Lightning Thief Musical

[Leaf Coneybear]

Posted: 1/10/17 at 10:53am

Apparently a musical adaptation of Rick Riordan's "Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief" is going to hit off-broadway this March. 

http://rickriordan.com/2017/01/the-lightning-thief-musical-arrives-off-broadway/

Not sure about this...........

[Kad]

Posted: 1/10/17 at 11:34am

This piece has been presented by TheaterWorks in the past, as part of their summer programming at the Lortel.

NYTimes review

[Clyde15]

Posted: 1/10/17 at 1:45pm

The music is.... interesting I would say....

 

https://www.youtube.com/embed/SrL3jOdAB5A

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 1/10/17 at 2:05pm

The kid playing Percy is a good singer, but the music is just a shade better than your standard Disney Channel Original Movie score.

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 1/10/17 at 2:29pm

Clyde15 said: "The music is.... interesting I would say....

 

https://www.youtube.com/embed/SrL3jOdAB5A

 

"

Yikes.

 

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 1/10/17 at 3:38pm

I thought the song was decent enough. Not so great lyrics but standard pop-rock musical theatre music. And isn't that Chris McCarrell a cutie. This was put on locally here this year but I did not catch it.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 1/10/17 at 4:15pm

I went to see Rob Rokicki's NYMF show. I remember feeling mostly positive about his music. But I'm not sure Greek mythology fanfic is for me.

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 1/10/17 at 4:56pm

I went to see Rob Rokicki's NYMF show. I remember feeling mostly positive about his music. But I'm not sure Greek mythology fanfic is for me.

I read the book series this is based on back when I was like 12. It was pretty much a Harry Potter knockoff (kid with amazing abilities gets sent to mystical world hidden in the real world), but for 12 year olds, it was alright.

 

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 1/10/17 at 5:25pm

This piece has been presented by TheaterWorks in the past, as part of their summer programming at the Lortel.

 

This was put on locally here this year but I did not catch it.
 

Both of those productions were the 60 minute version aimed at young kids. It has been expanded to a new full-length musical. I don't know how much they are changing from the original, but I loved it at the Lortel. The music was fun and super catchy, and I thought they did a great job with the whole production. Some of the stage effects were very clever and effective. I'm excited to see this new version!

Updated On: 1/10/17 at 05:25 PM

[Leaf Coneybear]

Posted: 1/10/17 at 5:49pm

I really hope it's good. It was my favorite book series as a kid and while I never really wanted it turned into a musical, I really hope it turns out to be good

 

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 1/10/17 at 6:10pm

Leaf, the 60 minute version has been a huge success for Theatreworks and the tour has been extremely well received and in demand since its run at the Lortel back in 2014 (to the point where they had two companies of the show out on the road at the same time last spring and probably would have done again this spring if it weren't for the fact that they are developing this two act version). Fans of the book have praised the show and it sticks closer to the source material than the movie. 

 

If you search "Lightning Thief Benefit Concert" on Youtube you'll find a lot more of the music from a benefit they did back in the spring of 2014.

[Leaf Coneybear]

Posted: 1/10/17 at 6:16pm

Leaf, the 60 minute version has been a huge success for Theatreworks and the tour has been extremely well received and in demand since its run at the Lortel back in 2014 (to the point where they had two companies of the show out on the road at the same time last spring and probably would have done again this spring if it weren't for the fact that they are developing this two act version). Fans of the book have praised the show and it sticks closer to the source material than the movie. 
 

Awesome! It sounds like it will be better than the movie, which is a huge relief. 

[BroadwayGuy12]

Posted: 1/10/17 at 7:45pm

I'm a huge Chris McCarrell fan so obviously I'm pumped for this.

[mpkie]

Posted: 1/10/17 at 11:09pm

I really loved Chris McCarrell's performance as Marius. I don't really like stuff with kids as the primary target audience. But I hope this is good anyway. Good for him!

[perfectliar]

Posted: 1/11/17 at 11:18am

I saw the tour version a couple years ago with a friend who loves the books, and I had a really good time. The staging was creative and the music, though not at all groundbreaking, was fun and very appropriate for both the material and the audience. Hopefully there'll be some cheaper tickets available, and I can catch the new version.

[newintown]

Posted: 1/11/17 at 11:47am

"It was pretty much a Harry Potter knockoff..."

I believe the word you seek is "ripoff."

[Leaf Coneybear]

Posted: 3/23/17 at 9:37am

Performances start tonight! 

[freewilma]

Posted: 3/23/17 at 10:01am

Very interested in hearing more about this.  My son was a HUGE Percy Jackson fan and read all of the books.  I got an email with a decent coupon code but didn't want to pull the trigger until hearing some feedback.  

[BroadwayGuy12]

Posted: 3/23/17 at 10:17am

I'll be there tonight. Looking forward to it!

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 3/24/17 at 11:22am

Any reports

[Valentina3]

Posted: 3/24/17 at 11:28am

I just want to know how Carrie Compere is, what she's playing, how big of a part is it, how many songs does she get etc.

[ameleigh]

Posted: 3/24/17 at 12:00pm

Valentina3 said: "I just want to know how Carrie Compere is, what she's playing, how big of a part is it, how many songs does she get etc.

 

"

Same here!!

[Leaf Coneybear]

Posted: 3/24/17 at 12:32pm

Valentina3 said: "I just want to know how Carrie Compere is, what she's playing, how big of a part is it, how many songs does she get etc.
 

In the books her part is huge so I assume it's a lead.

[BroadwayGuy12]

Posted: 3/24/17 at 12:56pm

I had a good time last night. It's definitely a Theatreworks, family-style show, but that doesn't mean it's not enjoyable. I thought they made the most of their small space, and was amused by a lot of the theatre tricks they used to depict the otherworldliness of Greek mythology. The mask/puppetry work reminded me a lot of Prospect's production of JASPER IN DEADLAND a few years ago -- inventive and clever.

I'm not terribly familiar with the source material, but there were many Percy fans in the audience last night and, based on my eavesdropping as I was leaving the theatre, it seemed like the musical did the books justice.

Carrie Compere plays a variety of characters (as do most of the cast members), and is given the most show-stopping number with "D.O.A.," which she totally nails. She also has a sweet song with Percy at the top of the show, while playing his mom.

I haven't made it a secret that I'm a big Chris McCarrell fan (I mean, look at my avatar), and that he's the reason I went to see this, but I really think he does a wonderful job carrying the show. He's onstage for nearly the entire thing and is simply an endearing, charismatic performer who's impossible not to root for. He knocks "Good Kid," Percy's big number, out of the park, and manages to find a lot of humor in the show's more grounded moments about the struggles of growing up--regardless of whether or not your parent is a God.

[Valentina3]

Posted: 3/24/17 at 2:09pm

Thanks for your review BroadwayGuy12. I'd pay for that ticket just to watch this - 

Carrie Compere plays a variety of characters (as do most of the cast members), and is given the most show-stopping number with "D.O.A.," which she totally nails.