PHOTOS BY REBEKAH DELL / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
SPRING MUSICAL … Percy Jackson, portrayed by Mikayela Burkhart, meets his father, Poseidon, portrayed by Eli McMaken, during a scene from The Lightning Thief. VIEW 256 PHOTOS OF THIS PERFORMANCE FOR FREE AT WWW.THEVILLAGEREPORTER.COM
PERFORMANCE … Chloe Blakely as Grover, Mikayela Burkhart as Percy Jackson, and Sarah Vollmer as Sally Jackson perform during Edgerton High School’s The Lightning Thief.
DANCING … Logan Samper as Mr. Brunner reveals himself to be Chiron, a centaur, during Edgerton High School’s The Lightning Thief.
CAMPFIRE SONG … Grover, portrayed by Chloe Blakely, dances during “The Campfire Song.”
INTERACTION … Percy Jackson, played by Mikayela Burkhart, interacts with Hades, played by Eli McMaken.
By: Rebekah Dell
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
Edgerton High School transported audiences into a world of gods, monsters, and unlikely heroes with its production of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical. Performances were held March 20 and 21 at 7:00 p.m., with a final matinee on March 22 at 2:00 p.m.
Based on the bestselling novel The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, the musical follows Percy Jackson, a teenager who discovers he is the half-blood son of Poseidon. As Percy embarks on a cross-country quest to prevent a war among the Greek gods, he navigates friendship, identity, and courage in a fast-paced, humorous, and heartfelt journey.
The stage adaptation features a book by Joe Tracz and music and lyrics by Rob Rokicki. The show originally premiered Off-Broadway in 2014 before making its Broadway debut in 2019, earning a devoted fan base for its energetic score and contemporary take on Greek mythology.
Leading the production, Mikayela Burkhart took on the role of Percy Jackson, delivering a knock-out performance that balanced humor and determination.
Alongside her, Ava Gineman portrayed Annabeth Chase with confidence and poise, while Chloe Blakely’s Grover Underwood brought both warmth and well-timed comedic moments to the stage, rounding out the central trio.
The supporting cast demonstrated impressive versatility, with several actors taking on multiple roles throughout the production.
Sarah Vollmer stood out for her exceptional range, taking on numerous roles including Sally Jackson, Silena Beauregard, the Oracle, and the Train Conductor, while Logan Samper brought dynamic energy to characters including Mr. Brunner, Chiron, Ares, and the spirit of Kurt.
Lily Adams added humor and personality in her portrayals of Mr. D, Dionysus, and Charon, and Eli McMaken commanded attention in his roles as Poseidon, Hades, and Kronos.
Edgerton High School’s production embraced the story’s adventurous spirit through imaginative and resourceful staging. The cast and crew created detailed and immersive camp settings that served as the heart of the production.
These thoughtfully designed spaces allowed for quick and seamless transitions between scenes. Particularly memorable were the moments representing the presence of Poseidon, where creative effects including the use of fans to send confetti swirling through the air added a sense of magic and movement.
The result was a visually engaging experience that captured the fantastical elements of Percy’s journey without overwhelming the stage.
Lighting played a particularly powerful role in the production, enhancing both mood and setting. Strategic use of color helped guide the audience through Percy’s journey: cool blues evoked underwater scenes, while warmer tones heightened moments of tension and action.
These lighting choices added depth and clarity to the performance, transforming the stage into multiple worlds with striking simplicity. The result was a dynamic and engaging performance that highlighted both the technical creativity and storytelling abilities of Edgerton’s theater program.
With its blend of humor and energetic music, The Lightning Thief proved to be an exciting showcase of student talent and artistic vision, leaving audiences entertained and impressed. Congratulations to the cast and crew of Edgerton High School on a job well done.
