Sandy High School (SHS) 11th grader Sidra Cohen-Mallon has been a fan of the “Percy Jackson” book series by Rick Riordan since elementary school, while also performing theater since he was nine years old. This spring, those worlds collide as Cohen-Mallon takes on the role of Percy Jackson in the high school’s spring musical, “The Lightning Thief,” book by Joe Tracz, music and lyrics by Rob Rokicki and adapted from Riordan’s book by the same name.
“It is really special for me to bring him to life on stage,” Cohen-Mallon, now 17, said.
The musical, which opened on Broadway in 2019, offers the story of Jackson, a teen who finds out he’s actually a demigod and then embarks on a quest to find Zeus’ missing lightning bolt and prevent war between the gods.
“While Percy is stumbling to find his independence, he acknowledges that his life is hard, but he gets to decide how to live it,” Cohen-Mallon said. “He knows that he'll make mistakes, but at least they'll be his own.”
Aurora (Rori) Flerchinger, a 12th grade student who plays Annabeth Chase (the daughter of Athena), noted that her character is always “battle-ready,” making her observant and constantly aware of everything around her. She also added the show features a number of scenes with staged combat and increasing the challenge for actors, who need to have precise and measured movements to make the fights look realistic.
Flerchinger, who started doing theater in the 10th grade, noted that the show’s message is about relationships, both between the teen characters and also with their parents.
“I hope the audience walks away thinking about the connection and impact that peers can have on one another and the complexity that comes with parental relationships,” she said.
SHS Theatre Teacher and the show’s director, Christina Moroney, planned to do this show since last spring, when she picked up the first book of the series. By the end of summer, she had read the five books in the series and more than 20 others related to Percy Jackson.
“From Percy’s journey to find acceptance, to Annabeth’s yearning for recognition from her family, to Grover’s need for forgiveness and fixing past mistakes – everyone can find something in this story that relates to their real life, even though it is set in somewhat of a fantasy world,” Moroney said, adding that the audience can expect some catchy music, fun dance numbers, a high energy cast and a blend of comedy and heartfelt moments. “Whether you love the Percy Jackson series, Greek mythology, musical theater or you’re just looking for a fun night out, this show is going to be a great time for everyone.”
SHS Drama’s production of “The Lightning Thief” will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday, April 12, Saturday, April 13, and Thursday, April 18 through Saturday, April 20, at Sandy High School, 37400 Bell Street in Sandy. Tickets are $11 for adults and $8 for students and seniors, with kids five and under are free. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online.
[Friday, Apr 12 at 11:10 AM]
Tonight is opening night and the first of five opportunities to see an amazing show! Ticket information in the post!
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