Percy Jackson Musical Launches Off-Broadway March 2017

Fans of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series of books will soon get a chance to see those stories brought to life in an entirely new way.

After the moderate success of the series' live-action film, Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief, and the ultimate flop of it's follow-up, Percy Jackson: The Sea of Monsters, it looks like the source material is finding new legs - but this time, as a Broadway musical.

Riordan announced, via a post on his blog, that The Lightning Thief will debut as an off-Broadway show on March 23rd of this year.

"Now you're thinking: What? Who? How? Huh? Seriously, Percy Jackson dancing and singing on stage? Yep, it's true! Previous stagings of this play have gotten rave reviews from even hard-core Percy Jackson book fans, and now the play is getting the full Off-Broadway treatment!"

While Riordan hasn't seen the play himself, saying that he usually avoids seeing adaptations of his writings, he fully supports the show and is championing its New York debut.

The musical will star Chris McCarrell as Percy Jackson, a teenage boy who learns he is a demigod with the power of controlling lightning. McCarrell is known for appearing in NBC's 2014 musical event Peter Pan Live!, as well as Netflix's recent series The OA.

McCarrell voiced his excitement for inhabiting the role, which was played by Logan Lerman in the film series.

"I've always had an Off-Broadway heart, so this is such a homecoming for me. And to start it off at the Lortel is an actual dream. Can't wait to pour all I got into Percy Jackson. He's going to be quick, bold, and sharp. Young messy demigod finding his way? I'm in. Excited to work with the team to make this innovative, magical and heartfelt show our own."

The production will run at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, and tickets are currently going for $65-$85. The show is being directed by veteran theatre director Stephen Brackett, and was co-written by Joe Tracz, who helped write an episode of Netflix's recent revival of A Series of Unfortunate Events.

The musical's official synopsis is as follows:

Percy Jackson has newly discovered powers he can't control, monsters on his trail, and he is on a quest to find Zeus's lightning bolt and prevent a war between the Greek gods. Normal is a myth when you're a demigod. Based on the best- selling Disney-Hyperion novel by Rick Riordan, featuring live music, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical is an action- packed theatrical adventure that will rock your world.