Bringing a beloved novel to life is no easy task—especially one based in mythology and magic. With The Lightning Thief, students have been challenged to do just that. From designing dynamic lightning effects to creating elaborate costumes to mastering choreography, students have been working hard on and off stage bringing the world of Percy Jackson to life.
The Lightning Thief tells the story of teenager Percy Jackson as he discovers he is the son of Poseidon. The story is an adventurous one, racing between summer camp hijinks, a journey across the United States, and a brewing war between the gods. For many students, The Lightning Thief is familiar material, pulled straight from the bestselling novel of the same name.
The ambitious story of The Lightning Thief presented a unique challenge for every student working on the production. For the costumers of the show, characters like Chiron—a half human, half horse camp counselor—required an immense amount of creativity and collaboration. “The centaur was a group project since the build was so large,” says Costume Designer and Teacher Bethany Eddy. “Every show has a unique problem to solve and we work through them together.” For on-stage performers, hours of rehearsal were required to nail down the nuances of a rock-based mythological spectacle. “My favorite part of the process has been doing choreography, it’s so fun to dance,” says Elena Todd ’31, an actor in the show.
My favorite part of the show are the moments where you can watch other people do their parts. It’s cool to see it all come together!
Estelí Valenzuela '31
The show also offered an opportunity for students to continue strengthening skills developed through other productions. “This is my second time doing tech,” says Aki Cheung ’32. As a member of the run crew, Aki helps move sets and props backstage. “I’ve learned how to use all of the power tools and saws, which seems dangerous but it’s fun.”
Performances of The Lightning Thief will take place on Thursday, February 5, and Friday, February 6, at 6:00 p.m. in Bradley Hall. Tickets can be purchased here.