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Local Teens Take the Stage as Depot Theatre Academy Launches Summer with Hadestown: Teen Edition

This June, young performers from across the North Country will step into myth, music, and storytelling as the Depot Theatre Academy opens the Depot Theatre summer Main Stage season with Hadestown: Teen Edition.

Presented in the Depot Theatre’s historic 1876 train station in Westport, the production brings together a cast of student performers from throughout the region, many of whom auditioned from communities across the Adirondacks and Champlain Valley to take part in the Academy’s summer program.

Part folk opera, part retelling of the ancient Orpheus and Eurydice myth, Hadestown: Teen Edition, written by Anaïs Mitchell, explores themes of hope, resilience, love, and community through a score that blends American folk music, jazz, blues, and New Orleans-inspired rhythms.

For the Depot Theatre Academy, the production also reflects a growing investment in youth arts opportunities in rural communities. Earlier this year, the Academy launched an expanded partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County’s 4-H program, focused on communication, creativity, mentorship, and hands-on learning experiences for local students.

“This project has become much bigger than simply putting on a musical,” said Gigi Mason, Director of the Depot Theatre Academy. “It’s about creating space for young people to take artistic risks, work together, and experience what it feels like to build something ambitious as a community.”

Rehearsals are already underway, filling the Depot Theatre with music, choreography, scenic construction, and the energy of a summer season coming to life. 

The production has also received encouragement from members of the broader Hadestown artistic community, adding an extra layer of excitement for the young cast as they prepare to bring their own interpretation to the stage.

Performances of Hadestown: Teen Edition run June 4–14 at the Depot Theatre in Westport.

For tickets and information, visit depottheatre.org. 

Read more about this in the Press Republican. Or see an article in the Lake Placid News below.

Depot Theatre Academy and 4-H Expand Youth Programming with Live Talkback and Behind-the-Scenes Workshop

DepotTheatre_Youth Hadestown bannerThis June, the Depot Theatre Academy and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County’s 4-H program continue their growing partnership with two new opportunities designed to bring young people closer to the creative process, both onstage and behind the scenes.

On Friday, June 12, following the evening performance of Hadestown: Teen Edition, the Depot Theatre will host a youth-focused Depot Dialogue, a post-show conversation created with area students in mind. The talkback will offer a chance to reflect on the performance, ask questions, and explore the themes and storytelling choices of the production in a setting that is welcoming, informal, and youth-centered.

To support access, 4-H will sponsor a block of reduced-price tickets for Essex County youth, helping make the experience available to more students while creating a natural connection to 4-H programming throughout the year.

“This partnership is about creating meaningful entry points for young people,” said Elizabeth Lee, Executive Director at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County. “Experiences like this don’t just introduce students to the arts, they open the door to continued engagement, connection, and growth through 4-H.”

The following weekend, on Saturday, June 20, the Academy will host its next Theatre Pop-Up Workshop: Inside the Build: Set, Production, and Process at the Depot Theatre.

Timed between productions of Hadestown: Teen Edition and Tick, Tick…Boom!, the two-hour workshop invites students into the working environment of a live theatre in transition. Participants will have the opportunity to observe scenic and production elements up close, engage with aspects of the build process where appropriate, and gain insight into how a professional production comes together.

The workshop is designed to be hands-on, flexible, and grounded in real-time learning, offering students a chance to explore not only artistic roles but also the planning, coordination, and problem-solving that underpin every production.

“Theatre is one of the few places where art, logistics, and people all collide at once,” said Aaron Jodoin, the Depot Theatre’s Artistic Director. “This partnership is about opening that world up and giving young people a way to step inside it, ask questions, and see where they might fit.”

These June programs build on the partnership launched earlier this year between the Depot Theatre Academy and 4-H, which focuses on communication, mentorship, and creative skill-building for Essex County youth through theatre-based experiences.

Additional workshops and youth programs are planned throughout the summer. For more information or to register for upcoming workshops, email essex4h@cornell.edu or visit https://bit.ly/Depot4H.

You can also see this article in the Sun Community News, Adirondack Daily Enterprise, or Press Republican. 

Depot Theatre Announces 2026 Season of New Voices, New Energy, and Expanded Creative Pathways

New Artistic Director Aaron Jodoin and long-time Academy Director Gigi Mason bring fresh perspectives to a season that bridges professional and educational work

WESTPORT, NY — The Depot Theatre, the Adirondacks’ first and oldest professional Equity theatre, has announced its 2026 season—a vibrant blend of new voices, beloved music, and intergenerational storytelling that reflects the company’s continued artistic evolution and deep community roots.

The 2026 season marks the first under the artistic leadership of Aaron Jodoin. A familiar face to Depot Theatre audiences and artists alike, Jodoin brings Broadway-level experience alongside a strong commitment to arts education and the Westport community. Having served as music director for past Main Stage and Academy productions, he has worked closely with Academy Director Gigi Mason to mentor young performers and cultivate the next generation of theatre artists. His collaborative approach and passion for developing artists at every level strengthen the Depot Theatre’s creative community and reinforce its commitment to excellence in performance and education.

“I’ve made theatre in a lot of different rooms, it’s a gift to build a season in a community that feels like home and I’ve come to love. I’m excited to start this new chapter of my life at the Depot Theatre and grateful for the trust in me from Sarah and the Board of Directors,” said Jodoin.

Aaron Jodoin at the keyboard

Aaron Jodoin at the keyboard

2026 Season Highlights

The season opens with the Depot Theatre Academy’s production of Hadestown: Teen Edition by Anaïs Mitchell, a licensed youth adaptation presented under agreement with Concord Theatricals. The production places young artists at the center of a contemporary musical story, reflecting the Academy’s commitment to professional-level training and ensemble-driven work.

The Academy will also present two Main Stage concert performances of Ride the Cyclone (High School Edition) by Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell in July. The musical’s darkly comic tone and ensemble-driven storytelling make it a natural fit for Academy performers.

The Main Stage season continues with Tick, Tick… Boom! Jonathan Larson’s inspiring, semi-autobiographical musical about creativity, persistence, and the courage to follow one’s artistic dreams. 

Mid-summer brings Incident at Our Lady of Perpetual Help by Katie Forgette, a heartfelt and hilarious look at family, faith, and survival.

The season concludes with Ring of Fire, created by Richard Maltby Jr., a high-energy celebration of Johnny Cash’s music that closes the summer with rhythm, grit, and heart.

“This season is a powerful reflection of where the Depot Theatre is headed,” said Sarah Wilson, executive director. “We’re deepening our artistic range, strengthening our Academy’s visibility, and building bridges between professional artists, students, and audiences. The result is a lineup that’s as entertaining as it is meaningful.”

Academy 

Under the guidance of Academy Director Gigi Mason, the Depot Theatre Academy continues to grow as a regional leader in performing arts education—offering professional-level experiences for students while building audiences of the future.

“Our young performers are fearless,” said Mason. “They bring fresh energy and authenticity to every story we tell. Seeing them step onto the Main Stage in Hadestown: Teen Edition will be a thrilling way to open the summer.”

The Academy will continue with its August Junior Program at the Whallonsburg Grange as well. 

New Programming

In addition to its Main Stage and Academy productions, the Depot Theatre will launch Dark Nights programming—offering intimate concerts, new play readings, and special performances between productions. These limited engagements will spotlight regional talent, Academy performers, and emerging artists, strengthening the Theatre’s role as a year-round creative hub. The series also revives the spirit of the Depot Theatre’s earlier Intermezzo series, offering intimate performances that echo a beloved tradition while looking ahead to new creative possibilities.

The Dark Nights series will be developed under new artistic producing oversight, with Artistic General Manager Amy Fitts helping shape its concerts, readings, and small-format performances.

”The Depot Theatre’s mission has always included developing artists at every level,” said Scott Gibree, President of the Board of Trustees. “This season brings that commitment into clearer focus by more fully connecting our Academy with the Main Stage. With Aaron’s leadership, we’re strengthening that partnership while continuing to deliver the high-quality work our audiences rely on.”

Gift certificates for the Depot Theatre’s 2026 Main Stage season are now available at https://depottheatre.org/gift-certificates/. 

Visit DepotTheatre.org and subscribe to our email list or follow us on social media to stay up-to-date with season detail announcements, including when season passes and ticket sales begin.  

See this in the news from Sun Community News and BroadwayWorld. 

Our Mission & Vision

Mission: The Depot Theatre is to entertain, enrich, and educate through professional theatrical arts and related programs based in a historic train station.

Vision: The Depot Theatre will have a robust, regional, and year-round presence by creating the highest of quality programs, building strong partnerships, and enhancing community engagement while promoting diversity in all that we do.

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The Depot Theatre receives funding from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

With special thanks to the following for their support of the Depot’s ongoing strategic objectives: Alfred Z. Solomon Charitable Trust, Cloudsplitter Foundation, J.M. McDonald Foundation, Inc., Glenn and Carol Pearsall Adirondack Foundation, Charles R. Wood Foundation, Adirondack Foundation, Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation, Rogers Carroll Family Foundation, Brooks and Joan Fortune Family Foundation.

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