Every night, approximately 122 minutes into the musical Hadestown: Teen Edition there is a specific moment where the audience gasps. Seven days, seven shows, and yet every time, as if on cue, the audible gasps send a palpable shockwave through the crowd.

But the surprises don’t end there with Seattle Prep’s hit spring musical.

A song unfinished. A boy in love. Deals in the underworld. The winds of fate. It’s a sad tale. Tragic really. But we sing it anyway. Hadestown is a love story, a retelling of the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus’ mythical quest to overcome Hades and regain the favor of his one true love, Eurydice.

Wrapped in a surprising musical score that showcases a blend of blues, folk, jazz and rock, Hadestown has a powerful, melodic musical score that is emotional at its core—to the bitter end.

Surprise #1: Complex Music

Director Adam Othman says, “The music in Hadestown is beautiful, but the vocal demands of this show make it challenging. Creator Anais Mitchell calls it a folk opera. And that really summarizes it well, because it has a very folk sound, but it's very operatic in terms of how the story comes across and some of the vocal rigor.”

Prep thespians were ready for the challenge. Coming off of a talented and deep roster last year of twenty-three seniors, Hadestown gave students waiting in the wings a BIG opportunity to shine. Adam says, “this year, in both our production of Clue and Hadestown, there were students who have been in the program for years and this was their first time having big roles. And they were ready.

Joe Maskill ’26 was one of them.

"I have always felt that if there's something I want I just have to put my head down an go for iot, not looking back. Playing orpheus was an experience of a lifetime."  Joe Maskill '26

Surprise #2: Tapping Into New Talent

Director Adam remembers seeing Joe perform in Godspell in eighth grade. Joe had acted in several of the fall plays at Prep but was also a member of the basketball team which precluded him from the musical season. But this year Joe decided to audition for the show.

“Joe was a bit of a surprise,” says Adam. “He is talented but everything I've done with him has been cartoony and comical. I didn’t know he had this endearing side to him. We did callbacks and he started to read and there was just something there. I also knew he could sing but hadn’t had a chance to hear him. And then he came in and had an amazing voice.”

Surprise #3: Taking on the Unknown

Most people were unfamiliar with the musical Hadestown.

Typically, a popular Broadway show is eventually released to professional local theaters, and then after several more years it’s made available to schools. Hadestown was unusual because they released the teen version to schools before they released it to other theaters.

"If you didn't see it on Broadway,” says Adam “you don't necessarily know the show. And it's not a show that has that Disney pop sort of feel that everyone seems to know such as Frozen, where the songs are all familiar. People don't know Hadestown.”

Surprise #4: Uncharted Territory

Prep was one of the first high schools in the Seattle area to perform Hadestown. In fact, as a stipulation of the contract, nobody was allowed to even mention the name of the musical until December 19, 2025, one month into rehearsal.

“Hadestown is one of those unique shows that don't come around that often,” says Adam. And to be one of the first schools to perform it, fresh off Broadway, was very meaningful. When I first saw it on Broadway six years ago, it blew me away. I remember when the show was over, and I just sat there because I did not want it to be done. And for someone like me who sees a ton of shows, that means a lot.”

"We knew the show was a challenging show to dop. We talked about the complexities in Hadestown but the students worked really hard to embody the ideas in the story."  Director Adam Othman

Surprise #5: The Orchestra Pit Reimagined

In a unique twist, the orchestra pit members became part of the set, positioned on stage in clear sight. Elliot Weeks, their fearless leader, directed singers as well as musicians which included two talented Prep violinists and brothers, Daniel and Lucas Robshaw. This unorthodox approach earned high marks as part of the musically challenging show delivered a repertoire of poignant music...”Hey Little Songbird.” “Wait for Me.” “If It’s True,” “Why We Build the Wall.” And of course, “Way Down Hadestown.”

Suprise #6: Complex Storyline

“I think it's hard for young people to grasp that level of love between Orpheus and Eurydice,” says Adam. The show requires mature acting to tell the heart and the feeling of the show. It goes deep into emotions. And I think that's why it resonates with audiences. I think it also reflects Jesuit values in terms of human hopes and desires, and not always getting the things that you want but the willingness to sacrifice it all for something you believe in.”

“We knew the show was a challenging show to do. We talked about the complexities and layers in Hadestown but the students worked really hard to embody the ideas in the story. I think my leading characters (my older students), were really positive with the entire cast, had a good work ethic and set a high bar for the production.

Surprise #7: A Fairytale Gone Awry

Hadestown takes the expected story arc of happily ever after and turns it on its head.

Orpheus is a dreamer and musician who believes his song can change the world. Eurydice is a realist, worn down by hardship and hunger. When she descends into Hadestown—an underworld run by the titan Hades—Orpheus sets out to rescue her. But there is one catch: if he wants her he must lead her out without looking back. Otherwise, she remains with Hades.

Spoiler alert: he looks back.

Audience gasps!

But the story is not entirely hopeless. Sure, Orpheus doesn’t get the girl but it’s not for lack of trying.

The tale reminds us that telling the story, again and again, is its own act of defiance.

In the end, isn’t that what love really is, too?