Note: Patrick Minnerly is the Associate Opinion Editor at the Daily Campus
Musical theater and comedy came together as one on stage during Dramatic PAWS’ production of “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical” over the weekend.
“The Lightning Thief” is a hilarious musical based on the Percy Jackson books and films that many students at the University of Connecticut grew up reading and watching. It captures the messages and basic plot lines of the original story, adding mostly sarcastic and comedic musical numbers along the way of the characters’ fantastical journey.
Dramatic PAWS (Producing, Acting, Writing Students) is a student run theater group at UConn which is available to all students, regardless of major or experience. “The Lightning Thief” was pitched to the group at the end of the spring semester and began its work in the last few weeks of the summer, according to the director of the show, Victoria Hancock, a third-semester political science and theater studies major.
“I’ve loved getting to watch everyone grow,” Hancock said. “Watching everyone step into their roles and their characters, and grow as actors, singers and dancers — It’s just so exciting and fun to watch.”
The musical runs for just over two hours and contains hit numbers, such as, “Good Kid,” a solo by Percy Jackson, “My Grand Plan,” Annebeth’s solo, and “Drive,” sung by Percy, Annabeth and Grover.
There were 22 student members of the cast, with the main trio being played by Phin Whedon (Percy), Gabriella Contrera (Annabeth) and Patrick Minnerly (Grover).
The cast and crew put in large efforts to get the show where it needed to be in about two months’ time, with three-hour rehearsals twice a week and five-hours put in every Saturday.
“[Everyone] is phenomenal,” Hancock said. “They have been such a joy to work with. They’re all so hardworking and it shows. I’m thankful for them genuinely every step of the way.”
Clear parallel scenes to the popular film “Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief,” included musical numbers, “Put You in Your Place” recreating the capture the flag scene and sung powerfully by Lauren Burton (Clarisse), and the infamous Lotus Hotel and Casino scene with “D.O.A.” performed enthusiastically by Lily Banks (Charon).
Despite the unserious nature of the show, Hancock, as well as the music director Ryan Franco and the choreographer Alyssa Cook, all noted “The Tree on the Hill,” an emotional number sung primarily by Grover (played by Minnerly), as one of their favorites in the musical.
“[‘The Tree on the Hill’] is just beautiful,” Hancock said.
Following the same plot as the books and the film, “The Lightning Thief” tells the story of the children of Olympian Gods, finding their way in the world during adolescence, without guidance from their parents or connection to the outside world.
“It’s really an underdog story,” Cook said. “It’s for anybody that is an outcast, anybody that wants to feel like they belong; this is the show for them.
Characterized by passion, energetic dance numbers and humorous dialogue, “The Lightning Thief” is an exciting musical, and Dramatic PAWS’ production did not feel dull at any moment.
“I could not be prouder of any of the cast,” Franco said. “They are just so incredible.”