Chris McCarrell to Star in New Show THE LIGHTNING THIEF: THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL This Spring

Chris McCarrell, will star in a brand-new production of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical this March at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street).

Written by Joe Tracz (Netflix "Series of Unfortunate Events") and Rob Rokicki (Strange Tails), and directed by Stephen Brackett (Buyer and Cellar), the strictly limited engagement will begin performances on March 23, opening on Tuesday, April 4 and will run through May 6, 2017.

This new production will feature musical direction by Wiley DeWeese (The Wildness), orchestrations by Wiley DeWeese & Rob Rokicki, choreography by Patrick McCollum (The Bands Visit) and fight direction by Rod Kinter (More Than All the World).

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical was introduced to NYC by Theatreworks USA in 2014 as part of its FREE theatre series, a one hour version with a smaller cast that has successfully toured the country. This is a brand-new production with a new score, an updated, expanded script including a second act, a larger cast and will feature a live band.

Percy Jackson has newly discovered powers he can't control, monsters on his trail, and he is on a quest to find Zeus's lightning bolt and prevent a war between the Greek gods. Normal is a myth when you're a demigod. Based on the best-selling Disney-Hyperion novel by Rick Riordan, featuring live music, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical is an action- packed theatrical adventure that will rock your world.

Check out a clip of Chris singing a song from the show below!

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Chris McCarrell (Percy Jackson) was most recently seen as Marius in the Tony Nominated revival of LES MISERABLES. Television credits include Nibs in "Peter Pan Live" and "The OA." Regionally, Chris starred in Summer of '42 at Bucks County Playhouse as well as originating the role of Jimmy Livingston in Bubble Boy the musical. Other regional credits include Gabe in Next to Normal, Anthony in Sweeney Todd and Lewis in Pippin. He has sold out concerts at 54 Below with his solo debut and Christmas Carols with Chris McCarrell. Workshops include World Will Not Contain Us, Tesla Drops the Beat and Manhattan Kids. A 2013 graduate of Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music.

"I've always had an Off-Broadway heart, so this is such a homecoming for me. And to start it off at the Lortel is an actual dream. Can't wait to pour all I got into Percy Jackson. He's going to be quick, bold, and sharp. Young messy demigod finding his way? I'm in. Excited to work with the team to make this innovative, magical and heartfelt show our own." - Chris McCarrell

"Our initial production of The Lightning Thief was a huge critical and audience success, and continues to gather fans around the country. But, honestly condensing the novel into an hour was challenging; the dream was always to make this production bigger and better, to flesh out characters, deepen relationships and include more of the quest -and that's just what we've done. We could not be more thrilled by this updated version, with some great new songs, a second act and a larger cast. And to top it all off, we could not be more excited to have Chris McCarrell as our Percy, he has that perfect combination of charm and talent to make this show exciting and entertaining for all ages." - Theatreworks NYC's Barbara Pasternack

The creative team includes David Lander (Lighting Design), Lee Savage (Set Design), Sydney Maresca (Costume Design), and Ryan Rumery (Sound Design).

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical is being presented by Theatreworks NYC in arrangement with Rick Riordan and the Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency. Tickets are $85-$65 and can be purchased by visiting www.LightningThiefMusical.com and 866-811-4111.

WHO'S WHO:

Joe Tracz (Book) is a playwright with an MFA from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. Williamstown Theatre Festival: the original musical Poster Boy with composer-lyricist Craig Wright (2016), Song for a Future Generation (2015). Joe's adaptation of the first book in the Percy Jackson series, The Lightning Thief (with composer Rob Rokicki) received a Lortel nomination for Outstanding Musical and is now touring nationally with Theatreworks USA. His musical adaptation of Ned Vizzini's novel Be More Chill with composer Joe Iconis premiered last summer at Two River Theater. Other plays have been developed with Manhattan Theatre Club, Second Stage, Roundabout, Ars Nova, and The Flea, and published in Best American Short Plays. Film/TV includes the forthcoming Netflix series "A Series of Unfortunate Events" starring Neil Patrick Harris and directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, "Epic" (20th Century Fox) and "Lights Out" (FX). Joe is a former Playwrights Realm writing fellow, an alumnus of Theater Masters and the Ars Nova Play Group, and, with Two River Theater and Joe Iconis, a recipient of a 2015 Doris Duke Foundation Commissioning Grant. He has a BA from Kalamazoo College.

Rob Rokicki (Music, Lyrics, Orchestrations) is an award-winning songwriter, performer, music director & educator. He is member of the Dramatists Guild & alum of the Tony Award-winning BMI writing workshop. Rob wrote the music & lyrics to the Lortel nominated, The Lightning Thief (book Joe Tracz). He co-authored (with Michael Ruby) Love, NY, Strange Tails & Relativity. He's currently collaborating on a project with Rebekah Allen. His studio album, is available on iTunes & his album/graphic novel, Monstersongs, will be out soon. Thank you to TW, Iconis, Flynnie & all the artists who've contributed to the development of the show. www.robertrokicki.com

Stephen Brackett (Director) Off Broadway credits include: Ultimate Beauty Bible (Page 73), Wringer (NYCCT), Sommerfugl (InViolet), Buyer & Cellar (Rattlestick and Barrow Street Theaters/Westport Playhouse/National Tour/London's Menier Chocolate Factory), City Of (Playwrights Realm), Carnival Kids (Lesser America), The Lightning Thief (Theatreworks USA), The Correspondent (Rattlestick), After (Partial Comfort), The Material World (Dixon Place), Be A Good Little Widow (Ars Nova), and The Tenant (Woodshed Collective). Regional credits include: I Now Pronounce (Humana Festival), Le Switch (About Face), Be More Chill (Two River), The Great Pretender (TheatreWorks).

Patrick McCollum (Choreographer) Credits include Oh, Hello! (Broadway and Cherry Lane Theatre); The Band's Visit (Atlantic Theater Company); Rain (Old Globe), Unknown Soldier (Williamstown Theatre Festival), Wilderness (Abrons Arts Center). As associate choreographer on Broadway: The Last Ship, Peter and the Starcatcher, and Rocky; Wicked (North American dance supervisor); Off-Broadway: Murder Ballad (Manhattan Theatre Club, associate choreographer); Permission (MCC, movement consultant).

WILEY DEWEESE (Music Direction/Orchestrations) is a New York based music director, arranger, and pianist. Recent: Amélie: A New Musical (Center Theatre Group, Berkeley Rep), The Wildness (Ars Nova), First Daughter Suite (Public Theater), Preludes (Lincoln Center Theater/LCT3), The Fortress of Solitude (Public Theater). B.M. from NYU Steinhardt

Rod Kinter (Fight Direction) Most Recent: More Than All the World at Theatre for the New City. Off Broadway: 15+ productions for Pearl Theatre Company (resident Fight Director since 2009); Fatal Attraction: A Greek Tragedy, The Anthem, and Abe Lincoln's Big Gay Dance Party. New York City Opera: 50+ productions (resident Fight Director 1995 - 2011). Regional: American Repertory Theatre; Utah Shakespeare Festival; Barter Theatre, Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival, Shakespeare on the Sound, Princeton Festival, Glimmerglass Opera, and New Jersey State Opera. Faculty at AMDA. www.rodkinter.com

RICK RIORDAN is the author of four #1 New York Times bestselling series, including the Percy Jackson series, the Kane Chronicles, the Magnus Chase series and the Trials of Apollo, with the second book in that series, The Dark Prophecy due out in May 2017. He is also the author of the multi-award-winning Tres Navarre mystery series for adults.

For fifteen years, Rick taught English and history at public and private middle schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Texas. While teaching in San Antonio, Saint Mary's Hall honored him with the school's first Master Teacher Award.

While teaching full time, Riordan began writing mystery novels for grownups. His Tres Navarre series went on to win the top three national awards in the mystery genre - the Edgar, the Anthony and the Shamus.

Today over fifty million copies of his books are in print in the United States, and rights have been sold into more than 37 countries, and translated into 41 languages. Twentieth Century Fox adapted the first two books of his Percy Jackson series. His books have spawned related media, such as graphic novels and short story collections.

Rick Riordan now writes full-time. He lives in Boston with his wife and two sons.