The Lightning Thief (musical)

The Lightning Thief:
The Percy Jackson Musical

Off-Broadway promotional poster
Music Rob Rokicki
Lyrics Rob Rokicki
Book Joe Tracz
Basis The Lightning Thief
by Rick Riordan
Premiere March 23, 2017: Lucille Lortel Theatre, New York City
Productions 2017 Off-Broadway

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical is a musical with music and lyrics by Rob Rokicki, and a book by Joe Tracz. Based on the 2005 fantasy-adventure novel of the same name, the musical follows Percy Jackson, a 12-year-old who newly discovers that he is a demigod and goes on an epic quest to find Zeus' missing lightning bolt and prevent a war between the Greek gods.

Background

After it was introduced in New York City by Theatreworks USA in 2014 as a one-hour musical, part of its free theatre series, and went into a national tour, it was announced on January 10, 2017 that a new version would be produced, with a new score and an updated, expanded script. The musical would have a limited run, with performances beginning on March 23, an opening set for April 4 and a last performance on May 6 on the Lucille Lortel Theatre.[1]

Principal roles and original cast

Character(s) Original Off-Broadway Cast
Percy Jackson Chris McCarrell
Grover & Mr. D George Salazar
Annabeth Kristin Stokes
Luke, Ares, & Others James Hayden Rodriguez
Sally, Silena Beauregard, Charon, Oracle, & Others Carrie Compere
Mr. Brunner/Chiron, Poseidon, & Others Jonathan Raviv
Mrs. Dodds, Clarisse, & Others Sarah Beth Pfeifer

Musical numbers

Act 1
  • "The Day I Got Expelled" – Company
  • "Strong" – Sally, Percy
  • "The Minotaur / The Weirdest Dream" – Percy, Ensemble
  • "Another Terrible Day" – Mr. D
  • "Their Sign" – Chiron, Percy, Luke
  • "Put You in Your Place" – Clarisse, Annabeth, Percy, Campers
  • "The Campfire Song" – Company
  • "The Oracle" – Oracle, Ensemble
  • "Good Kid" – Percy, Ensemble
  • "Killer Quest!" – Percy, Grover, Annabeth, Company
Act 2
  • "Lost!” – Annabeth, Grover, Percy
  • "My Grand Plan" – Annabeth
  • "Drive" – Grover, Annabeth, Percy, Ares, Ensemble
  • "The Weirdest Dream (Reprise)" – Percy
  • "The Tree on the Hill" – Grover, Ensemble
  • "D.O.A." – Company
  • "Son of Poseidon" – Percy, Sally, Annabeth, Grover, Ares, Company
  • "The Last Day of Summer" – Percy, Luke, Campers
  • "Bring on the Monsters"– Company

Recording

The original cast album was released on July 7, 2017. For a limited-time, Broadway Records offered a special package that included an official Lightning Thief t-shirt in addition to a physical copy of the cast album. [2]

Critical response

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical has received positive reviews from critics. Fern Siegel, for The Huffington Post, praised the musical for its dialogue, story and cast, calling it "a reminder that Off-Broadway is an important venue for musicals",[3] while Raven Snook, for Time Out, describe it as "worthy of the gods".[4]

Frank Scheck, in reviewing the production for The Hollywood Reporter, wrote that the musical "proves far more enjoyable than the misbegotten 2010 film version or its 2013 sequel" and "also provides an excellent if irreverent introduction to Greek mythology that just might persuade some kids to dig deeper."[5]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominee Result
2017 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Musical Nominated
Outstanding Book of a Musical Joe Tracz Nominated
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical George Salazar Nominated
Theater Fans' Choice Awards Best Off-Broadway Musical Nominated

References

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