The Lightning Thief

I have been in love with the musical version of the first Percy Jackson book ever since I made a set model for it at a project my junior year of high school. Since then I had hoped to direct it at my community theater, and when that fell through, at the black box theater of my college. Beyond being a fan of the books, there is something so engaging and powerful about having characters you can relate to personally; whether they're similar in age, gender, ability, or personality. Percy for me is a representation of my inner childlike self. He gets to go on adventures with his best friends, fight monsters, and at the end of the day come home to his mom. This show is proof that hard work and dedication pay off. I worked all summer on my audition. I went to voice lessons and workshopped with peers. This production was made fantastic by the amazing group of people who put time and effort into it. The sets, costumes, and projections were incredible. The cast would hang out every week after rehearsal to go out to eat or hang out at someone's house. There was a sense of camaraderie that I seldom feel in more competitive theater environments. Just like Camp Half-Blood in the books, the cast formed a found family, with bonds that will last for decades.