Tonight’s show is at 7:30 p.m. in Arvel Graving Theatre at Minot High School. Shows also will take place Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Co-director Chad Gifford said a production featuring both high schools was necessary because construction is ongoing on Minot North’s theater, but the joint cast may be one-of-a-kind with the new theater opening soon.

“Up until the split high school this year, they had all been classmates, and so it’s been kind of a nice reunion for them to be able to continue those friendships and hang out together,” Gifford said.

Seth Honerman is co-directing and Lindsay Kerzmann is music director. Both teach at Minot North, while Gifford teaches at Minot High.

Submitted Photo Mia Murphy portrays Eurydice. Behind her are the Fates during dress rehersal for "Hadestown: Teen Edition.”

As they were looking for a production calling for a larger cast, the rights for the “Hadestown: Teen Edition” came out.

“We realized that it was going to fit our needs perfectly. So, we jumped on it, and a lot of kids were really excited about it because it’s new and popular,” Gifford said. “The rights only just became available for high schools in April of this year.”

As an opera, the production largely features music throughout, either accompanying the singing or as background. Music is provided by a student jazz band playing from a bandstand on stage.

“That’s the kind of music that doesn’t necessarily follow a straight tempo, which allows for a little bit of flexibility. Musicians can have a little bit of fun with the music, and some of the singers kind of add their own twist on things. And it’s all very modern, up tempo, fun music, kind of reinvigorating an old mythological story,” Gifford said. “On more than one occasion during the show, the actors interact with the musicians, because the music is part of the story.”

Gifford noted the music is difficult, requiring the students to work hard over the past two months to learn the material. There are acapella sections that put the responsibility on those singers to know what they need to do and to hold the show together, he said.

Students also took on the construction of the bandstand and other stage elements, along with taking charge of the costuming, lights and sound.

“We supervise and touch base with the students. But ultimately, they come with the designs, and they find the costumes. They build what we need, and really make it our own unique production,” Gifford said.

Costumes are modern, with a fantasy element. The god Hermes is known for flying and moving about quickly so students integrated feathers into a costume that combines a formal tuxedo with brightly colored shirts to reflect the fun character in the story, Gifford said. Actors portray the Fates in above ground scenes in happier, more free costumes, while the actors in the underground portray the Fates with a darker, grimmer look.

A brush with winter this week interrupted plans for a dress rehearsal Tuesday night and school matinee on Wednesday, but they are taking it in stride.

“What would a Greek tragedy be without some sort of tragic problems?” Gifford said. “They are a hard working, multi talented group, so I’m certain they’ll rise to the challenge of this little twist in our storytelling plan.”

Theater skills are life skills that will serve the students into the future, he added.

“I really think that students who are involved in theater are really well rounded,” he said. “They aren’t learning just one thing. They’re learning many things – how to work with others as part of a team, how to visualize things that then get to come into being that we didn’t have before. The sense of pride that they gain from seeing something through for a couple of months of hard work, that’s just great for their self esteem.”