Norwood young actors stage

The Young Actors Guild is kicking off 2025 and its 50th anniversary with a trip to the eight-time award-winning Broadway teen production of “Hadestown.”

“Hadestown” is a folk opera inspired by American folk music and New Orleans jazz that tells two love stories reimaging the Greek mythology of Orpheus and Eurydice. The narrative also dives more into the story of King Hades and Lady Persephone. 

The show runs Jan. 24-26 at 7 p.m. each night with a 2 p.m. matinee on Jan. 25. Tickets are $20 for ages 18 and older, $15 for 17 and younger, and can be purchased online. 

Currently, 24 kids and young adults from Fort Smith and the River Valley, including Muldrow and Van Buren, are involved in the production of Hadestown. 

“This musical is an interesting choice as it infuses jazz into a rock opera as Orpheus begins his quest to defeat Hades, but you also have two different love stories, one between Orpheus and Eurydice, and the other between Hades and Persophone,” Gipson said. “You begin to empathize with the ‘bad guys’ and feel for Hades. It is just a really beautiful story. There’s no acting, and the music underscores the whole story. Gini Law (music director) is doing great work with the music and preparing the kids.”

“I love Persophone because she’s so wild. She just acts on all of her impulses and just is the life of the party,” said Ava Russell, a junior from Southside. “She gives me a chance to showcase my wild side.”

Chole Whiley, a junior from Mansfield, plays Eurydice. She has enjoyed watching how the character changes during the show. 

“Eurydice is this edgy, streetwise character, but as the play progresses, you see her open up more, and there’s a beauty in that,” Whiley said. “She reminds me of those tough choices that we have to make. I just love this show. There’s a part of it that just so tragic, but part of that is what makes it so beautiful.”

Dominika Wrembel, an exchange student from Poland attending Southside, was encouraged by her host “sister” to try out for the musical.

“I also really love the ‘Hadestown’ soundtrack and production,” Wrembel said. “I wanted to try, so it turned out really good and I’m really happy.” 

YAG is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and once the rights for the other plays this season are secured, Gipson said they will make a big announcement.

“We know that the program has been around since it was the Fort Smith Community Children’s Theatre much longer, but we do have the paperwork to show that it was official in January 1975,” Gipson said. “It began as two shows a year, but we’ve been doing seven shows a year for a while, and we’re going to try for eight shows in 2025.”

Gipson said 400 to 600 participants (all under 19 years old) worked with YAG on and behind the stage last year.

“We have a ton of contract artists and a core group of about eight to ten staff members who help create the vision of YAG,” Gipson said. “We stand on the shoulders of the creative team and parents who support us.”

Gabriel Burdick, who has never done live theater before, plays Hades.

“My nephew messaged me to say that the Young Actors Guild was going to do ‘Hadestown,’ which is my most favorite musical of all time,” Burdick said. “I was going to try out. It didn’t matter if I had a small part, I was going to be a part of this. I was really surprised that I got the role. It’s been a great process so far, but I’m really glad I got it."

Talon Dean, a senior from Alma, plays Orpheus. He’s performed since he was nine and has done over 30 shows. He’s learning to play the guitar while preparing for his role this time. Anyone familiar with the story of Orpheus and Eurydice knows how it ends, and Dean aims to keep the story’s progress fresh in his mind each time.

“I approach each practice and performance like my character is going through the story for the first time,” Dean said. “My character, Orpheus, is also writing a song, which I haven’t done before, so I have to accompany myself live on stage.”

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: 'Hadestown' takes stage: Young Actors Guild rings in 50 years of community theater