Elise Talbot (she/her) is an incoming junior at Castro Valley High School who is excited to be a part of this production of Hadestown! Elise has been performing for 5+ years and you may have seen her as Brooke Wyndham in Legally Blonde, Andrina in The Little Mermaid, or in HSMC Cabaret. Outside of theater Elise enjoys playing oboe, english horn, and string bass. She’s is extremely grateful to her friends and family for their constant support and she hopes you enjoy the show!
Emma Leung (She/ Any) as Worker (Song
Cast)
Emma is excited to be a worker in her sixth PYTC musical! She has previously been Emmett Forrest in Legally Blonde Jr, Gleb Vaganov in Anastasia Youth Edition, and the Mayor in SpongeBob Youth Edition, as well as a middle schooler in Improv Face-Off. Emma is a rising 9th grader at Amador Valley High School and enjoys reading, writing, drawing, cute dinosaurs, and improv. She would like to thank her family, friends, teachers, and cast members for all their support!
Eva Pudiyapura (She/ Her) as Eurydice (Melody Cast)
Having participated in community musical theater since the age of 7, Eva is a 16 year old incoming senior at Foothill High School. While she grew up doing shows at CMT in San Jose, this will be her second time performing at the Firehouse. She's incredibly grateful to be working with such an amazing show, cast, band, and production crew.
Gabriella Blaker (She/Her) as
Persephone (Melody Cast)
Gabriella is so honored to be a part of Firehouse’s Hadestown Teen Edition! She has had a passion for this show for years and never expected to be given this opportunity. She would like to thank the directing team for giving her this chance, her fellow castmates for being so incredible and supportive, and her friends and family for believing in her even in the hardest of times. She hopes you enjoy the show!
WHO'S WHO
Jocelyn Han as Worker (Song Cast)
Jocelyn Han is excited to be taking part in Hadestown. This will be her first musical. As someone who has taken part in types of theater and plays an instrument, she believes this will be a fun new opportunity and looks forward to putting on a great show.
Lara Amstrup as Featured Dancer, Worker (Melody Cast)
Lara is very excited to be a part of “Hadestown”! She was recently seen on the Firehouse stage in “Anastasia”. Outside of theater, she enjoys diving and colorguard. Enjoy the show!
Leila Shukla-Parekh (She/Her) as Worker (Song Cast)
Leila is thrilled for her first show at the Firehouse Arts Center! An incoming junior at Foothill High School, she has previously been ensemble in “9 to 5,” Farrah the Faerie in “She Kills Monsters,” Pugsley in “The Addams Family,” and The Kid in “The Princess Bride.” She’d like to thank her family for supporting her.
Liam Weir (He/ Him) as Worker (Melody Cast)
Liam Weir is a sophomore at Amador Valley High School who loves theater. Some of the shows he has been in are The Addams Family, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Lion King Jr, Shrek Jr, and more. In his free time, he likes playing video games and hanging out with cats.
Lilli Juan (She/They) as Worker (Song Cast)
Lilli is a rising 8th grader at Harvest Park, and she is absolutely thrilled to be a part of Hadestown Teen Edition! You might have seen them recently in PYTC’s Legally Blonde as Elle or in 13 as Kendra. In her spare time, she enjoys listening to music, walking her dog, or crocheting whatever cute animal friend she feels like. She’d like to thank the staff and her fellow cast-members for putting together this amazing production, and she hopes you enjoy the show!
WHO'S WHO
Maria Palathingal (She/Her) as Worker (Melody Cast)
Maria is ecstatic to be a part of PYTC’s production of Hadestown. Some of her favorite past roles are Sonny Malone in Xanadu and Warner Huntington III in Legally Blonde. She would like to thank the directors and her family and hopes you enjoy the show!
Marinn Cuda (She/ Her) as Eurydice (Song Cast)
Marinn Cuda is a Senior at Amador Valley High School. You may have also seen her performing with HSMC, Cabaret and Creatures of Impulse. When she isn’t teaching, performing, or rehearsing at the Firehouse, she loves learning fun facts about history, writing, and playing Dungeons and Dragons!
Mason Bona (He/They)
as Worker, Dance Captain (Melody Cast)
This is Mason’s tenth show with the Firehouse. Recently, they have done High School Musical: On Stage and the Addams Family with Amador Valley High School. This show has been one of Mason’s favorites. They would like to thank both casts for being so kind and welcoming and to the amazing directors and crew for making this show possible.
Nadia Lane (She/ Her) as Worker (Melody Cast)
Nadia Lane is very excited to make her stage debut in “Hadestown” as a worker! While she has never been in a production before, Nadia has studied voice for two years with the Pleasanton Music Academy and was in her school choir throughout her years at Hart Middle School. In her free time, she enjoys playing piano, learning Italian, and writing short stories. Nadia is incredibly grateful for the support she has received as a fairly late newcomer and for how positive an experience this production has been.
Neela Mandal (She/ Her) as Fate 1 (Melody Cast)
Neela goes to Amador Valley High School and is 16 years old. She has 2 younger sisters, one of them being in the cast! She has preformed in a grand total of 10 productions! This is her biggest lead yet! She’s super happy to be playing Fate 1 for you! She thanks you for being here and would love for you to enjoy the show!
WHO'S WHO
Nix Books (She/ Her) as Persephone
(Song Cast)
Nix Books is pleased to perform in the Firehouse again. Previously seen as Alice Beineke in The Addams Family; Gladys Herdman in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever; Camile in Junie B. Jones; and Prince Charming in Cinderella; she is glad to be on stage and entertaining.
Omar Azimi (He/Him) as Hades (Song Cast)
Omar Azimi is 16 years old and is a junior in Amador Valley High School. He has performed for the Firehouse Arts Center for nearly three years in roles such as Greylag in “Honk Jr”, Coach Bolton in “High School Musical On Stage: Teen Edition”, and Plankton in “The SpongeBob Musical: Youth Edition”. Now he is extremely excited to play Hades.
Phoenix Mironova as Orpheus (Song Cast)
Hadestown has been a part of Phoenix's life since 2018, and to perform as Orpheus is an absolute dream come true. This show is an incredible way to close this chapter of their life, and they hope it impacts you as much as it did them.
Sarina Mandal (She/Her)
as Featured Dancer, Worker (Melody Cast)
Sarina is ecstatic that she gets to be a featured dancer in her first full length, and favorite musical! She has so much fun through-out this whole journey and making new friends! Sarina's favorite shows have been Xanadu JR, Anastasia Youth Edition, and Hadestown Teen Edition (this show)! "Gorf."
Sid Raghavan (He/ Him) as Hermes (Melody
Cast)
Sid loves music, theater and Greek myths. He made his theatrical debut at PYTC as the French Taunter in Monty Python’s SPAMALOT in 2023. Since then he has played Lawrence in School of Rock (RTA), Noah Claypole in Oliver! (RTA), Dmitry in Anastasia (PYTC), and William Barfée in 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Athenian). He is over the moon to play Hermes and can’t wait to “sing it again.”
WHO'S WHO
Sophia Garcia (She/Her) as Featured Dancer, Worker, Dance Captain (Song Cast)
Sophia Garcia is a Graduate at Amador Valley High School and very excited to participate in this production. She has been seen in the following shows: Vlad Popov in Anastasia: Youth Edition, Martha Cox in High School Musical: On Stage!, Edith in Blithe Spirit, Ali in Mamma Mia, and Howie Newsome in Our Town. Sophia was also a 3-year member of the high school improv troupe, Creatures of Impulse. Sophia would like to thank her family and friends for supporting her through her journey in the arts. As her last High School show, Hadestown: Teen Edition concludes their final High School curtain call.
Vivian McNeil (She/ Her) as Fate 2 (Melody Cast)
Vivian McNeill is a bright and enthusiastic 13-year-old performer who loves to sing, act, and dance. She most recently played Bert in Mary Poppins Jr. and Lord Farquaad in Shrek Jr., both at Canyon Middle School. Vivian has also appeared in High School Musical (Firehouse Arts), Annie Jr., Matilda, and Seussical the Musical. She is a two-time All-State Choir singer (2024, 2025), studies voice, and brings strong comedic timing and musicality to every role she takes on. She’d like to thank her vocal coach, Matt Liebowitz and her family for all their support along the way.
Colin Gillette (He/They) Guitar
Colin just graduated from Amador Valley High School and is going to be a college freshman next year for pre-med. He loves theater and has been involved in drama for the past 6 years. He has been playing guitar for a year and is completely self taught.
Daniella Smith (She/Her) Cello
Daniella Smith is thrilled to be playing in the Hadestown pit orchestra! She was involved in Amador Valley and Foothill High School’s Seussical production as a violinist in 2022; she is excited to return to the stage this summer with such a talented team. She hopes you enjoy everyone’s hard work!
WHO'S WHO
Ira Ambhaikar (She/Her)
A cellist at amador learning how to 'live it up on top' through playing music.
Jaden Zika (He/Him) Drums
Jaden is a junior in college at the University of Washington, Seattle, at which he is majoring in psychology and public policy. He has been playing drums/percussion for almost 9 years and this is his second time playing with the Firehouse Arts Center.
Seth Neves (He/ Him) Trombone,
Glockenspiel
Seth is a HUGE fan of Hadestown and is super excited to fulfill his dream of playing trombone in the pit for the show! Growing up and living in Dublin, he has been a trombonist for over 10 years and has been a pit musician in multiple musicals before, including Seussical and Cabaret. His single on-stage credit is performing as Milky White (the cow) in Into the Woods in college. Seth currently teaches general music, band, and choir at a K-8 school in Lathrop.
Vivek Matam (He/Him) Bass
DIRECTOR'S NOTE
This production has scared me more than any other I’ve worked on. Before Anastasia, the shows I directed were lighthearted, fun, and familiar. But Hadestown felt like something else entirely—a true piece of art, where every element needed to be precise, intentional, and deeply felt. For a long time, I was terrified there would be no room for error.
And then, I got in the room with the cast.
Every fear disappeared the moment we began. The cast’s talent, discipline, and dedication have been nothing short of inspiring. Their ability to learn quickly, apply notes immediately, ask thoughtful questions, and make bold character choices has transformed this show into something unique and beautiful. They turned anxiety into art.
I am also endlessly grateful to my staff. Lou’s choreography honored the original while highlighting the individuality and strengths of our performers. Tyler and Ria brought the music to life with stunning vocals and layered harmonies that elevate every moment. Megan has absolutely spoiled me—anticipating every need, managing a mountain of logistics, and making the entire process run smoothly with her thoughtful communication. Mathew found and made and aged the most incredible costume pieces. Everyone looks incredible. And Kalia—what can I say? Kalia filled every role needed at a moment’s notice: assistant to choreography, music, stage management, and even stepped in on stage when actor's were absent, and then made sure they got the notes upon their return so they wouldn't feel behind.
Thank you to Mike, who took my ambitious scenic dreams and made them real—this is the biggest set I’ve ever asked for, and it surpassed all expectations. And to Luka, who somehow made my vague lighting notes like “I want it to feel like conflict” into a visual masterpiece. This is truly the most stunning lighting design I’ve ever had.
To Belle, Keira, Danny, and our incredible production crew—thank you for keeping the magic running backstage, in the booth, and up in the grid. Your work is seamless, essential, and deeply appreciated.
This is the biggest show I’ve ever done—but more than that, it’s the most important. Hadestown tells the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, and reminds us that even in the darkest places, there is still hope. There is still love.
