Photos provided by Jeremy Daniel

From its earliest stages as a fantasy-adventure novel series that sold more than 100 million copies, to a movie adaptation and entirely sold out stage show in New York, “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical” made fast friends with all its audiences, including its debut visit to Chicago. At the Oriental Theatre on opening night, the crossover sensation drew a noticeably younger crowd filled with teens and twenty-somethings, but never at the expense of completely forsaking Broadway traditions, which could quite possibly be the cross-generational formula needed to further extend the brand into a bona fide pop culture phenomenon.

Although the journey elicits emotions that are bittersweet, funny, and ultimately empowering, what’s most remarkable is the fact that “The Lightning Thief” features a mere cast of seven players rotating between dozens of divine or dastardly parts with ease and fluidity.

Whether singing along to every word or coming in ice cold, the soundtrack of pop and rock showtunes (with a splash of modern day disco) were heavy on the hooks and instantly memorable. And it was easy to root for the misfit cast of characters as they attempted to navigate relatively normal existences of growing up, while just so happening to be the sons and daughters of many Greek mythological gods with superpowers beyond their control.

Percy Jackson (played by the personable Chris McCarrell) of course boasts the most magnificent abilities as the offspring of Poseidon, only he doesn’t realize any of those strengths at first, including the identity of his cosmically-famous father. But he finally figures it all out after getting shipped off to summer camp for half-bloods and is sent on a quest to locate Zeus’ lightning bolt in order to prevent a war amongst the grandest gods.

Although the journey elicits emotions that are bittersweet, funny, and ultimately empowering, what’s most remarkable is the fact that “The Lightning Thief” features a mere cast of seven players rotating between dozens of divine or dastardly parts with ease and fluidity. Along with mental and actual monsters to battle, an advice-giving squirrel and special effects galore, it makes for a sense-stimulating experience of mythological proportions that’s millennial-pleasing at its core, but speaks to anyone in search of maximizing their inner potential and embracing the truest versions of themselves.

“The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical” continues at the Oriental Theatre through Jan. 9. For additional details, visit LightningThiefMusical.com and BroadwayInChicago.com.

Related Articles

Another “Beautiful” take on Carole King’s immortal songbook, courageous story NightBlue’s Chicago debut of “Tarzan” sets a Disney adventure to the sounds of Phil Collins “Kinky Boots” is back and the “girls” still just wanna have fun with fabulous footwear World premiere of modernized “Tootsie” musical all ready to roll to Broadway No better way to beat the winter blues than with Jimmy Buffett’s “Escape To Margaritaville” “The Cher Show” turns back time with tunes, costumes to believe in, but leaves room for fine-tuning “Charlie And The Chocolate Factory” whips up a strangely sweet batch of “Pure Imagination” “Hello, Dolly!” sticks strictly to tradition, gets lift from Betty Buckley