Five performances of “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical” planned

The Lake Michigan College Visual & Performing Arts Department brings an action-packed, mythical adventure to the stage with its Spring musical “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical,” directed by Dr. Patrick King, LMC Instructor of Theatre.

Performances are 7 p.m. March 29-30 and April 5-6, along with a matinee presentation at 3 p.m. April 7 in the LMC Mendel Center Hanson Theatre on the Benton Harbor Campus. Tickets are on sale through the Mendel Center box office.

Adapted from Rick Riordan’s New York Times best-selling book “The Lightning Thief,” “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical” is written by Joe Tracz with music and lyrics by Rob Rokicki. The production debuted off-Broadway in 2014 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre. Following several national tours, the action-packed mythical adventure opened on Broadway in 2019 with a thrilling original rock score “worthy of the gods” (Time Out New York).

The musical follows the story of Percy Jackson, a teenager who discovers he is the son of Poseidon. As the half-blood offspring of a Greek god, he has newly discovered powers he can’t control, a destiny he doesn’t want, and a mythology textbook’s worth of monsters on his trail.

Percy becomes the prime suspect when Zeus’s lightning bolt is stolen. To clear his name and prevent a war between the gods, he has to find and return the bolt. To do so, he must travel to the Underworld and back, solve the riddle of the Oracle, and come to terms with the father who abandoned him.

“Most of our students grew up on Rick Riordan’s books, and their enthusiasm for this work has been infectious,” King said. “I find the score to be catchy and compelling. Most of all, though, I’m drawn to the very human story in this sprawling, supernatural pop epic. Percy is a kid looking for his place in the world – and for his place in a found family in a world that is larger and scarier than he expected. I think it is something that resonates not just with our students but with everyone working on the production.”

Cast members are Landon Mitchell as Percy, Danny Mannel as Annabeth, Andy Beeson as Grover, Jakob Prillwitz as Luke, Alyssa Hyska as Sally, Mel Weber as Mr. B/Chiron, Ella Harris as Clarisse/Janis Joplin, Evan Cook as Mrs. Dodds/Farmer, Max Babcock as Gabe Ugliano/Newscaster/DJ Cerberus, Logan Mitchell as Minotaur/Kurt Cobain, Kyle McAndrew as Poseidon, Connor Farr as Mr. D, Einra Leie as Silena Beauregard/Hades, Sienna Harris as Katie Gardner/Echinda, Tyena Taylor as Oracle/James Brown, Joanna Blue as Greyhound Passenger 1, Triss Wright as Aunty Em, Greyhound Passenger 2, Val Heppler as Train Conductor/Mozart, Lissie Sypian as Ares, Zothi Sibanda as Thalia/Bianca, and Emma Stoppenbach as Charon.

Making things happen behind the scenes alongside King are Rebecca Derbas-Selvidge, music director; Alan Selvidge, sound designer; Alix Bauer, stage manager; Delaney McKenzie, lighting director; John Taylor, scenic designer; Paige Mulick, choreographer; Kyra Utroske and Cindy Jakeway, scenic painters; Mindy McCaffrey, LMC Visual & Performing Arts admin; Laura Simmons, production manager; Jenna Davison, prop designer; Libby Mueth, costume designer; and Dan Toot, fight choreographer.

Admission is $18 for adults, $12 for seniors, and $6 for students under 18. LMC students, faculty, and staff are admitted free. Tickets are available at www.TheMendelCenter.com/events and by calling 269-927-8700, option 1. Tickets may also be purchased in person through the Mendel Center box office on weekdays from noon to 2 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. and two hours before show times.

The LMC Visual & Performing Arts Department’s 2023-2024 theatre season is dedicated to the memory of Sierra Loughrin.

The Lightning Thief is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. www.concordtheatricals.com

About the Lake Michigan College Visual & Performing Arts Department
The Visual & Performing Arts Department allows students to reach new levels of excellence through classroom instruction and public performance. Many programs, including theatre, instrumental and vocal music, and dance, are based in the Lake Michigan College Mendel Center, the only performing arts center of its kind in southwest Michigan. Here, LMC students have opportunities to study the performing arts in a venue that attracts more than 100,000 patrons annually. Programs including drawing, painting, and graphic design allow students to explore the possibilities in the visual arts.

Auditions are held for select ensembles that perform on the same stages as world-renowned touring acts. Students in any major also have opportunities to audition for Broadway musicals and plays and join two different vocal ensembles, string and wind ensembles, a pop-rock ensemble, and jazz band. One of only two colleges in Michigan to carry the prestigious All-Steinway designation, LMC has a team of highly qualified faculty that bring real-world expertise to the classroom.

For more information about the Visual and Performing Arts department and performances, visit lakemichigancollege.edu/arts, email mmccaffrey@lakemichigancollege.edu, or call 269-927-8876.

The Mendel Center is 30 minutes from Niles and 40 minutes from the Kalamazoo and South Bend areas. It is located on the Lake Michigan College campus at 2755 E. Napier Avenue, Benton Harbor, Michigan, one mile east of I-94 (Exit 30) and one mile west of the US 31 Bypass (exit 24). Its GPS mapping address is 1100 Yore Avenue, Benton Harbor, MI.