WT Theatre to Stage Percy Jackson Musical ‘Lightning Thief’ Oct. 14-18

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — A hugely popular young-adult book series explodes on stage in West Texas A&M University Theatre’s opening production for the 2026-2027 season.

“The Lighting Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical” will be staged at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 14 to 17 and 2:30 p.m. Oct 18 in the Happy State Bank Studio Theatre inside the Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex on WT’s Canyon campus.

“We wanted a season for everyone in our community, and we thought this would be a fun musical to kick off the season,” said Callie Hisek, director and WT’s Royal R. Brantley Professor of Theatre Studies in the Department of Art, Theatre and Dance in the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities. “So many students across campus will appreciate it because they’ve grown up with these books.”

The musical, by Rob Rokicki and Joe Tracz, adapts the first novel of Rick Riordan’s fantasy series about a teen boy who discovers that he’s the son of one of the Greek gods and must stop a war between the gods. The series also has been adapted into films and a Disney+ series.

Among the book’s fans are two of the musical’s leads: Logan Lawhon, a senior musical theatre major from Midland, who plays Percy, and Avery Fedele, a junior musical theatre major from Andrews, who plays Annabeth Chase.

“I grew up with these books,” Lawhon said. “I related so heavily to Percy on multiple aspects. I also lost a father when I was young, so I found myself looking through Percy’s eyes for a lot of things.”

Fedele said she appreciated Riordan’s care in crafting strong female characters.

“I love seeing characters that are so sure within themselves and are doing things for themselves and not for other people,” Fedele said. “Ultimately, (Annabeth) wants to be seen. She wants to be heard.”

Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and students, $10 for children ages 3 to 12, and free for WT students, faculty and staff with a Buff Gold Card.

Visit cur8.com/17516/project/141303, call 806-651-2810 or email artsboxoffice@wtamu.edu.

The cast also includes Seed John, a junior theatre major from Midland, as Grover and Mr. D; Jack Strahm, a junior musical theatre major from Dallas; as Luke; Hope Joyce, a junior musical theatre major from Odessa, as Sally Jackson; Trey Becerra, a senior theatre major from Tulia, as Mr. Brunner / Chiron; and Leilani Smith, a freshman musical theatre from West, as Clarisse.

Ensemble members include Sterling Knight, a senior musical theatre major from Amarillo; E.J. Mendez, a sophomore theatre major from Ropesville; and Ysabella Mireles, a senior musical theatre major from Alamo.

Musical director is Bradley Behrmann, associate professor of musical theatre. Assistant director and fight choreographer is Nolan Adams, a senior theatre major from Dumas. Choreographer is Crystal Bertrand, senior instructor of dance. Assistant choreographer is MarLowe Martinez, a junior musical theatre major from El Paso. Stage manager is Josh Hodge, a senior theatre major from Amarillo. Martinez and Avery Norman, a sophomore theatre education major from Wildwood, Missouri, are assistant state managers.

About West Texas A&M University

West Texas A&M University is a Regional Research University in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus, as well as the Harrington Academic Hall WTAMU Amarillo Center in downtown Amarillo. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT boasts an enrollment of about 9,000 and offers multiple options for students to graduate and succeed: 65 undergraduate degree programs, including eight associate degrees; and 41 graduate degrees, including an integrated bachelor’s and master’s degree, a specialist degree and three doctoral degrees. WT recently earned a Carnegie Foundation classification as a Research College and University. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference; WT offers 16 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

Photo: West Texas A&M University's "The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical" will run Oct. 14 to 18 in the Happy State Bank Studio Theatre in the Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex.

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