In the musical, Percy Jackson - a 12-year-old boy who discovers that he is a demigod - goes on a quest to find Zeus' missing lightning bolt to prevent a war between the Greek gods.
[1] A new version, with a new score and an updated, expanded script was produced with previews from March 23, 2017, and an official opening on April 4 and a last performance on May 6 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre.
[3] The Lightning Thief then played a 16-week limited run on Broadway, beginning previews September 20 and opened on October 16 at the Longacre Theatre,[4] with the national tour cast reprising their roles.
Percy Jackson, a 12-year-old boy with ADHD and dyslexia, is on a field trip to the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art.
When Percy tries to explain what happened, he is shocked to find that neither Mr. Brunner, his best friend Grover Underwood, nor anyone else remembers Mrs. Dodds ("Prologue/The Day I Got Expelled").
Back at his apartment, his mother, Sally Jackson, seems to understand and even forgive Percy's expulsion, while her husband, Gabe Ugliano, does not.
Luke Castellan, the nineteen-year-old son of Hermes, sympathizes with Percy, telling him that many half-bloods never know their godly parents, as they are not claimed ("Their Sign").
Annabeth quickly takes the helm as leader during a game of capture the flag, instructing Percy to sit and wait in the boys' bathroom so he won't "mess things up".
After the Oracle's prophecy, Percy is upset that he has to leave Camp Half-Blood for a quest that will be unsuccessful ("Good Kid").
Percy only accepts the quest because Luke hints that his mother will be in the Underworld - the location of the search - since Hades is now rumored to be the real thief.
She confesses that she has always been ignored by everyone around her, and is desperate for a chance to prove herself to Athena, her mother, and make the history books ("My Grand Plan").
Grover returns with train tickets to St. Louis and they set off, encountering many dangers along the way such as a Chimera, nasty storms, and the Lotus Hotel and Casino.
Grover confesses that a few years ago he was sent to escort Luke, Annabeth, and Thalia Grace - Zeus's daughter - to camp.
On the way there they were attacked, and Grover failed to save Thalia, who, sacrificing herself, was turned into the tree that protects the borders of Camp Half-Blood.
Luke tells Percy that he is the lightning thief, and that he has teamed up with Kronos to get back at the gods, who he feels have done him wrong ("The Last Day of Summer").
Percy declares that there will be a war, no matter how they try to stall it, but he and his friends will be prepared and do whatever it takes to fight it ("Bring on the Monsters").
For a limited-time, Broadway Records offered a special package that included an official Lightning Thief T-shirt in addition to a physical copy of the cast album.
[15] Frank Scheck, in reviewing the production for The Hollywood Reporter, wrote that the musical "proves far more enjoyable than the misbegotten 2010 film version or its 2013 sequel" and "also provides an excellent if irreverent introduction to Greek mythology that just might persuade some kids to dig deeper.
Chris Jones, of The Chicago Tribune, wrote "the lively pop score has a distinct forward drive, a nice amount of musical diversity and a few terrific balladic showcases for the two top-drawer actor-singers in the show".