BRATTLEBORO — The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical is set to take the stage at New England Youth Theatre (NEYT) for eight performances, running from a grand opening scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, through Saturday, Dec. 9.
Adapted from The New York Times bestselling novel, this story follows Percy Jackson, a 12-year-old boy moving through the ever-so-relatable trials of adolescence. "This fantastical adventure rooted in Greek mythology promises to captivate audiences with its compelling characters and quest-centered narrative," say organizers. This local rendition is directed by Gabriel Pasculi and choreographed by NEYT Artistic Director Malia'Kekia Nicolini.
Two additional performances for sixth-grade students reading the Percy Jackson books in school are set for Thursday and Friday, Dec. 7 and 8. These community shows are district-wide events that will "bring literature to life" for students in the Windham Southeast Supervisory Union while also giving NEYT actors community service hours.
As described by NEYT: "In [Percy's] search for belonging, the extraordinary occurs as he discovers that he is a demigod. Aided by his closest friends, Percy embarks on an epic journey as he travels into the Underworld, where he attempts to save his mother and prevent war from breaking out. This coming-of-age tale is both endearing and edgy, with a musical score accompanied by a live rock band. Adventurous and imaginative in spirit, this tale is a must-see for all."
"Each character has an underlying challenge similar to what people go through in their everyday lives" says ninth-grader Alex Aither, a lead actor in the musical. "They have the same issues that people have in our world, and it's cool to see how characters so young go about solving their issues in a fantasy realm."
Organizers say while the play certainly touches on challenges relevant in adolescence, its relevance expands beyond this specific time of life.
Director Gabriel Pasculli re-enforces this sentiment. "What I love about this show is that everyone has superpowers, whether they are children of gods or not. Everyone is coming with something special and trying to find their place in the world."
Show times are Fridays, Dec. 1 and 8, and Thursday, Dec. 7, 7 p.m.; Saturdays, Dec. 2 and 9, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; and Sunday Dec. 3, 2 p.m. Tickets are on sale at $11 for students, $13 for seniors, and $15 for adults, and may be purchased by calling 802-246-6398 or by visiting NEYT.org.
This The Arts item was submitted to The Commons.