Lightning Thief Comes to Campus

The departments of music and theatre and dance are collaborating on the large-scale musical running April 4, 5 and 6.

While concerts, theater productions, and even some musicals are regularly staged at Washington College, this weekend the campus will enjoy a show drawing in more students, more professionals, and more technology than is often the case, all in service of a story that is familiar to (and beloved by) many in the student body. 

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical will play April 4, 5, 6, at 7:30pm in Decker Theatre. The adaptation of Rick Riordan's bestselling book opened on Broadway in 2019 and follows teenager (and demigod) Percy Jackson and his friends as they search for Zeus' missing lightning bolt and prevent a war among the gods. 

Thirty Washington College students are involved in the production: 17 performers, including actors and instrumentalists, and 13 production staff, who were involved in everything from set design to choreography. The production is also a senior capstone experience in lighting design from Matt Brader ’24, who was also a producer on the show. 

With such a large production, the cast and crew began work on the show in January, although planning started in 2023. In addition to the students working on the show, College faculty, staff, and some outside professionals also contributed to the effort, including Director Abbey Wark ’18, production manager for the Department of Theatre and Dance; Music Director J. Ernest Green, director of musical theatre studies in the Department of Music; and Associate Professor Kenneth Schweitzer of the Department of Music.  

“Musical theatre is a complex art form combining artistic and technical skills from music, theatre, and dance. A joint production gives students exposure and access to expertise in all three disciplines,” Schweitzer said. “A successful presentation of a show as large as The Lightning Thief requires the sustained support of no less than 10 faculty and staff. Not only do the students have the opportunity to work with all these artistic professionals, but they also benefit immensely from watching us model collaborative behavior that reflects what many of them hope to experience when they leave Washington College.”

Schweitzer noted that the production raised a number of technical challenges with so many actors singing, an on-stage band, and personalized in-ear monitors for the musicians. To properly capture and mix all of the sound, the production uses 34 total input channels on the sound board, including 16 wireless microphones. 

In terms of preparing the actors and directing the performance, Wark noted the primary challenge of the show is the demanding pace of the script. She said that the way students addressed every need on and off stage was a testament to the dedication of the cast and crew. 

“Once the show begins the action does not stop. It is a fast-paced story where every moment is introducing an important plot point or inside joke for Percy Jackson fans,” Wark said. “The cast's ability to connect with their audience and play off of each other's comedic timing is incredible. Our cast, crew, and designers have done a wonderful job of making each of those moments special and stand out. Their bond and the trust that they have in each other allows them to be fully present in their roles and take the audience on this incredible adventure.”

Tickets are available at https://wacarts.ludus.com/show_page.php?show_id=200452394  

Please be advised this production contains simulated acts of violence with prop weaponry, depictions of death and dying, use of live fire, use of haze, and flashing/strobing lighting effects. 

  

This production features student work from:  

Percy Jackson – Evan Paddock ‘27 
Annabeth – Kaitlyn Mankevich ‘27 
Grover – Jasmine Schaeffer ‘27 
Luke / Ares / DJ Cerberus – Maddi Mulder ‘25 
Sally Jackson / Charon / Greyhound Passenger 1 – Asia Elliott ‘24 
Mr. Brunner AKA Chiron / Aunty Em / Train Conductor / Kurt Cobain – Grace Apostol ‘24 
Clarisse / Oracle / Squirrel / Greyhound Passenger 2 – Stevie Lyles ‘26 
Mr. D / Hades / Poseidon – Josh Torrence ‘24 
Mrs. Dodds / Echidna / Janis Joplin – Sparrow Hall ‘27 
Bus Driver / Newscaster / Thalia – Courtney Poetsch ‘25 
Katie Gardner / Bianca – Jessica Kelso ‘27 
Gabe Ugliano / Kronos / Mailman / John Lennon – Josh Iseminger ‘27 
Minotaur / Farmer / Mozart – Zach Gottemoller ‘27 
Silena / Member of Camp Half-Blood - Emma Litzner ‘27 
Assistant Director - Jai Basu ‘26 
Assistant Choreographer - Lauren Paules ‘26 
Producer – Matt Brader ‘24 
Set Designer – Hannah Choi ‘26 
Props Supervisor – Leah Thiverge ‘24 
Costume Designers – Ryan Morrow ‘25 and Sophie Foster ‘24 
Hair & Makeup – Liv Barry ‘24 
Lighting Designer – Matt Brader ‘24 
Dramaturg- Natalie Martinaitis '25 
Guitar 2 – Lilly Hartmann ‘24
Bass – David Londres ‘25 
Drums – Peter Junkin '25 
Assistant Stage Manager – Juliana Santiago Batista ‘27 
Assistant Stage Manager – Sydney Clemmer ‘27 
Assistant Stage Manager - Liam Siobhan Luckey ‘27 
Lighting Board Operator - Ella Kozlowski ‘26 

— Mark Jolly-Van Bodegraven