WJ STAGE is a popular faction within the Walter Johnson community, being home to a large population of performance-loving students. Within that community are students who are die-hard performers, who will seek out any open theater opportunities. Several STAGE members participate locally in The Free Theatre’s production of “Hadestown: Teen Edition.” The Free Theatre is a tuition-free, student-run theater company for high school students.

The Free Theatre and WJ STAGE are similar in their missions. Both prioritize student engagement and involvement. The Free Theatre director Megan Stickles values student leadership in the production process.

“Whenever possible, all leadership positions are filled by students,” Stickles said. “That includes the creative team [directing and choreographing], designers, marketing team and a lot more.”

All people working on the show are dedicating their Sundays to the production, adding another weight to their lives that they must balance. For Stickles, the cycle of balancing work has its good and bad moments.

“During tech week, I was sending out some emails at 2 or 3 a.m.,” Stickles said. “However, I’ve been doing theater since I was really little, and I’m pretty used to balancing schoolwork with rehearsal, whether that means working through lunch or rescheduling a test or essay deadline.”

Sophomore Kylee Solt-Linville, who made her WJ STAGE debut as Fantine in “Les Miserables,” plays Fate #1 in “Hadestown” and is also the show’s dramaturg. The dramaturg is someone who researches the show, helping to clear up any unknown information to help the actors make sure their acting and depiction of characters are accurate. Though she just recently picked up the role, she said it has been a positive experience for trying out a leadership role.

“It’s a new experience,” Solt-Linville said. “I’ve only been doing it for two weeks, but the roles of dramaturg and cast go well together, and I think that the Free Theatre is a good place to take on leadership roles and is a supportive environment.” 

Rehearsals are every Sunday, so Solt-Linville has a consistent, organized way of balancing school, dramaturgy and practicing for the show.

“It’s helpful that it’s only one day a week, but I have to put some systems in place so I actually practice,” Solt-Linville said. “I created a schedule where I dedicate 2 days a week to practicing for The Free Theatre.”

Solt-Linville’s sister, sophomore Kelsee Solt-Linville, can be found behind the scenes, working as the production’s prop designer. 

“Since The Free Theatre is run by students, being a designer means I’m someone who has control of how the show turns out and looks,” Kelsee Solt-Linville said. 

On the musical side of things are juniors Alice Bradley and Theo Hansen. Bradley, who plays the violin, and Hansen, who plays the trombone, go note-in-note within “Hadestown.” Both have played in the WJ pit, but this show presents new opportunities for the two. In “Hadestown,” the pit is on stage, incorporated directly into the show. 

“I’m so excited, it’s going to be so fun,” Hansen said. “I’ve never been on stage before, and that is the main source of my excitement.” 

For Hansen and Bradley, this is their second time in the pit, with the first being in “Les Miserables” last year. 

“I think having Les Mis as my first show has been a blessing and a curse,” Bradley said. “It was stressful as my first musical theater experience, but it has also helped me recognize whether I am mirroring a singer, accompanying or I can guess what other instruments I am playing with, which has helped me with sight reading and intonation.” 

To Hansen, there is significant importance on the music he must learn. In “Hadestown,” the music is of the jazz genre, and thus, there is consistent use of the trombone. Hansen has taken steps to make sure he’s got everything learned. 

“It’s the most difficult music I’ve ever played,” Hansen said. “I have put a much higher priority on making sure I have the music down.” 

While everyone else balances the show’s music and lines, some balance two shows at once. Sophomore Kolton Sidhu is doing just that, participating in “Hadestown: Teen Edition” as a worker, featured dancer and the understudy for the main character, Orpheus. She is also participating in WJ STAGE’s production of “The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon” as an actor. Sidhu has had difficulties with the dancing within “Hadestown,” but the adults who put these essential parts of the show together have been a major part in alleviating stress for her.

“I know none of the terminologies and I have two left feet, but the choreographer takes the time to make sure I’m doing everything correctly, as well as the other featured dancers,” Sidhu said. 

For some, taking the time to focus on lines and blocking can be annoying or boring, but for Sidhu, it’s enjoyable.

“I do as much as I can when it comes to schoolwork during school and lunch, and I cut out all free time for myself to do theater and homework,” Sidhu said.

Among all the WJ participants, they share the idea that they either have brought or will bring new skills with them to shape their theatrical skill sets. Coming into “Hadestown,” numerous members of the production feel significantly more confident. 

“I’m coming into this production a lot less blind,” Bradley said. 

Outside of “Hadestown,” actors are grateful for the new skills they have picked up thanks to their participation in “Hadestown,” which they can later apply to their participation in WJ’s spring musical. 

“I’m going to take some dance knowledge that I didn’t know before, as well as falsetto and playing the guitar, as well as learning to convey grief,” Sidhu said. “Learning to do those kinds of emotions will hopefully come in handy.” 

Another shared theme among the members of this production is the fact that they are surrounded by people at their school. 

Because most of “Hadestown’s” participants are WJ students, they always know they’ve got each other to look forward to in the spring for the musical. 

“It’s nice to have people I’m familiar with joining The Free Theater,” Kylee Solt-Linville said. “I laugh and share stories with my WJ people more than anything else.”