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“Hadestown” a Folk Opera, at Dibden in December

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“Hadestown,” a Folk Opera, at Dibden in December


December 6, 2007

Higher Ground in Burlington, in conjunction with playwright Anais Mitchell, Michael Chorney of Magic City, and Ben T. Matchstick, present “Hadestown” (a folk opera) — an original work of music theatre based on the tragic Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. “Hadestown” returns to Vermont in late November and early December for seven shows.

“Hadestown” will be presented at Johnson State College, Thursday Dec. 6, at 7:30 p.m.

“Hadestown” brings the timeless story of Orpheus and Eurydice into a contemporary context that is poetically, musically and visually fresh. Orpheus, the lyre-playing son of a muse, descends into the underworld in an attempt to win back his fallen bride Eurydice by the power of his music. Their tragic story has been mined by artists from all corners of the world — a testament to its depth and universal appeal.

“Hadestown” is set in a post-apocalyptic world that takes inspiration from Depression-era America: the underworld is not the land of the dead but an exploitative company town. Old-fashioned symbols of poverty and exploitation are fused with a kind of futurism to prompt reflection on just how much we’ve evolved (or devolved) as a society since the 1930s.

Written by Anais Mitchell, arranged by Michael Chorney for Magic City, and directed by Ben T. Matchstick, the opera is not so much a history lesson as it is a rich patchwork of artistic vision, social commentary and raw human emotion. Above all, “Hadestown” is a love story that explores what becomes of the human condition under the most tragic and trying of circumstances.

For more information about “Hadestown,” contact: Nick Vaden at 802-652-0777.