Riverland Theatre invites audiences to embark on an epic adventure with The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical, with music and lyrics by Rob Rokicki and a book by Joe Tracz, adapted from the bestselling novel The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.

Percy Jackson has always had trouble fitting in. But when he discovers that he is the son of a Greek god, his world suddenly gets a lot more complicated. With monsters on his trail and the gods of Mount Olympus on the brink of war, Percy is thrust into a quest to find Zeus’s missing lightning bolt and prevent a conflict that could tear the world apart.

Joined by his friends Annabeth Chase and Grover Underwood, Percy journeys across the country, facing mythological monsters, impossible challenges, and a few seriously dysfunctional gods along the way. However, his greatest challenge may be figuring out where he belongs and discovering the things that make him different might also be the things that make him strong. Packed with rock music, humor, heart, and high-energy adventure, The Lightning Thief brings the world of Percy Jackson to the stage while exploring friendship, family, identity, and what it means to find a place where you belong.

The production is directed by Susan Hansen, with music direction by Brian Johnson. John Deyo serves as scenic, lighting, projection, and technical director. Taylor Dahlberg serves as costume designer and fight choreographer, and Marny Rohr serves as dance choreographer. Ashton Brooks serves as stage manager, and Emma Kelsey is assistant stage manager. Crew includes Will Graff, Aubrey Learn, Gavin Myers, Paytin Simmons, Keegan Wells, and Reign Wells.

The Lightning Thief stars Tony Palesotti as Percy Jackson, Hannah Zerke as Annabeth Chase, and Sam Vortherms as Grover Underwood. The production also features a robust ensemble playing gods, monsters, and much more. The cast includes Ajuda Akane, Yiamino Akane, River Auton, Kenna Barren, Blossom Bauer, Maggie Bremner, Atticus Burnham, Mariella Burrows, Riah Echols, Ryan Flanders, Madison Green, Lucas Johnson, Caralee Koopal, Pleh Meh, Logan Merfeld, El Page, Emma Potter, Kalli Potter, Luke Reese, Maddie Russell, Ashlyn Strampe, Riley Szyszkowski, Em Tharpe, Gabriel Tschida, Summer Uhrich, Moyra Voigt, Jocelyn Voth, and Kim Zerke.

“The Lightning Thief is ultimately a story about young people who have spent much of their lives feeling like they don’t quite fit into the world around them,” said director Susan Hansen. “Percy and his friends discover the qualities they have been told make them difficult, different, or out of place are also part of what makes them extraordinary. Beneath all the monsters, sword fights, and rock music is a story about friendship, identity, and finding the people who make you feel like you belong.”

The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical will be performed Thursday through Saturday, October 8–10, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, October 11, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. in the Frank W. Bridges Theatre on Riverland’s Austin Campus.

Individual tickets are $18.00 in advance and $20.00 at the door. Tickets are available through Riverland’s online ticketing system 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The online ticketing system accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. The on-campus box office will open in the theatre lobby one hour prior to each performance. Riverland students receive two free tickets with a valid student ID.

For more information, contact the box office at 507-433-0595 or email boxoffice@riverland.edu.

Riverland Theatre strives to provide quality productions that are entertaining and challenging to both the audience and the artists. Because we reach such a diverse audience, some audience members may find some subject matter, language, or situations objectionable. If you have concerns about a specific production, we encourage you to become familiar with the material before attending the performance.

Riverland’s Theatre Department is a high-energy performance-oriented program. Plays produced vary from classical tragedy to modern comedy and from full-scale large cast musicals to intimate small cast plays. Students are encouraged to get involved in all areas of theatre production including, but not limited to, acting, stage managing, set building and painting. Strong academic offerings provide challenges in and out of the classroom.

Riverland Community College, a member of the Minnesota State system, is a community college that strives to transform lives through excellence in service, education, and career training. Approximately 4,300 students are served annually through a wide range of credit-based educational opportunities. Riverland has campuses located in Albert Lea, Austin and Owatonna, Minnesota, and online at Riverland’s website.

Minnesota State includes 26 community and technical colleges and seven state universities serving approximately 270,000 students. It is the fourth-largest system of two-year colleges and four-year universities in the United States.