The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical Opens on Broadway Tonight

TheaterWorksUSA and Martian Entertainment are thrilled to announce that The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, the original musical adaption of Rick Riordan’s New York Times best- selling novel, will arrive on Broadway this fall for a strictly limited 16-week holiday engagement following the recent successful conclusion of its 32-city North American First National Tour which was celebrated by audiences and critics alike.

Performances began Friday, September 20 ahead of tonight's Wednesday, October 16 opening night at the Longacre Theatre (220 W. 48th Street). 

As a son of Poseidon, Percy Jackson has newly discovered powers he can’t control, monsters on his trail, and is on a quest to find Zeus’ lightning bolt to prevent a war between the Greek gods. Based on the bestselling novel by Rick Riordan and featuring a thrilling original rock score, with an onstage company of seven playing more than 47 characters, The Lightning Thief is an action-packed theatrical adventure about accepting that normal is a myth and embracing the superpowers inside all of us.

The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan, was published in 2005 to the delight of Rick’s two young sons who first heard the adventures of Percy Jackson in the form of bedtime stories. This novel for young readers was an overnight success, inspiring not only four more Percy Jackson books, but a second and third series of five books each, which have sold more than 175 million copies worldwide in 42 languages to date. The Lightning Thief recently surpassed its 500th week on the New York Times Bestseller list.

The original TheaterWorksUSA musical production of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical debuted in spring 2017 at the Lucille Lortel Theater in New York City with a sold-out, six-week run which was nominated for three Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Musical. The Original Cast Recording, available from Broadway Records [and available on Spotify], was released in June 2017 and soon hit #1 on iTunes’ soundtrack chart. A subsequent North American First National Tour launched in Chicago in January 2019 and concluded successfully last month at Boston’s Huntington Theatre Company.

HamletHub enjoyed a preview of  The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical,  as well as attending a press conference with the cast and creative team. The musical’s cast and creative team shared their stories about adapting Percy’s journey for the stage and developing the musical from rehearsal room to national tour to the Great White Way. Panelists included Joe Tracz (book), Rob Rokicki (music and lyrics), Stephen Brackett (direction), and cast members Chris McCarrell (Percy Jackson), Jorrel JavierRyan KnowlesSarah Beth PfeiferJames Hayden RodriguezJalynn Steele, and Kristin Stokes. The musical adaption finds some very unique ways to interpret the well-loved text of the original source material and requires the audience to use their imagination.

The Lightning Thief has a book by Joe Tracz (Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, Be More Chill), music and lyrics by Rob Rokicki (Broadway debut), and is directed by Stephen Brackett (A Strange Loop, Fall Springs, Be More Chill), with choreography by Patrick McCollum (The Band’s Visit), with set design by Lee Savage (Satchmo at the Waldorf), costume design by Sydney Maresca (Hand to God), lighting design by David Lander (Torch Song), sound design by Ryan Rumery (Be More Chill, Fool for Love), puppet design by AchesonWalsh (On the Town), fight direction by Rod Kinter (Red Roses, Green Gold), hair, wigs, and makeup design by Dave Bova (Bandstand), orchestrations by Wiley DeWeese (First Daughter Suite, Preludes) and Rob Rokicki, and music direction by Wiley DeWeese. The production is being presented by special arrangement with Rick Riordan and the Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency.

 

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Submitted by Yorktown, NY

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