Cast of ThinkTank’s Upcoming production of ‘The Lightning Thief’: (Top L to R) Jonathan O’Brien, Kathryn Huettle, Nate Donovan, Drew Eberhard, (Middle) Summer Kesiel, Jaryn McCann, Kaylee Tupper Miller, Annie Sardouk, (Bottom) Adeline Richardson, and Via Shea.
‘The Lightning Thief’ graphic – credit Sam Zein
Tampa, FL – ThinkTank Theatre has announced casting for their 22/23 season opener, ‘The Lightning Thief; The Percy Jackson Musical’. The musical is based on The Lightning Thief, the first book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan. The successful five book series led to 2 movie adaptations and an upcoming Hulu series. Now, ThinkTank Theatre will stage the musical version of the story which opened off-broadway in 2014. The music and lyrics were written by Rob Rokicki and the book is by Joe Tracz. ThinkTank’s production will open at Stageworks Theatre October 8th and run through the 16th.
The cast boasts many new faces to ThinkTank’s stage, but not to Tampa Bay audiences. Making their ThinkTank debuts are Johnathan O’Brien (Percy Jackson), Jaryn McCann (Mr. B/Chiron), Nate Doran (Grover/Mr. D.), and Drew Eberhard (Luke/Ares). Returning to ThinkTank is Kathryn Huettle (Annabeth) who has been seen in ‘All the Great Books Abridged’ and ‘Snoopy!!! The Musical’. Fans of the TYA company will also recognize Summer Kiesel (Sally Jackson) from ThinkTank’s ‘Holiday Festivus’ and ‘Drunken Shakespeare’.
As always, ThinkTank Theatre will make great use of their Young Artists’ Ensemble (YAE) Company, a group of talented high school theatre makers who get the opportunity to work alongside professionals. In this production, YAE members Annie Sardouk (The Giver, TYA Playfest 2022) and Kaylee Tupper Miller (Snoopy, #Enough, Boozy Broadway, TYA Play Fest 2022) will both take on the role of Clarisse. Other members of the YAE company, Via Shae (Snoopy, Boozy Broadway, Drunken Shakes) and Adeline Richardson (Boozy Broadway, TYA Play Fest) will fill out the show’s ensemble.
The groundbreaking score will be Music Directed by Tampa’s own Sarah Tellier and Jessica Scruggs, who directed Snoopy!!! for ThinkTank in May of 2020, will serve as the choreographer. The show is directed by ThinkTank’s Producing Artistic Director Georgia Mallory Guy. Georgia has directed many ThinkTank productions in the past including James and the Giant Peach, The Giver, #Enough and more. She was recently seen onstage in FreeFall Theatre’s Rose and Walsh.
“I am ecstatic”, says Guy, “The cast is an amazing mix of ThinkTank alumni that I adore and outstanding new faces; some I had been looking for just the right opportunity to use them and others who were the perfect addition to tell this story. Plus with Jessica and Sarah at my side as my eyes and ear, the ever consistent Jessie Dorsey steering the ship as our Production Stage Manager, and a design team that already has me wowed, I am excited to get this show rolling and hope very much that Tampa audiences don’t sleep on it.”
Relaxed Performances
As a part of the company’s vision to provide a theatrical experience that welcomes everyone, ThinkTank plans to offer Relaxed Performances for this production of ‘The Lightning Thief.’ For these shows, various elements will be adjusted to ensure that audience members with sensory based sensitivities can join. Relaxed performances are open to everyone and are especially crafted to enhance the show-going experience for members of our special needs community, families with younger children, and any theatre goer who might enjoy a more relaxed show experience!
A relaxed performance of The Lightning Thief will be on October 8th at 3:00pm.
Tickets
Tickets for ‘The Lightning Thief; The Percy Jackson Musical’ can be purchased through this link – https://thinktanktheatre.thundertix.com/events/202617?only_one=true
or by calling 813-508-0884 between the hours of: Tuesday-Friday: 10:00am-2:00pm, Saturday: 10:00am-12:00pm, and Sunday: 10:00am-12:00pm (Show days only). If you are a Stageworks Subscriber you might consider adding one of the monthly subscriptions so as to include all of ThinkTank’s productions this 22/23 season. Check out the subscription information at Stageworkstheatre.org for further details.
‘The Lightning Thief’ is recommended for audiences 10 and up due to some adult language and dark themes. The 2022-2023 season of performing arts events for ThinkTank Theatre is made possible through the generous support of the The Gobioff Foundation, The Arts Council of Hillsborough County and the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners, The Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, The University of Tampa Physician Assistant Program, Palma Ceia Fit Body, Dark Door Spirits, UBS, Stageworks Theatre, the ThinkTank BOD, and ThinkTank’s many generous donors and supporters.