I'm a big fan of both the Percy Jackson books and the musical, so when I heard The Lightning Thief was going on tour, I had to see it! First off, the musical has an awesome, super catchy cast recording that I could listen to on repeat. (Seriously, go listen to it!)
Second, The Lightning Thief has such a great, talented and diverse cast. It's kid (and adult!) friendly, and it's fun for people of all ages. I'm 14 and a huge Percy Jackson fan, so I speak from experience! The theatre was packed with parents, kids, toddlers, teens, young adults, etc. It's a show for everyone.
Third, and maybe most notable of all, The Lightning Thief stays true to the book. For those who have read the books or are longtime fans, you will NOT be disappointed, I promise. You can really tell that the musical knows their stuff. They incorporate details from The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan in a natural, freeflowing way that doesn't stray too far away from the book, but isn't a complete copy either (unlike the movies, cough cough). That's what makes The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical; it takes what makes the book great, and they make it their own. The cast is dedicated to performing their best to bring you that great feeling of seeing all your favorite PJO characters come to life on stage, which makes it even more charming. Even if you're not a fan (yet) or haven't read the books, The Lightning Thief presents itself in a way that's simple and easy to understand, yet still makes it fun and enjoyable for everyone.
All in all, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical has an electrifying score and cast recording, extremely talented diverse cast members, crew and musicians, and most importantly representation of the book that started it all. Again, whether you're a fan or totally new to the world of Percy Jackson, this musical is something anyone and everyone can enjoy. Seriously, I can't find enough positive adjectives to describe how amazingly gifted Chris McCarrell, Kristin Stokes, James Hayden Rodriguez, Jalynn Steele, Sarah Beth Pfeifer, and Ryan Knowles are, not to mention the great understudies!
(P.S. The musical's Twitter is hilarious, go check it out.)