Jackson Musical,” opening October 22 at NCT.
Being the son of Poseidon can definitely create some “daddy issues.” In this musical kicking off Nashville Children’s Theatre‘s 90th anniversary season, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical brings the magic of Rick Riordan’s hit novel from the page to the stage beginning Oct. 22.
It’s a different spin on the classic young hero in the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series, where readers meet 12-year-old Percy, who finds out he’s the half-blood son of a Greek god. Igniting the kid in all of us is what a musical like this is meant to do, and the show’s composer Rob Rokicki couldn’t agree more.
“It’s ultimately a story of perseverance and young people taking action into their own hands to foster the change they want to see,” he says. “The story of a kid coming into his own and figuring out that his parents aren’t perfect — that’s the type of story I really connect to,” he adds.
For Rokicki, the show’s “scrappy, rock n’ roll vibe” is the perfect pairing for the story, which circles around teenage angst in a Sci-Fi setting.
“The sound and set does a lot with electric guitars and giant minotaur puppets,” he says. “So if you’re into love, monsters and rock shows, you’re going to have a good time.”
Created by Rokicki and Joe Tracz, the musical ran Off-Broadway before doing a limited Broadway run in fall 2019. Audiences will see the same full-length Broadway show, with actors cast from Belmont University and NCT producing.
“Since the roles are all primarily teenagers, this opportunity allows Belmont students to play roles close to their own ages,” explains Nashville Children’s Theatre Executive Director Ernie Nolan. “It felt like a natural pairing since both of us are also educational institutions.”
Recommended for ages 8 to adult, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical runs October 22 – 31; Fridays at 6:30 p.m.; Saturdays at 1 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Nashville Children’s Theatre is located at 25 Middleton Street in Nashville.
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