‘The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical’ Comes to the Magik
Like a bolt from the blue, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical debuts at the Magik Theatre on July 1. This adaptation of San Antonio native Rick Riordan’s extraordinary bestseller features all of the action and excitement Percy Jackson fans love, set to an original rock score by Rob Rokicki that will electrify audiences. This mythical adventure, deemed “worthy of the gods,” by Time Out New York, follows everyone’s favorite 12-year-old demi-God Percy Jackson as he descends to the underworld and back on the most dangerous quest of his life.
A MYTHICAL TALE WITH TEXAS ROOTS
Rick Riordan, a San Antonio native, published Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief in 2005. It is the first in the award-winning series created by the Alamo Heights High School alumni and former St. Mary’s Hall teacher. Originally created as a bedtime story for his oldest son, the Percy Jackson series features a modern-day 12-year-old boy who discovers he is the son of the Greek god Poseidon.
In The Lightning Thief, we meet young Jackson who is just discovering his lineage and his uncontrollable powers, neither of which he wants. But when he finds himself falsely accused of stealing the master lightning bolt of the Greek god Zeus, he must accept his destiny, prove his innocence, and prevent a war between the gods by finding and returning the bolt. The hero’s journey demands that Jackson travel to the underworld and back, solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend, and finally come to terms with his father who abandoned him.
Riordan said it best when he stated, “I think kids want the same thing from a book that adults want— a fast-paced story, characters worth caring about, humor, surprises, and mystery.”
“Magik’s The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical delivers all that and more as the cast takes the audience on an action packed epic adventure,” said Anthony Runfola. the Magik’s artistic director.
“Brilliantly sneaked into the storyline are mentions of Percy’s struggles with ADHD and dyslexia, a nod to Riordan’s own son’s diagnosis at the time the story was written,” he continued. “The tale demonstrates the beautiful fact that learning differences don’t make the character less than but instead are a sign of being very, very talented. Percy’s “’battle reflexes’ are attributed to his ability to stay alert, to notice small changes, to let his mind wander and find new solutions to problems.”
BEHIND THE MAGIK
Magik Theatre takes pride in using only professional actors in their productions. These talented, trained, working actors are masters of their craft, transporting audiences to faraway and magikal places via cherished, timeless literature and storytelling. In The Lighting Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, the titular character is brought to life by James Cazares, making his Magik Theatre debut.
He is joined by Izabella Montes as Annabeth Chase, the demigod daughter of Athena, and Ian Eller as Jackson’s best friend Grover Underwood. The rest of the cast includes Jon Renee Tucker as Luke, John Michael Hoke as Mr. Brunner aka Chiron, Jessica Willis as Sally, and Emma Gervasi as Clarisse. The cast is directed by Artistic Director Anthony Runfola with choreography by Kaity McSalis and music direction by Christopher Bailey. The design team includes scenery by Christopher Boneta, costumes by Stormie Brennan, lighting by Carlos Nine, and sound design by Jo Villanueva. Together this talented team weaves a “magikal” spell that will resonate with audiences young and old.
A MAGIKAL MUSICAL SUMMER CAMP
Who says lightning doesn’t strike twice? To celebrate The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical making its Magik appearance, the theater is hosting The Percy Jackson Musical Theater Experience. This week-long summer camp will have students on their feet learning catchy tunes and action-packed choreography from the musical.
Ideal for aspiring young performers, Percy Jackson fans, or a combination of both, participants will have the unique opportunity to attend master classes led by professional artists from the show. Not only will the students be able to catch a full matinee performance, but on the last day of camp, they will get their turn on the professional stage to share what they’ve learned with family and friends. Camps will be held from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. July 10-14 and July 17-21. Final sharing events will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, July 14, and Friday, July 21.
SPECIAL PERFORMANCES
Magik Theatre is committed to making theater accessible to everyone. “We are here to make theatre accessible to every family and remove any existing barrier,” says Magik Theatre CEO Frank Villani. In keeping with that commitment, the 2023 season boasts some upgrades to include the special performances below.
American Sign Language Interpreted Performance | Saturday, July 29, 2:00 pm.
Robert Cardoza, the San Antonio theater community’s primary sign language interpreter, will be available during this performance for patrons that require ASL as their primary form of communication.
Sensory-Friendly Performance | Wednesday, July 26, 10:30 am.
Sensory-friendly performances create a welcoming environment for people who are on the autism spectrum or who have other sensory sensitivities. Modifying certain production elements to accommodate these individuals allows families and friends of those with autism or other disabilities to enjoy an authentic performance experience together.
Pay What You Wish Performance | Thursday, July 20, 2:00 pm.
Magik’s way of giving back to the community and providing an opportunity for families to experience live theater with a donation of any amount.
TICKETS TO THE SHOW
Single Tickets are $33.50 for Orchestra Rows A – I and $23.50 for Orchestra Rows J-N and Balcony., Military, Seniors, and Educators. Children under two are free. Flex Passes and Single Tickets are available at: https://www.magiktheatre.org/the-lightning-thief/or by calling (210) 227-2751.
Tickets are also available at the box office, 420 S. Alamo, from 9 am- 5 pm, Mon.-Fri. If a child under two uses a seat, even a car or booster seat, the patron must pay for a general admission ticket. Group rates are available to parties of ten or more people. For questions and further inquiries, contact info@magiktheatre.org.
Feature phot0: Izabella Montes as Annabeth Chase and James Cazares as Percy Jackson (courtesy Magik Theatre).
