a character and bring it to life. And I truly hope the audience sees it the same way. Like they are a part of this show, I want them to be at the edge of their seats waiting for what comes next. I truly believe this show has the potential to do so.

What are you most proud of in this show?

I am proud of this entire cast's ability to bring together such a hard show. It's always super cool to see some of these freshmen come out here with little to no musical knowledge and be able to put on a show that is arguably the hardest one I’ve ever been a part of. And then the obvious aspect, but just seeing the senior class work as hard as possible to perform an amazing show their senior year. It’s a very sad feeling, but also super cool, to see this hard work pay off. Especially at the end of some of our high school lives. 

What do you want the audience to take away from this show? 

That’s not for me to decide. The only way to find out is to come to the show.

Jayda Lahn plays A Fate.

What is something you're looking forward to the audience experiencing? 

I’m excited for the audience to experience all the fourth wall breaks. There are multiple opportunities where Hermes, Hades, and other cast members break the fourth wall, creating an intimate feeling to the poetic story being told. The story is about love and tragedy, amongst other things, and the added intimate feeling truly brings the story from telling to reliving. 

What have been the most fun parts of rehearsals? The most challenging?

A fun but also challenging part of the rehearsal process is putting the vocals with the pit. When we did our first sitzprobe, it was so exciting to hear the band play instead of our practice tracks (which always made the drums sound wack). What made it challenging was making sure the vocals and pit were at the same tempo, but when the singer(s) and the pit connected, it was a magical feeling. 

What makes this show different from previous productions? 

“Hadestown” is straight singing with no dialogue, making it a very poetic and connected show. Because every line is sung, the show is very poetic and rhythmic. This style makes the show feel nostalgic, really adding to the storytelling theme. 

What are you most proud of in this show?

I’m immensely proud of the practice everyone put into the show. Because the show is all music, the cast is memorizing over 30 songs, some even being a cappella. Along with our 15-hour weeks of rehearsals, countless hours of practice was needed outside of regular rehearsals. Alongside the case, the crew, lights, sound, painters, and pit put immense time into the show to make it come together. This production couldn’t have happened without the amazing people putting their time and energy into the show.

Cast & Crew (put in separate breakout box)

Cast

Elizabeth Baillargeon

Calpurnia Bastien

Jayden Brohman-Morgen

K’Leigh Bruce

Lydia Carlson

Elaina Dunham

Clodagh Egan

Aly Ghenciu

Graysen Hallock

Symphony Hanson

River Heinze

Parker Heinze

Logan Huppert

Ben Jaeckel

Isla Janquart

Avery Kannel

Isabella Kohn

Ameilia Lahn

Jayda Lahn

Samuel Leisz

Rhyanne Lifto

Kylee Loga

Clara Longsdorf

Marley Lynum

Claire Miller

Niki Miller

Samantha Miller

Eve Olson

Cora Olson

Kjersten Richter

Lilly Robinson

Adelyn Ryan

Kira Sonnee

Leo Stamets

Harper Stapleton

Lauren Stapleton

Em Symicek

Emmeline Torgersen

Francesca Torgersen

Nayleen Vue

Juniper Zaugg

Crew

Cameron Berner

Sylvia Bonderson

Harvey Bowden

Finn Carroll

Owen Chaffee

Eli Coughlin

Kasen Dahlberg

Evan Dempsey

Azlynn Dreyer

Kylieauna Eckdahl

Sophia Ford

Beatrix Gilberg

Zailya Hanson

Jacob Henjum

Breanna Henrich

Henry Hovland

Cole Jalowitz

Mallory James

Rebekah Jarocki

Gunnar Johnson

Andi (Addison) Koch

Hailey Korolchuk

Hunter Korolchuk

Mal Mathis

Theo Metro

Connor Mitchell

Evie Myklebust

Ainsley Neuhaus

Clare Peterson

Madeline Reese

Sylvia Rundle

Ashley Symicek

Chiara Tantimonaco

Lauren Tille

Emma Tille

Brooklyn Tille

Madeline Tille

Dawson Voiles

Alexis Vold

Xavier Zuber

Pit band

Wesley Brux

El Campus

Jerret Feyereisen

Lance Hovland

Hewitt McCann

Colin Peterson

Taylor Stevens

Heather Tank

Staff

Director – Sarah Plum

Music director – Emma Cruciani

Assistant – Tanner Pietz

Pit Director – Alex Plum

Producer – Bryan Jaeckel

Choreographer – Laura Decheine

Costume Designer – Sydney Summers

Light & Stage Design – Troy Dixen

Sound Design – Bailey Finn