The Persephone Project

The myth of Persephone is the story of the seasons. Persephone was the daughter of Demeter, the goddess of the harvest. When Persephone was abducted from a flowery meadow and carried off to the underworld to become the bride of Hades, Demeter reacted to her daughter's abduction by refusing to let the earth bear fruit until Persephone was returned to her. Zeus agreed to intervene and enable her return, but, alas, Persephone had eaten a handful of pomegranate seeds--the food of the underworld. As a consequence, she could come back to earth for only part of the year. Her annual return marks the beginning of the growing season, and her departure for the underworld brings on winter.

This week, to celebrate the summer solstice, the energetic and imaginative members of the Hudson Teen Theatre Project ensemble, under the direction of the very talented Carol Rusoff, present The Persephone Project, their unique improvisation on the myth. Performances, which are free, take place on Thursday, June 20, at 8 p.m., and on Saturday, June 22, at 4 p.m. Both performances take place at the Hudson Opera House.