Full Broadway Casting Announced For
The Limited Broadway Engagement of
THE LIGHTNING THIEF
Featuring Chris McCarrell as Percy Jackson,
with Izzy Figueroa, Jorrel Javier, Ryan Knowles, Sam Leicht, Sarah Beth Pfeifer,
James Hayden Rodriguez, Jalynn Steele, T. Shyvonne Stewart, Kristin Stokes
TheaterWorksUSA and Martian Entertainment are pleased to announce the ten actors who will bring The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical to Broadway this fall, beginning performances Friday, September 20 ahead of a Wednesday, October 16 opening night at the Longacre Theatre (220 W. 48th Street) in a strictly limited 16-week holiday engagement.
The full original company of the recently-wrapped 2019 tour will bring The Lightning Thief to life on the Broadway stage: Chris McCarrell (Les Miserables) as Percy Jackson, with Izzy Figueroa, Jorrel Javier, Ryan Knowles, Sam Leicht, Sarah Beth Pfeifer, James Hayden Rodriguez, Jalynn Steele, T. Shyvonne Stewart, and Kristin Stokes.
The original musical adaption of Rick Riordan’s New York Times bestselling novel features a book by Joe Tracz (Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, Be More Chill) and original music and lyrics by Rob Rokicki (Broadway debut).
As a son of Poseidon, Percy Jackson has newly discovered powers he can’t control, monsters on his trail, and is on a quest to find Zeus’ lightning bolt to prevent a war between the Greek gods. Based on the bestselling novel by Rick Riordan and featuring a thrilling original rock score, with an onstage company of seven playing more than 47 characters, The Lightning Thief is an action-packed theatrical adventure about accepting that normal is a myth and embracing the superpowers inside all of us.
The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan, was published in 2005 to the delight of Rick’s two young sons who first heard the adventures of Percy Jackson in the form of bedtime stories. This novel for young readers was an overnight success, inspiring not only four more Percy Jackson books, but a second and third series of five books each, which have sold more than 175 million copies worldwide in 42 languages to date. The Lightning Thief recently surpassed its 500th week on the New York Times Bestseller list.
The original TheaterWorksUSA musical production of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical debuted in spring 2017 at the Lucille Lortel Theater in New York City with a sold-out, six-week run which was nominated for three Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Musical. The Original Cast Recording, available from Broadway Records [and available on Spotify], was released in June 2017 and soon hit #1 on iTunes’ soundtrack chart. A subsequent North American First National Tour launched in Chicago in January 2019 and concluded successfully last month at Boston’s Huntington Theatre Company.
The Lightning Thief has a book by Joe Tracz (Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, Be More Chill), music and lyrics by Rob Rokicki (Broadway debut), and is directed by Stephen Brackett (A Strange Loop, Fall Springs, Be More Chill), with choreography by Patrick McCollum (The Band’s Visit), with set design by Lee Savage (Satchmo at the Waldorf), costume design by Sydney Maresca (Hand to God), lighting design by David Lander (Torch Song), sound design by Ryan Rumery (Be More Chill, Fool for Love), puppet design by AchesonWalsh (On the Town), fight direction by Rod Kinter (Red Roses, Green Gold), hair, wigs, and makeup design by Dave Bova (Bandstand), and orchestrations by Wiley DeWeese (First Daughter Suite, Preludes) and Rob Rokicki. The production is being presented by special arrangement with Rick Riordan and the Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency.
The Lightning Thief is produced by TheaterWorksUSA, Martian Entertainment, Victoria Lang, Lisa Chanel, Jennifer Doyle, Roy Lennox, Mary Maggio, Van Dean, and Meredith Lucio.
CHRIS McCARRELL (Percy Jackson) originated the role of Percy Jackson in the 2017 Off-Broadway production of The Lightning Thief. Broadway: Les Misérables 2014 OBC (Marius). Television: “Peter Pan Live” (NBC), “The OA” (Netflix). Works in development: October Sky (Universal Theatrics), Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Kevin McCollum), The Louder We Get (NAMT), The World Will Not Contain Us (The New Group), Gilbert in Anne of Green Gables: a new rock musical. Regional: Kansas City Rep, Bucks County Playhouse, The O’Neill Center. Graduate of Baldwin Wallace Conservatory.
JORREL JAVIER (Grover, Mr. D). Stoked to make his Broadway Debut! National tour: The Lightning Thief (Grover, Mr.D). Regional: world premiere of Fall Springs (Barrington Stage Company), Mamma Mia! (Casa Mañana), In the Heights (Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, ZACH Theatre). Proud Alumnus of Texas State University (BFA Musical Theatre ’18). JorrelJavier.com. IG: @Jorrel_
RYAN KNOWLES (Chiron and others) is stoked to be making his Broadway debut after touring the country with The Lightning Thief! Tours: We Will Rock You, The Grinch, Todrick Hall’s OZ: The Musical. Off-Broadway: Bulldozer, NEWSical, Caligula Maximus, Radio City. Regional: FTR: The Brat Pack, Disney’s Hunchback, Disney’s Aladdin. TV: Host of Nickelodeon’s “Me:TV.” IG/Twitter: @ImRyanKnowles. Visit RyanKnowles.com
SARAH BETH PFEIFER (Clarisse and others, u/s Annabeth). Broadway debut! SB is so excited to be bringing this show to Broadway after appearing in this past year’s national tour, the 2017 off-Broadway production, and workshops dating back to 2014. When not hanging out at Camp Half Blood, she is a voice over artist and member of the Constellation Chor. @itsmesbp.
JAMES HAYDEN RODRIGUEZ (Luke and others) is ecstatic to be making his Broadway debut! James originated this role Off-Broadway, brought it to fans around North America in the First National Tour, and can’t wait to electrify audiences on Broadway. Favorite credits: The Visitor (The Public Theater), Man of La Mancha (Shakespeare Theatre Company), Hairspray (Signature Theatre). TV: “Conan @ The Apollo.” jameshaydenrodriguez.com @james_haydn
JALYNN STEELE (Sally and others). Broadway: Debut. Off-Broadway: Sistas: The Musical (Dr. Simone). Tours: The Lightning Thief (Sally and Others), Fosse (Lead). Regional: Mamma Mia! (Tanya), Beehive, Little Shop of Horrors (Ronette). Other credits: The Wiz (Dorothy), After Midnight (Star), Rock of Ages (Justice). TV/ Other Media: “Black Actress,” “Sesame Street.” @Jalynn_The*Entertainer.
KRISTIN STOKES (Annabeth) takes great pride in making her Broadway debut having been with The Lightning Thief since its first workshop, both Off-Broadway runs (Lortel nomination, Original Cast Recording), and the National Tour. Other credits include The Ballad of Little Jo (Kate *OCR) at Two River Theatre; Agent 355 (Anna/Simco) at the Musical Theatre Factory; Fly By Night (Miriam) at the Dallas Theatre Center; and most recently Miller and Tyson’s Revival (Lena Hanson) at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley.
IZZY FIGUEROA (u/s Grover, Chiron). Broadway debut! Tours/Regional: The Lightning Thief (First National Tour), NJ premiere of James and the Giant Peach, Peter and the Starcatcher (TGS), Click, Clack, Moo (TWUSA), Carded (Feinstein’s/54 Below). @izzyyfig
SAM LEICHT (u/s Percy, Luke) is thrilled to be making his Broadway debut in The Lightning Thief! A proud Baldwin Wallace University alum, Sam is passionate about making fitness accessible for all. Instagram: @leichtning.
SHYVONNE STEWART (u/s Clarisse, Sally). Broadway debut! National Tours: The Lightning Thief (First National Tour). Regional: Sister Act (Westchester Broadway). Other credits: AIDA Cruises (Lead Soloist), Kennedy Center Honors, Christmas in Washington. Degrees from Spelman College, George Washington and Georgetown. IG: @chosenmelody. www.tshyvonnestewart.com.