'Hadestown' cast visits CAPA students ahead of Forrest Theater run

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Due to popular demand, the Tony Award-winning musical "Hadestown" is returning to Philadelphia in December.

Two of the cast members came to town on Friday and sat down with more than 50 students at CAPA, the Philadelphia High School For The Creative and Performing Arts.

In December, Namisa Mdlalose Bizana and Nickolaus Colón are bringing the hit show to the historic Forrest Theater.

"You have to come down to 'Hadestown,'" says Colón. "It's a wonderful place. It's a little hot. There's fire everywhere, machinery."

And great music! On stage, Colón and Bizana are the Greek Gods Hades and Persephone.

"We are the couple who's been married for a long, long, long time and the question is, what would you do to protect the thing you love?" asks Colón.

Their story is set alongside the tragic ancient tale of Orpheus and Eurydice.

"It's crazy," says sophomore Elysse Laud-Hammond of the special visit on Friday. "I'm like, 'Wow. This is really amazing. I really love this show.'"

The students came with questions, and the cast members shared the advice they would give their high school selves.

"It's about stepping out and knowing that you are worthy, that you have value, that you are talented," says Bizana. "You have to
keep going."

"It takes 100 'nos' to get that one 'yes,'" says Colón. "But then the one 'yes' gets you something like 'Hadestown'."

"Hadestown" is at the Forrest Theater December 2 through the 7.

For tickets and more information, visit EnsembleArtsPhilly.com.