This musical is adapted from the best-selling book, The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan, with music and lyrics by Rob Rokicki. Chris McCarrell stars as Percy Jackson, and he helps bring Riordan’s book to life, along with a talented cast of actors, which included Jalynn Steele as Sally, Jorrel Javier (as Grover who provided much needed comic relief), Kristin Stokes as Annabeth, and Ryan Knowles (as Chiron).
In Act I, some of the most memorable musical numbers were the empowering “Strong,” which was sung as a duet between Sally and Percy, as well as “Put You In Your Place,” and the mellifluous “The Campfire Song,” where the characters revealed who their “godly parent” was in a neat musical sequence. McCarrell displayed his powerhouse vocals on “Good Kid,” which earned him a major round of applause and the first act ended on an adventurous note with “Killer Quest.”
After a 15-minute intermission, the second act took place, which was filled with mystery, suspense and even deceit from one of the characters. Some of the highlight songs included “My Grand Plan,” where Stokes showcased her angelic yet dynamic vocals as Annabeth, as well as “Drive,” which was a true musical event. Equally noteworthy were the soothing “The Tree on the Hill,” as well as the harking “Son of Poseidon.”
“I never read the books or watched the movie so I had no idea what to expect. I must say, I really enjoyed the musical. The cast was extremely talented, a lot of them played more than one role and they were great at it,” said Toly Rod, Latin pop singer-songwriter.
“The Beacon Theater’s Greek mythology theme was definitely perfect for this production. I have to mention that I was very impressed by Jorrel Javier. The way that he was able to switch roles that were so different from each other, was definitely spectacular. Can’t wait to see more of him,” Rod added.
The Verdict
Overall, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical at the Beacon Theatre was heartwarming, clever and well-crafted. One need not scale up the heights of Mount Olympus in order to relish a musical that is fit for the deities themselves. All they need to do is come down to New York City’s Beacon Theatre and they will be immersed in Percy Jackson’s mythical world.
McCarrell commands the viewer’s attention for the entire duration of the show and the young actor showcased his sense of triumph as Percy Jackson. This musical is ideal for the whole family, and it garnered an A rating.
For more information on the musical, check out the venue’s official website.
Read More: Actor Chris McCarrell chatted with Digital Journal about playing Percy Jackson in The Lightning Thief.
