The Estes Park High School Thespian Society will present “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical” Nov. 13, 14, and 15 at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students.
The production, adapted from Rick Riordan’s bestselling novel, premiered on Broadway in 2019 and has since become a favorite among youth theaters for its fast-paced storytelling, rock score, and cast of iconic mythological characters.
For Director and Estes Park Options Teacher Jordanne Bradley, selecting the musical was a blend of timing, student enthusiasm, and opportunity. “We have kind of tended to do newer shows recently,” Bradley said. “The kids tend to like newer shows. I had had this one kind of on my radar because a previous student of mine had performed in it numerous times. So I reached out to him and asked what he thought about it for high school, and he said, ‘I think it’d be perfect.’”
The musical follows Percy Jackson, a teenager who learns he is the half-blood son of Poseidon. Accused of stealing Zeus’ master lightning bolt, Percy must journey across the country and into the underworld to clear his name and prevent a war among the gods. In the process, he builds unexpected friendships, confronts painful family history, and learns what it means to take ownership of his identity.
“I like that there are lots of different roles that can kind of feature different students,” Bradley said. “The casting is also very flexible. I don’t have to have five males and five females, or whatever, so I was like, ‘Okay. We can work with whoever comes out.’ Also, it’s just very well-known. People know the name Percy Jackson, so that has a lot to do with it as well.”
The cast includes 20 student performers, with 12 more working in tech, stage crew, and costume roles. Putting together the show has meant navigating the realities of a small school where students participate in multiple activities at once. Last week alone, the theater, music, and marching band programs were all in performance season.
“We all have to share kids and work around each other’s schedules,” Bradley said. “But that’s kind of the cool thing about Estes Park: Students can try many things.”
Sophomore Autumn Siefford, who plays Percy, has been juggling theater, mountain biking, college coursework, and the end of marching band season. “For me, it’s been really stressful,” Siefford said. “This school year, there’s been so much more homework. But now that everything’s dying down, I’m hoping I’ll be able to focus more on the musical.”
Siefford connected personally to the emotional core of Percy’s story. “Now that I’ve actually read the book, I relate to him hard, especially his anxiousness,” Siefford said. “As he’s accepting his father Poseidon, he’s also accepting himself, and that he can’t just expect things to get better without any effort.”
Senior Neva Case, who plays the satyr Grover, who accompanies Percy on his journey, has also found meaningful creative challenge in the role. Case and Bradley decided to portray Grover as female, a change that allowed Case to shape the character in her own way while preserving the deep friendship between Percy and Grover.
“The choir teacher didn’t want Grover to be a girl because it would ruin the bro relationship,” Case said. “But I think it’s whatever. It’ll do just fine. You’ve just got to expand your mind on the possibilities of what a bromance looks like. It took me a couple of weeks to really get comfortable in the role, but I’m loving it now. I think it’s gonna be a great show.”
For Case, certain moments are already carrying emotional weight. “It is my senior year,” she said. “There’s a song, ‘Tree on the Hill,’ and the girl who plays Thalia is one of my childhood best friends. She’s basically my cousin, and I just know like putting all that together will make me emotional. No one outside of the show knows that, but it’s going to be so special for me.”
This production has also sparked a collaboration with the Estes Valley Library. The library is hosting a book versus musical discussion on Nov. 19 and is offering free admission to the show for any participant who registers for the event. Participants will also receive a free copy of the graphic novel version of “The Lightning Thief.”
“We were able to partner with the library because they usually do a book versus movie program,” Bradley said. “So I asked if we could do a book versus musical, just for this. And it all came together in a really nice way.”
Students also plan to perform a preview for Estes Park sixth graders, who read the book as part of their curriculum. As opening night approaches on Nov. 13, the cast is reflecting on what they hope audiences take away.
“I love that this show allows me to be over the top, but also find the emotion underneath,” said junior Paige Adams, who plays Mr. D, Aunty Em, and ensemble. “It’s a super fun show. I really like the music. It reminds me of ‘Rent‘ because it is mainly music. It’s a lot of different genres that I think people will enjoy.”
Case believes audiences will appreciate the energy most of all. “I think it’s going to be really fun,” she said. “It’s not like other musicals. It feels like a rock concert sometimes.”
Siefford echoed that excitement. “This show has so much heart,” Siefford said. “I think people will feel that.”
Performances will take place on Nov. 13, 14, and 15 at 7 p.m. at the Estes Park High School auditorium. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students, available online and at the door.
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