THE LIGHTNING THIEF: THE PERCY JACKSON MUSICAL
THEATRE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES EDITION
Music and Lyrics by Rob Rokicki | Book
by Joe Tracz
Adapted from the Best-Selling Book, The Lightning
Thief by Rick Riordan
Direction by Larry Landsman
WHEN: Thursday, August 1, @ 7:30PM; Saturday August 3, @ 10:30 AM; Tuesday, August 6, @ 7:30PM; Thursday, August 8, @ 7:30PM; Sunday, August 11, @ 10:30AM (Callbacks by invitation only); Monday August 12, @ 7:30PM (Callbacks by invitation only)
WHERE: Little Firehouse Theatre, 298 Kinderkamack Road, Oradell, NJ
Doors open half an hour prior to the stated audition time.
Those interested in more information may contact Larry Landsman at LLandsman1157@gmail.com or go to www.bcplayers.org.
Bergen County Players (BCP) is pleased to Bring on the Monsters! at the Little Firehouse Theatre in Oradell with open auditions for The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical (Theatre for Young Audiences Edition).
There are numerous opportunities for actors to shine in multiple roles in this 75-minute family-friendly rock musical. BCP is seeking a multicultural cast of men and women with fantastic singing, acting, and dancing abilities to play main and supporting roles.
Adapted from the best-selling young adult novel The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan and featuring a thrilling original rock score, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical is an action-packed mythical adventure.
As the
half-blood son of a Greek god, Percy Jackson 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. When Zeus’s master lightning bolt is stolen and Percy
becomes the prime suspect, he must find and return the bolt to prove his
innocence and prevent a war between the gods. But to succeed in his quest,
Percy will have to do more than catch the thief. He must travel to the
Underworld and back; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of
betrayal by a friend; and come to terms with the father who abandoned him.
The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical features an
original score by Rob Rokicki and a book by Joe Tracz (who
made his Broadway debut with Be More Chill). This
musical adaptation first premiered off-Broadway at the Lucille
Lortel Theatre in the spring of 2017, where it enjoyed a
sold-out, six-week run and ultimately earned three Drama Desk Award
nominations, including "Outstanding Musical." A North American
National Tour of the production was launched in January 2019 in Chicago and
played a total of 32 cities. It opened on Broadway in October 2019 at the
Longacre Theatre.
The Lightning Thief was first published
in July 2005 and is the first book of the "Percy Jackson & the
Olympians" pentalogy. The novel has spent over 500 weeks on the
New York Times Bestseller list and even spawned a Hollywood
film adaptation back in 2010, as well as a hit television series now
running on Disney+.
The entire
creative team behind last season's hit holiday musical, A Christmas
Carol: The Musical, returns this December for The
Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical. Once again, Larry
Landsman will direct; Steve Bell will serve as musical director; and
Elisabeth Julia will return as choreographer along with Paige Marian as
assistant choreographer. Producers are Kathleen Ruland and Michele Roth, with
Alyson Cohn serving as Stage Manager.
Rehearsals: Rehearsals are scheduled to begin immediately following the audition process. All rehearsals will take place at the Little Firehouse Theatre in Oradell, N.J.
Performances: Public
performance dates are December 7th thru December 22nd, 2024 (performances
are Friday evenings at 7:30pm; Saturdays and Sundays at 1 & 4pm.
General Requirements: A headshot/picture is
appreciated but not required. Those auditioning should either prepare a brief
cut of a pop/rock or contemporary musical theater song that shows range, OR
choose one (1) of the songs provided at this link:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1VZbLRieXddbKH65vOCmCQMjYyHYvHcEa?usp=sharing
Those making
their own selection must provide a backing track, without vocals. No
accompanist will be provided. No a cappella auditions please. Those auditioning
should also dress comfortably and be prepared to learn a brief dance routine.
Sides are also in the above Google Drive folder.
Callbacks by invitation only will include readings from the script and singing a song from the show.
Note:
Vocally, BCP is not looking for polished or musical theater perfection. We are
looking for gritty and gutsy performers (while staying true to the demands of
the score) and voices that allow for raw and rebellious emotion to break
through.
CHARACTER BREAKDOWN
PERCY
JACKSON – Teen demi-god and son of Poseidon. A kid with a tough exterior but a
sensitive heart who spent his whole life defending himself. Fueled by impulse,
he must now own his power and go on the offensive to save his mother, the most
important thing. Strong pop-rock tenor. Literally never leaves the
stage. 17-29 range. Appears young.
ANNABETH
CHASE – Teen demi-god and daughter of Athena. Overqualified but unseen. She is
over being invisible. Learning to live unapologetically in her brilliance, she
is unwilling to hide her black girl magic. She got it from her mama. Embracing
the hypervisibility inherent in her identity with expressive hair that will
never fit under a hat. Strong pop-rock high belter soprano.17-29 age range.
Appears young.
GROVER
UNDERWOOD – A happy-go-lucky satyr, like a hippie kid with hooves. A soft
spirit. Intuitive and sensitive. Keeping the group motivated and driving
forward, he takes the responsibility of friendship very seriously. His empathy
and humor disguise the fact that he is working through deep guilt and shame
from the past. Hoping to be seen as worthy. On his journey, he discovers he is
enough. Doubles as Mr. D (aka Dionysus, God of wine, snarky camp director).
Strong folk-pop baritone-tenor range. Comedic, character actor. 17-29 range.
Appears young.
LUKE &
OTHERS – Son of Hermes, cool camp counselor. Embodies a range of roles
including Luke, Gabe Ugliano (Percy’s foul stepfather), Ares (God of war, rock
star), a Fury, Statue, and Minotaur. Strong pop rock bari-tenor. 17-29 range.
Appears young.
SALLY
JACKSON & OTHERS - Percy’s hard-working mother, The Oracle (a hippie
mummy), a Chimera, Silena Beauregard (daughter of Aphrodite), Charon
(Ferryperson to the Underworld), Statue, A Fury. Mezzo-Soprano range. Plays
older and younger characters.
MR. BRUNNER
AKA CHIRON & OTHERS - Embodies a range of roles including Chiron (a wise
centaur and part-time Latin teacher), Poseidon (God of the sea, salty beach
bum), Hades (god of the dead), Kronos (a voice in a pit), Cyclops, a Camper,
Greyhound bus driver, Uber driver, A Fury, Aunty Em aka Medusa and a variety of
other characters. Strong pop rock bari-tenor. Plays older and younger
characters.
CLARISSE
& OTHERS – Embodies a range of roles including Clarisse (tough jock girl,
daughter of Ares), Katie Gardner (daughter of Demeter), Mrs. Dodds (a Fury
posing as a substitute algebra teacher), Statue, Thalia (daughter of Zeus),
Chimera, Bianca (a mysterious girl in 1930’s clothes) and a variety of other
characters. Strong pop rock soprano with high belt. Mezzo-Soprano Range. 17-29
range. Appears young.
Bergen County Players encourages and is committed to a diverse and inclusive theater experience. Unless otherwise specified, BCP will cast any actor in any role if appropriate, without regard to race, ethnicity, gender identity, age, physicality, or disability. Casting will be character-driven; therefore, actors are encouraged to audition for any roles in which they are interested.