StageOne’s Magical Performance Fuses Childhood Dreams with Authenticity

By Brooklyn Sherman, Arts Angle Reporter

Male High School, Class of 2027

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A pitch-black stage combines with silence to create anticipation at the opening of StageOne Family Theatre’s “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical.” A spotlight reveals the characters, as the music begins to “The Day I Got Expelled.” This starts off the campy, fast-paced story familiar to anyone who grew up on Rick Riordan books and wished a god would claim you as their own.

Deborah Elbert, Koko Alice Broyles, Nicholas Sanderfer and Lilly Birk (left to right) in StageOne Family Theatre’s production of “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical.” Photo by Zachary Burrell. Photo courtesy of StageOne Family Theatre.

This feel-good story, which opened at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts' Bomhard Theatre Jan. 31 and runs through Feb. 20, has an easy-to-follow adventure for younger kids. But it tugs at one’s heartstrings and encourages smile lines proving it is the right theater choice for anyone older who wants to watch a show with friends.

First performed Off-Broadway in 2017 before becoming a 2020 Broadway musical, “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical” is based on the 2005 novel by Rick Riordan. StageOne Family Theatre’s take on this musical feels like the source material. With a mostly child cast, age-accurate actors and realistic costume designs, the book comes to life on stage. The production captures an authentic representation of the story.

Rick Riordan’s characters are known for speaking directly to the reader. So, in “The Lightning Thief,” characters perform classic fourth-wall breaks. In the opening song, the supporting cast sticks to the story’s roots, directing it at the audience.

See Arts Angle Newsroom review of StageOne Family Theatre's "The Lightening Thief" in LEO Weekly.

After getting expelled, Percy Jackson (Landon Dodrill) finds out he’s a demigod, leading to his journey to Camp Half-Blood (a summer camp for demigods) where he receives a quest to find Zeus's master bolt that the lightning thief stole. But first, he introduces himself to us, “Look, I didn’t want to be a half-blood,” he complains, stressing how being thrust into the world of Greek gods, monsters and quests was not the choice he would’ve made.

Percy experiences a series of unfortunate events, which leads him to fight the minotaur (StageOne uses a puppet for this), and ends with his mother’s tragic end. He ends at Camp Half-Blood, where an oracle (Kyah Denise Young) gives him his quest to the underworld to steal back the lightning bolt. He agrees to go with his best friend Grover (Max Wright), a satyr protector, and Anabeth Chase (Elliot Lanier), a fellow demi-god, in hopes to save his mom.

Koko Alice Broyles, Ava Medley, Nicholas Sanderfer, Zeke Dennis, Lilly Birk, Rylyn Richins and Lilly Rassi (left to right) in StageOne Family Theatre’s production of “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical.” Photo by Zachary Burrell. Photo courtesy of StageOne Family Theatre.

These young actors take us on a real journey as we meet campers, gods and creatures at the summer camp. Many elements can make you feel like you’re a part of this chaotic summer camp: there are one-liners like “You drool when you sleep” from Annabeth; a whole song introducing Dionysus (Tony Milder); and a performance of the game capture the flag.

The production brings in more elements to immerse the viewer in the story, with costume changes, props that require the use of imagination and a smoke machine. The story can give into the idea of being a kid again and not believing in everything you see. Lanier, Wright, and Dodrill put on the show of their lives as they bring you along with their young emotions of loyalty, pride and a sense of longing to belong.

These kids (mostly middle schoolers) put on a show that requires waving a sense of disbelief, and communicating a sense of pre-teen angst on another level. Their costumes feel authentic — beat-up converse, tie-dye shirts and cargo shorts make multiple appearances. This musical ends with a slow fade to black, the thrill of the musical tapering off, as the actors leave and their stories are just beginning.