"To get to Hadestown, you have to take the long way down."

A tale of love and hope unfolds amid an abundance of song, drastic lighting and choreographed movement in the Coeur d'Alene High School Theatre Department production of "Hadestown Teen Edition," now playing in the school's auditorium.

Junior Harrison Pearl plays the male protagonist Orpheus, opposite the love interest and female protagonist Eurydice, played by senior Kaiya Killingsworth.

In a reimagining of an ancient Greek myth, "Hadestown" features familiar players in a setting inspired by a Brooklyn subway station but layered to show characters who inhabit two worlds: warmth above and industrial depths below.

Harrison said he really appreciates the character arc Orpheus undergoes throughout the production.

"Orpheus explores a lot of different spectrums of storytelling," Harrison said Tuesday during rehearsal. "In the beginning, Orpheus is all wondrous and curious and is ready to explore. Then we'll meet Eurydice and it really changes from the start to the end."

He said themes in the show parallel what is currently happening in the real world, "which I think is very interesting because the ('Hadestown') story was written in the 2010s, but the original myth of Orpheus and Eurydice was from thousands of years ago."

"I just find it amazing how relevant the story that Anaïs Mitchell wrote back then parallels so many things that are happening today."

Kaiya was familiar with the role of Eurydice as she played the character in a piece for competitive drama during the 2024-2025 school year.

She said audiences will enjoy the storytelling of "Hadestown Teen Edition."

"Orpheus and Eurydice's love story is parallel to Hades and Persephone's love story, and the contrast between the above world and the underworld," Kaiya said, "when it flips the script and people go from one side to another side and see that shift in the storytelling and vibes."

The show uses striking design choices and a live onstage band to take audience members on a journey above and below.

"Hadestown" runs through May 2. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students/children/seniors and $10 for Coeur d'Alene High students with ASB cards. Fees apply if purchased online.

Coeur d'Alene High School is at 5530 N. Fourth St., Coeur d'Alene.

    From left, Fate 3 (Savannah Ward), Fate 1 (Fiona Knudsen) and Fate 2 (Nyko Mathews) appear in a scene of "Hadestown Teen Edition" during rehearsal on Tuesday at Coeur d'Alene High School.
  

    Eurydice, played by senior Kaiya Killingsworth, left, and Orpheus, played by junior Harrison Pearl, perform a song Tuesday evening during rehearsal for Coeur d'Alene High School's production of "Hadestown Teen Edition."
  

    Freshman Jaxon Haynie narrates much of the story as Hermes in Coeur d'Alene High School's "Hadestown Teen Edition."