“Hadestown: Teen Edition” is showing at the Three Rivers Music Theatre (TRMT) on Friday and Saturday. The entire run of the show is sold out. Andy Planck, the director of “Hadestown: Teen Edition,” is also the executive director of TRMT. “Hadestown,” a Tony-winning musical, is about Greek gods and goddesses: Hermes, Hades, Persephone, Eurydice and Orpheus. It is a tragic love story that follows Orpheus on his quest for Eurydice’s love, as Hades tries to intervene. It is a compelling story about love, sacrifice and mental and physical boundaries.

Planck has been involved in theatre for over 30 years, starting with “The Little Luncheonette of Terror” at Jefferson Middle School. After graduating from Northrop High School in 2000, he furthered his education in musical theater at Ball State University. From there, Plack landed roles in two Broadway national tours, several regional productions, Off-Broadway productions, high-profile concert series, readings, workshops, etc. His passions lead him to Chicago, where he gained the experience that he needed to come home and found the Three Rivers Musical Theatre in 2015.

“Hadestown: Teen Edition” is not noticeably different from the original rendition. The musical is rearranged for younger voices, Planck said. “The story, the music, the emotional depth–it’s all there,” he said “The only thing ‘teen’ about it is the cast. The licensing for ‘Hadestown: Teen Edition’ simply requires that the performers be teenagers. So, audiences shouldn’t expect a watered-down or simplified version. This is the real deal–just performed with extraordinary heart and raw power by the next generation of artists.”

The community that TRMT has created for these young performers is very important. “The trust among this cast and crew is extraordinary,” Planck said. “They root for each other, lift each other up and hold space for the vulnerability this material demands. It’s not just a room full of talented performers, it’s a room full of generous collaborators who make each other better. And you can feel that energy in every moment of the show,” Planck said.

Planck urges people to come see the show because of the power in this piece of theatre. While the depth of the musical is already challenging, the teens in this production bring even more meaning to the production. Each of their skills enriches the meaning and theme of the musical. Director Planck said, “The show itself couldn’t be more relevant. It speaks to our current climate crisis, power structures, resistance, and the fight to hold onto hope in hard times. Watching a group of young people wrestle with that material in such a raw and fearless way is honestly breathtaking. I think audiences will walk away not only moved by the story, but deeply proud of these young artists. They’re not just performing this show–they’re living it and inviting us to do the same.” The young actors are inviting the audience to take part in this demonstration.

Planck directed “Hadestown” but not without reservations. “‘Hadestown’ is a stunning, complex piece of theatre–emotionally, musically and visually–and we knew from the start that bringing it to life without Broadway’s budget was going to be a massive challenge,” said Planck. “And then there’s the material itself. It’s VERY difficult. The music is demanding. The storytelling is layered and nuanced. The emotional journey is intense.”

The cast wondered if they would even be able to pull it off. Spoiler alert: They did. Planck credits his emotional support system to the cast and crew that made this musical possible. “It’s rare to be surrounded by people who are not only wildly talented, but also deeply kind and committed to creating something meaningful together,” said Planck on the support he received while directing “Hadestown.”

“Hadestown” was transformative for cast, crew, production and the audience. The musical is rich with emotional content. It is a Greek tragedy, after all. Planck said that directing and doing “Hadestown” has brought his spark back, “Something about this piece–this process–has been different. The combination of this extraordinary material, these brave and brilliant young artists and the magic that happened in the room…it changed something in me.” The reason for his spark’s return is the teen actors that put their passion into the show. Planck said his cast was “locked in from day one” and “firing on all cylinders.” The cast pushed themselves and each other and that commitment and energy is palpable to the audience. This energy brought deep emotional performances to Hadestown.

I was sat front row with my Reese’s candy and Sprite to prepare myself for my first viewing of “Hadestown.” The cast of “Hadestown” is so uniquely talented, both together as a cast but also as individuals. Hermes, played by Anjenae Starks, was an energetic and confident narrator. She had a strong and confident voice, well-suited to both “Hadestown” and the role of Hermes. Jonathon Miller was a perfect Orpheus. His boyish attitude brought authenticity and playfulness to Orpheus’s character. His Orpheus played perfectly off Abigal Romulus as Eurydice. She played Eurydice as a down-to-earth young girl who fell in love with Orpheus but got distracted in the cold of winter. Romulus was poised and elegant and projected her lovely voice across the theatre with power and control. Gabrille Denham, as Persephone, had such incredible depth while still leaving space for humor around Persephone’s drinking habit. Hades, as played by Jeffery Schaller, had the perfect powerful dictator’s energy. He played Hades as a cool, calm and closed-off husband, leader and businessman. Schaller was quietly powerful in his portrayal of Hades. The Three Fates, Marissa Carroll, Lilly Gaham, and Isabelle Shenfeld, were perfectly matched as Fates in voice, character, and appearance. These three teenagers made the Fates feel like one entity with three spirits. The workers made the stage transform into the underworld and sang together so well. This musical was well cast and rehearsed.

I cannot emphasize enough how incredible the lighting was for this musical. The stage is a simple platform with a sliding door on the second level, so the use of lighting was vital to setting the scene and mood of a scene. The Underworld was lit with moody colors to contrast to the above ground. In one of the big song numbers, the lights above the stage are lowered and swung back and forth. It was entrancing in combination with the song and story. Brock Eastom and Frosty Pictures did a fantastic job with the light design for Hadestown.

The talent that was present on that unlikely stage was highly impressive. As an audience member that had never seen “Hadestown,” I was enchanted with the performance–not to mention teenagers with so much talent. The costumes were so authentic to each character, as if Lucy Federspiel, costume designer, pulled the pieces from the characters’ actual closets. I was on the edge of my seat, especially when I found out that it was a tragedy.

“Hadestown: Teen Edition” by Three Rivers Music Theatre (TRMT) is being shown Friday and Saturday. All shows are sold out. The cast and crew worked so hard on their rendition of “Hadestown” and its clear, even to the audience. This group of talented young performers did “Hadestown” justice.

“Hadestown: Teen Edition” – All performances are sold out. 416 W. 4th Street, Fort Wayne, 260.450.8015, threeriversmusictheatre.com