Whether you’re a fan of the book series or a student of Greek mythology, the 2024 summer musical at Morton’s Roxy Theater has the on-stage show for you starting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1.
Originally adapted from the New York Times best-selling fantasy novel “The Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan, “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical” tells the tale of Percy Jackson — a half-blood son of a Greek god. At The Roxy, the show will be performed by thespians young and old with an original live rock music score.
A dress rehearsal on Tuesday, July 30, provided a preview of the mythological action being portrayed by Centralia College East students, the Fire Mountain Arts Council (FMAC) and residents from Eatonville, Napavine, Onalaska, Mossyrock, Silver Creek, Glenoma, Randle and Morton.
“It is definitely a widespread community collaboration,” music director Jessica Scogin said in a FMAC news release.
Shortly after discovering he has Olympian heritage, Percy Jackson, played by Lance Scogin, begins to struggle with newly awakened god-like powers and an unwanted destiny. He ends up with monsters hunting him.
When Zeus’ master lightning bolt is stolen, Percy is the prime suspect. To not only clear his name but also prevent a war among the gods, he must find the real thief and return Zeus’ missing lightning bolt.
His quest is a dangerous one, though, requiring him to face mythological monsters from the minotaur to Medusa and to journey to the underworld and back — teaming up with friends while enduring betrayal along the way.
On his quest, he is joined by his friends Grover, played by Sam Johnson, and Annabeth, played by Mandy Leiter.
“The Percy Jackson you will meet in this show is extraordinary. At first glance, he is a troubled kid that has been to six schools in six years. Struggling with ADHD and dyslexia, school is not his favorite thing. He feels different, and he is,” director Lynne Olmos said in the release. “As a teacher, I can tell you that many kids can relate to his story — not fitting in, trying to find a place where he belongs, thinking everything he does is wrong.”
Olmos has been directing musicals at the Roxy Theater since 2007. She is also an adjunct faculty member at Centralia College.
During Tuesday’s rehearsal, Olmos said she first saw the play performed on stage last year in Olympia in a production put on by her sister. As a former English teacher, she was already familiar with the story of Percy Jaskson.
“I don’t teach junior high anymore, but, back in the day, it was a huge part of every kid’s childhood, discovering Percy Jackson — the kid who doesn’t do well at school,” Olmos said. “Every kid I talk to knows who Percy Jackson is.”
Along with Riordan’s novel, the author has churned out a whole series of Percy Jackson books, which have also been adapted into two films released in 2010 and 2013, and a new ongoing Disney original series.
With the support of his mother, Sally, played by Fiona Thorton, he learns the things that make him different are actually his strengths. Throughout the show, Percy and his friends face their fears and actual monsters, becoming heroes themselves.
“Yes, he meets gods and monsters straight out of Greek mythology,” Olmos added. “But what he really learns is that he is worthy of admiration, parental love and deep friendship.”
Other cast members joining Lance Scogin as Percy Jackson in The Lightning Thief include:
• Sam Johnson playing Grover
• Mandy Leiter playing Annabeth
• James Wyrick playing Luke and as an ensemble member
• Alainah Fry playing Selina and as an ensemble member
• Alice Alexander playing Katie, Talia and as an ensemble member
• Sophia Green playing Clarisse
• Brian Green playing Chiron, Mr. Brunner and Ares
• Vann Cantin playing Mr. D and as an ensemble member
• Briana Moore playing the Oracle and Mrs. Dodds
• Fiona Thornton playing Sally
• Matt Johnson playing Poseidon
• Valerie Thornton playing Aunty Em and as an ensemble member
• Elysa Ray playing Gabe, Charon and as an ensemble member
• Bruce Roberts playing Hades and as an ensemble member
• Jessica Scogin as an ensemble member
• Sophia Stevens as a camper and an ensemble member
• Maddie Johnson as a camper and an ensemble member
• Lily Moore as a camper and an ensemble member
• Caleb Chandler as a camper and an ensemble member
• Jocelyn Smith as a camper and an ensemble member
Band members performing the musical scores include Jessica Scogin, Aiden Blake, Javien Casteneda, Mitchell Fund, Alexander Harold and Corey Hecker.
Technical support for the musical is provided by Jason Eck, Caleb Wright, Fred Schwindt, Michelle Green and April Doolittle.
Along with Jessica Scogin as music director and Lynne Olmos as artistic director, the show is being co-produced by Lauri Dennis and April Doolittle with Paul Olmos as technical director, Louise Fisher as costume director and Angie March as choreographer.
“The Lightning Thief” originally debuted as a musical at the off-Broadway Lucille Lortel Theatre in 2014, before going on a national tour with both an original and expanded version and finally opening on Broadway in 2019 at the Longacre Theatre.
Along with Thursday’s show, 7 p.m. shows of “The Lightning Thief” will be held on Friday, Aug. 2, Tuesday, Aug. 6, Wednesday, Aug. 7, and Saturday, Aug. 10. An additional matinee show, starting at 2 p.m. will be held Saturday, Aug. 3.
Tickets are limited and cost $15 for adults and $10 for students. They can be purchased online ahead of time at the Roxy Theater’s website at https://bit.ly/3Sw4EXI or at Centralia College’s website at https://bit.ly/4cajAlf.
Tickets can also be purchased in-person ahead of time at the BCJ Gallery next to the Roxy Theater, located at 233 Main Ave. in Morton, or at Centralia College East, located at 701 Airport Way in Morton.
If seats are still available, tickets will also be sold at the door on show days.
To learn more about the FMAC, visit https://firemac.org/.
For more information on the Roxy Theater, including upcoming showtimes for next week’s movie, “Fly Me to the Moon,” visit https://mortonroxy.org/.
Originally starting in 1986, other summer musicals put on by Centralia College East include “Notes on a Reunion,” “Oklahoma!,” “Music Man,” “Paint Your Wagon,” “Showboat,” “Logger’s Lament,” “The Unsinkable Molly Brown,” “Annie Get Your Gun,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Once Upon a Mattress,” “The Sound of Music,” “South Pacific,” “Gypsy,” “State Fair,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Grease,” “Twelfth Night,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “The Ties that Bind,” “All Star Roxy Review,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “9 to 5, The Musical!,” “The Tempest,” an “Oklahoma!” revival show, “Little Shop of Horrors,” and “The Addams Family, A New Musical Comedy.”
Sponsors for “The Lightning Thief” include The East County Journal, Hampton Lumber Mills Cowlitz Division, Mountain View CPAs, the James Augustus Smith Endowment and Jean Sheridan.
Show proceeds help fund scholarships for Centralia College East students and support continued Roxy Theater operations.
