Audrey Fischer brings the underworld to life as she prepares for her dream role as Eurydice in the Omaha Public Schools Summer Musical, “Hadestown: Teen Edition.”

“Hadestown is my favorite musical of all time,” said the Central High sophomore. “This show is so fun and has so much movement that almost everything is a dance and a song. It tells such a beautiful story and has a beautiful message.”

Nearly 60 students from Omaha Public Schools are spending their summer bringing the musical to life. The cast and crew, ranging from incoming ninth to twelfth graders, are dedicating the month of June to rehearsing lines, building sets and creating the show’s technical elements.

“I love meeting people from other schools,” said Fischer. “The summer musical helps you branch out, so you know people from across Omaha, and it's super fun.”
 
South High music teacher and Burke High alum Boston Reid returned to his alma mater to be the pianist for the musical. His job is to provide the musical accompaniment for vocals, dance and other stage actions.
 
“I’ve always loved what Omaha Public Schools does with the summer musicals,” said Reid. “It’s like a safe place for the theater students, choral students and orchestra students to have a spot during the summer to come in and do something they love.”
 
This show keeps students engaged in learning throughout the summer, particularly in Greek mythology. "Hadestown: Teen Edition" offers a modern retelling of the ancient Greek myths of Orpheus and Eurydice, allowing students to dive into classic literature, analyze characters and explore poetic storytelling.

“This is a story that has existed since the beginning of time, but they get to see it through the lens of a different format to translate and understand it,” said Reid.

Anthony Schik, co-director and Westview High theatre teacher, says this musical is an excellent way for students to extend their learning during the summer in a way they’ll enjoy. 

“This story is almost 100% music, and music is a big part of these kids’ lives,” said Schik. “Having music tell a Greek mythology story brings it into their modern culture.”

The original production is still running on Broadway. Schik and his co-director, Emily Mokrycki, Burke High theatre teacher, applied for the rights to "Hadestown: Teen Edition" the first day they became available, eager to bring it to Omaha Public Schools.

“We’ve talked about how the story can relate to today and how stories that seem very old can still resonate with us,” said Mokrycki. “It’s an immersive piece of theater; I hope the students walk away feeling that they’ve grown as performers and learn how to invest themselves in storytelling.”

Performances of “Hadestown: Teen Edition” will be held at the Burke High Auditorium on June 27 and 28 at 7 p.m. and June 29 at 2 p.m. Admission is free, and tickets can be reserved online.

June 2025

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