This post is sponsored by the Coterie Theatre. Opinions belong to the writer.
I have been taking my kids to the Coterie Theatre for a decade, often introducing them to the theater world with their kid focused performances. My oldest son is now in 7th grade, and it’s been harder to find theater performances that he gets excited about.
But when I saw the Coterie’s newest musical, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, I knew this was going to be a pre-teen winner. Not only is my son a fan of the Percy Jackson books, but he is fascinated by Greek mythology and has invested many hours into research and podcasts on the topic.
While I am used to adorable and captivating Coterie shows for younger kids, this rock musical was action-packed with dark and mysterious elements. The acting was just as high quality as always and the humor laced throughout the dark story was delivered in a way that was appealing to both the kids and adults in attendance.
The story centers around Percy Jackson, a teenager who learns he is the half-blood son of Poseidon, the Greek God of the Sea. Percy and his demigod friends embark on a heroic journey to find the missing lightning bolt belonging to Zeus and prevent a war among the gods.
Some of our favorite highlights were a dramatic encounter with Medusa and the lovely storyline featuring Percy and his mother’s love. My favorite character, Anabeth Chase (Rachel Curry) – half goddess, daughter of Athena, sings a stunning rendition of “My Grand Plan,” a song about her desire to be remembered for something:
“And someday soon, I swear
I don’t know how or when
But I promise you
I’ll never be invisible again
Someone will notice me.”
The musical brings out the themes of belonging, fear, fitting in and a desire to please one’s parents while learning independence – all themes your tween or pre-teen will resonate with.
The show is recommended for ages 9+, and I would recommend a brief brush up on your Greek gods before you go. My son loves the Greeking Out podcast from National Geographic.
The Lightning Thief runs through March 10 at the Coterie at Crown Center. Get your tickets today!
