Students Take Audience on a Mythological Journey

Nearly 50 members of the Upper School joined forces for the highly anticipated 2023 spring musical, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical. Drawing inspiration from Rick Riordan’s beloved 2005 fantasy-adventure novel, the production took the audience on an epic voyage alongside young Percy Jackson (Nic Medaris ’23) as he discovers his extraordinary demigod heritage.

On a simple scaffolded Scott Theater stage spotlighted with dynamic lighting, the actors transported the audience into a realm where seemingly ordinary teenagers have regular entanglements with Greek gods and goddesses, menacing demons, and awe-inspiring monsters. Together, Percy and his loyal friends embark on a daring quest to recover Zeus’ missing lighting bolt and prevent a cataclysmic war among the gods.

Eyes glued to the stage, the audience delighted in the the antics of Grover (Olivia Kersh ’24), empathized with the struggles of Annabeth (Eliana Lourdes Garcia ’23), were disappointed in the betrayal of Luke (Kate Malonis ’23), and cheered for Percy's victories. The performances and songs were polished, choreography was on point, the fight scenes were realistic and the special effects and lighting produced by the technical theatre crew wove an extra layer of magic throughout the production.

Yet, the cast and crew's accomplishment was all the more impressive considering the real-life challenges they faced. Battling against an unexpected ice storm that disrupted rehearsals for an entire week at the end of January, their determination and resilience shone through. Zoom script readings became the norm.

Upper School Theatre Director Siouxsie Easter expressed immense pride in the students. “To lose a week of precious rehearsal time and musical tech added pressure to everyone on the cast and crew, but they truly embodied Percy’s power, conjuring the strength of character and depth of heart needed to deliver an outstanding show. Who could ask for more?”