Mortals and Greek gods clash, sing and Dance as UToledo Stages ‘The Lightning Thief’

Mortals and Greek gods clash, sing and Dance as UToledo Stages 'The Lightning Thief'

The University of Toledo Department of Theatre and Film presents "The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical," April 9-19 at the UToledo Center for Performing Arts Center Theatre.

Based on the bestselling novel by Rick Riordan, this high-energy musical, with book by Joe Tracz and music and lyrics by Rob Rokicki, brings the world of Greek mythology to the stage as gods and mortals collide in an action-packed adventure designed for audiences of all ages.

"The Lightning Thief" follows Percy Jackson, a modern teenager who discovers he is the son of Poseidon and is suddenly thrust into a world of gods, monsters and epic quests.

From the get-go, Percy discovers that the life of a "half-blood" child of a deity is not an easy one. As Percy races to prevent a war among the Olympian gods, he learns to embrace his unique strengths, forge friendships and discover what it truly means to be a hero.

"This story is about young people discovering their power and their place in the world," said the production's director, Edmund Lingan, a theatre professor and associate dean of the Judith Herb College of Arts, Social Sciences and Education. "It's funny, visually exciting and packed with adventurous battles, great songs and cool dancing - perfect for longtime fans of the Percy Jackson saga and newcomers alike."

With choreography by Abby Glanville and music direction by Chelsie Cree, the UToledo production combines comedy, music, stage combat and outlandish creatures in a high-speed theatrical event.

Performances are scheduled from April 9 to 12 and April 17 to 19 at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and 2 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets are priced from $10 to $25 and arefree to students with a UToledo ID. A free public preview performance is scheduled for Thursday, April 9.

For more tickets and parking information, visit utoledo.tix.com.