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Rick Riordan's 'The Lightning Thief' is adapted as a musical

Riordan's book 'The Lightning Thief' is reported to be the basis for a show that will be part of New York's Free Summer Theatre Program.

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The film version of 'Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief' stars Logan Lerman.
  • By Molly Driscoll Staff Writer

Rick Riordan’s children’s novel “The Lightning Thief” has made bestseller lists in its literary form and it was adapted into a movie in 2010 (with a sequel in 2013). So what medium is next for Riordan’s story? It’s now becoming a musical.

“The Lightning Thief,” the first book in Riordan’s series about Percy Jackson, a young boy who discovers he’s the son of Greek god Poseidon, is the basis for a new show that will play off-Broadway in New York City this summer. Eric Meyers will play Percy and “Peter and the Starcatchers” actor Graham Stevens will take the role of the centaur Chiron.

The show will premiere July 24 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre as the featured production in the Free Summer Theatre Program, which is presented by Theatreworks USA. As noted by Broadway World, actor Kevin McKidd, who portrayed Poseidon in the 2010 film, is the honorary chair for the 2014 Free Summer Theatre Program. Tickets for the show will be free and will be first-come, first-served. 

Following its New York performances, which will end on Aug. 22, "The Lightning Thief" will tour the country beginning in September, according to Entertainment Weekly.

Rick Rokicki, the show’s composer and lyricist, recently spoke with EW about the show's music. Because of the electric and acoustic guitar used in the show, he hopes that “kids that wouldn’t necessarily see a musical would come in and see this kind of musical.”

Riordan is also the author of such series as the Kane Chronicles and the Heroes of Olympus.

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