The local adaptation of the off-Broadway show based on the series of young adult Percy Jackson novels proved worthy of the Gods and Smithtown’s beloved not-for-profit theater alike this past weekend.
Even better- it will for the next month as well.
On a rainy Sunday, relief was surely found in a 2 p.m. showing of the latest Smithtown Performing Arts Center (SPAC) has to offer. With a standout leading performance from SPAC newcomer Jason Steven Kopp, the musical follows young Percy Jackson wrestling with his unearthed “demigod” status as he and his friends set out on a quest to sabotage intra-godly war.
Read aloud, that all may sound like a mouthful- but have no fear, patrons-to-be. This musical is filled to its brim with mass-appealing whimsy and thematic timelessness. One of the titular protagonist’s foremost plights – that of parental abandonment – is as eternal and resonant as the tales of the gods themselves, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical posits.
SPAC’s inner brass settled on running Lightning Thief this fall per their desire to showcase a “fresh, new musical that is newly available for licensing,” and one that is “in congruence” with their mission “to continue cultivating new, and fresh art” into the community.
“Lightning Thief is a fantastic musical for the entire family to enjoy and particularly because it’s incredibly popular with the ‘Gen Z’ audience,” said Robbie Torres, 32, and 2008 graduate of Sachem East High School. A noted veteran actor upon the SPAC stage, Torres had the privilege of directing his peers this go-around, with The Lightning Thief serving as his Long Island directorial debut.
“Assembling and working with this cast and crew has been such a joy. Each of them is a singular sensation- but witnessing all of them working together toward telling this story is a really powerful experience for me and hopefully, our patrons,” Torres added. The co-lead of American Idiot, which The Messenger gave a rave review of last summer, also singled out Chris Creevy’s “impressive” lighting design, which required an enhanced understanding of mood creation that reflected the production’s “dark underbelly.”
After Kopp, the stellar ensemble also includes Lorelai Mucciolo, Mairead Camas, Peter J. Osterman, David Reyes, Ayana Franck, Keith Jones and Cyd Rosenberg.
Head on down to the theater, located at 2 East Main Street in Smithtown, on any one of the below-listed dates to catch the community theater’s cavalcade of extraordinary stage performers live in action. “Son of Poseidon” is a number that will especially be so stuck in your head afterward, that you won’t even have to think twice about visiting smithtownpac.org to donate to the Theater’s marquee and stain glass window-encompassing restoration project.
The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical remaining showtimes at Smithtown Performing Arts Center:
Sat, Oct 8 – 2 p.m.
Sat, Oct 8 – 8 p.m.
Sun, Oct 9 – 2 p.m.
Mon, Oct 10 – 2 p.m.
Fri, Oct 14 – 8 p.m.
Sat, Oct 15 – 2 p.m.
Sun, Oct 16 – 2 p.m.
Fri, Oct 21 – 8 p.m.
Sat, Oct 22 – 2 p.m.
Sat, Oct 22 – 8 p.m.
Sun, Oct 23 – 2 p.m.
Fri, Oct 28 – 8 p.m.
Sat, Oct 29 – 2 p.m.
Sat, Oct 29 – 8 p.m.