The Lightning Thief, The Percy Jackson Musical

The Lightning Thief

The Percy Jackson Musical

Longacre Theatre

October 12, 2019

Photo courtesy of The Lightning Thief,
The Percy Jackson Musical

The Lightning Thief, The Percy Jackson Musical hits Broadway like a lightning bolt.  Commissioned by Theatreworks USA in 2017, this show has gained quite a momentum.  The book by Joe Tracz is masterfully adapted from the young adult novel by Rick Riordan.  The music and lyrics by Rob Rokicki brilliantly builds the action and develops the relationships.  Choreography by Patrick McCollum is crisp and concise.  Director Stephen Brackett skillfully pulls all these high quality pieces together to create an engaging and entertaining production for all ages.

Percy Jackson (played by Chris McCarrell) is expelled from school for a mishap during a field trip.  When his mother (played by Jalynn Steele) finds out the reason, she decides it is time to tell him about his father, who he has never met.  After telling him of their chance meeting and the plans for him to go to camp, she is killed by a Minotaur.  Percy finds himself at the camp, protected by Grover (played by Jorrel Javier), a faun (a mythical half goat, half human creature) and Chiron (played by Ryan Knowles), a centaur (a mythical half horse, half human creature).  They tell him that he is a half-blood (half god, half human), as are all the inhabitants of the camp.  Percy does not know who his father is until Annabeth (played by Kristin Stokes), the daughter of Athena, uses him as bait to win a war game.  When he draws upon his undiscovered power over water to lead them to victory, they all realize his is the son of Poseidon.  This discovery makes him a suspect in stealing Zeus’ lightning bolt.  He, Grover, and Annabeth go on a quest to get it back and prove his innocence.

Kristin Stokes, Chris McCarrell, & Jorrel Javier
Photo courteys of The Lightning Thief,
The Percy Jackson Musical

There are only seven actors in the cast and most of them play more than one major role.  They all deliver phenomenal performances.  Chris McCarrell is magnetic as Percy.  Jorell Javier is energetic as Grover and outstanding as Mr. D.  Ryan Knowles shows his expansive vocal range, creating the roles of Chiron, Medusa, Hades, and Poseidon.  Kristin Stokes is strong as Annabeth.  She blows the roof off the theatre with her singing.

The Monotaur
Photo courtesy of The Lightning Thief, The Percy Jackson Musical

The Lightning Thief, The Percy Jackson Musical is playing at the Longacre Theatre through January 5.  It is refreshing to see a low budget Broadway production that captures the imagination.  It is good storytelling with excellent performances.  It is great family entertainment.  Go see it!

Domenick Danza

The Band’s Visit

The Band’s Visit

Ethel Barrymore Theatre

February 4, 2018

Photo courtesy of The Band's Visit

I’ve heard over and over that The Band’s Visit is not a conventional musical.  Now that I’ve seen it, I understand the meaning of that statement.  This show is in a league of its own and is not to be compared to other musicals.  The score, by David Yazbek, takes you deeper into the heart and mind of each character.  The book, by Itamar Moses, captures the rhythm of the Israeli and Egyptian cultures depicted in the story.  David Cromer’s direction lures you into the deep longing and desire of the characters through careful timing, aching looks, and cautious physicalization.  Through fluid movement and gesture, Patrick McCollum’s choreography creates an emotional pulse that causes connection and delicately moves the action forward.

Photo courtesy of The Band's Visit

When eight Egyptian members of the Alexandria Ceremonial Police Orchestra are scheduled to perform in Israel, they accidentally find themselves in the wrong town.  Dina (played by Katrina Lenk) offers to put the musicians and their leader, Tewfiq (played by Tony Shalhoub), up for the night.  The connections made in this one short evening change the outlook of all involved.  To paraphrase Dina, “the most beautiful moments in life are those that are unexpected.” 

Photo courtesy of The Band's Visit

Katrina Lenk and Tony Shalhoub are mystical.  Their intimacy reaches all the way to the mezzanine.  The entire cast works brilliantly as an ensemble, drawing the audience in for their individual, honest, and emotional stories.  Stellar performances are delivered by John Cariani (as Itzik), Ari’el Stachel (as Haled), Adam Kantor (as Telephone Guy), and Daniel David Stewart (as Papi).

The Band’s Visit is a must see!  It is personal, intimate, and poetic.  It will hopefully be at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre for a long time running.

Domenick Danza