Written by: Zulaykha Ganatra
The final curtain has closed, and the last performance is complete, Hadestown has officially come to an end. But there are still the memories, lessons, and connections madethroughout its production.
The cast has spent months of rehearsing, learning, and growing together, turning long after-school hours into something meaningful. From intense rehearsals to quiet moments backstage, the experience became more than just a show for the cast.
“My favorite behind-the-scenes moments is definitely all the times I was able to jam and play songs for other singers backstage,” said Johan Caruncho, who played Orpheus. “Anytime we really had the chance.”
While those moments were enjoyable, bringing Orpheus to life required a lot of dedication, especially vocally, pushing him far beyond his comfort zone.
“My biggest challenge was definitely singing,” Johan said. “Orpheus is a super high tenor role, and I’ve only really started becoming a singer this year. I spent months taking vocal lessons and learning how to preserve my voice.”
For Mariam Ibrahim, who portrayed Eurydice, the emotional depth of her character made the role both challenging and rewarding.
“My biggest challenge was the emotional complexity,” Mariam said. “Eurydice goes from being a hungry young girl to a lover and then a worker. It was hard at times to understand the character on a deeper level, but it ended up being a beautiful experience.”
Looking back on the production as a whole, Alivia Friar, who played Hermes, reflected on the collaborative process and meaning behind the story.
“Rehearsals are intense but really rewarding,” Alivia said. “We spend a lot of time digging into the story and the meaning behind each moment, and every rehearsal feels like we’re discovering something new about the show.”
As the cast moves on from Hadestown, the experience remains an important chapter in their theater journeys.
“Hadestown is a powerful story about hope, love, and resilience,” Alivia said. “Getting to tell that story has been incredibly meaningful.”
