THE LIGHTNING THIEF The Percy Jackson Musical AUDITION INFORMATION
Presented by The Augusta JR Players
Book by Joe Tracz
Music and Lyrics by Rob Rokicki
Based on the novel by Rick Riordan
Production Team
Director: Roy Lewis
Assistant Director: Elizabeth Moore
Musical Director: Stacey Branch
Choreographer: Kaitlyn Dunaway
Stage Manager: Caroline Smith Assistant Stage Manager: Genesis Gabriel
Costumes/Puppetry: Cameron Mashak and Tiffany Chad,
Lighting: Alex Thomson Costumes: Corrina Hedgecoth,
Projections: Cameron Hern, Sound: Bill Wilson
All auditions are held at Jessye Norman School of the Arts. 739 Greene Street. Do not call the school for audition information. If you have any questions, please feel free to email jrplayers@augustaplayers.org PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE SCHOOL WITH QUESTIONS
Audition Dates
Friday, March 21, 6:30PM – 9:30PM
Saturday, March 22, 9:30AM – 4:30PM
(SEE SIGN UP GENIUS BELOW)
You can sign up for an audition slot here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C054DA8AA2DA7FCC16-55483207-thelightning?useFullSite=true#/
You can download the audition form HERE!
Rehearsals and Performances
Rehearsals dates are listed in your online audition form. Please ensure you document all conflicts accurately when completing the form. Rehearsals will be at the KROC center located at 1833 Broad Street, Augusta, Ga., and 712 Ellis Augusta Players building.
Evening Performances: June 13, 14, 2025 (7:00 pm)
Matinee Performances: June 14, 2025 (3:00 pm)
Notes About Casting
Casting is competitive, but exciting and worthwhile! We cast students who audition best for the roles available, regardless of age, grade, school, or previous experience. Not every show has lead roles that fit every student. We are going to try to cast everyone who is interested. Often, our best performers aren’t considered for lead roles because it’s just not the right role for them this time. This is because every play or musical is different. This is hard to explain and even harder to deal with when it happens to you or your student. On top of that, we are an educational environment, not a professional theatre, and while we aim to produce high-quality theatre, we are working on putting together a complex puzzle that will come together in a way that helps students learn, present an amazing product, and helps each student on and offstage shine. Sometimes you get the lead, sometimes you are in the ensemble, sometimes you are on crew! As always, we hope to continue to provide creative and exceptional learning experiences in the performing arts.
Casting Policy
These items are equal in weight and are in no order.
What we consider:
- Quality of audition regarding students’ presentation of their knowledge, skills, & abilities in the areas of acting, singing, and dancing.
- Professionalism and behavior during auditions in line with age, background, & previous training.
- We ask: What casting choices will serve the production best as a whole?
- We ask: What would the reality of casting be in the “real world”?
- We ask: What are the best choices for casting in an educational institution and community setting?
- Grade, age, and gender will not guarantee a part. Contract restrictions, vocal ranges, dance aptitude, character understanding, and direct comparison to others auditioning will all be taken into consideration.
- Casting will not be completed by only one staff member.
- We will implement gender and race-conscious casting.
- Budget constraints will affect casting and the total number of students that can be onstage at any given time.
- Students from all grade levels will be cast in this production (ages 13-19).
Directors will not explain why one person earned the role over another. It is not a productive conversation as the process is a subjective one. It is objective as possible, but casting in and of itself is always a complicated puzzle. We are happy to offer constructive feedback on auditioning, but we will not answer “why didn’t I get a part?” Feedback will only be given to those not cast as a lead and by appointment only via e-mail request.
WHAT TO PREPARE FOR AUDITIONS
1) Monologues / Sides
This story has a wide range of characters who often banter back-and-forth in rapid dialogue and witty one liners, as deftly as their swords play. For Callbacks, we will read sides from the script, but for the first round of auditions, we would like you to focus on dynamic storytelling. Please prepare a one-minute monologue, additional information and tips can be found at the end of this document!
2) Music
Performers in The Lightning Thief will be accompanied by an onstage rock-and-roll band led by our music director. Please prepare 16-20 bars of a song that demonstrates your singing ability. You can bring sheet music or sing with a track.
For callbacks, we will be having auditioners singing additional excerpts from the show. Please click on the links below for the songs!
Percy Jackson Audition Tracks
The Tree On The Hill Learning Tracks: https://youtu.be/_P4eQB9rCOY?si=drR2SPJTTdAof-Lk
The Tree On The Hill Accompaniment: https://youtu.be/gcUzcvUBaRg?si=vrL8I0JErf_4_YA0
(Grover)
Another Terrible Day Learning Tracks: https://youtu.be/Er0fe9w9gZY?si=cXgWsDAkiBAIjQMn
Another Terrible Day Accompaniment: https://youtu.be/wkaHVfrus1E?si=BoaBkuIFYunG6y-u
(Mr. Dodds)
Their Sign Learning Tracks: https://youtu.be/4IPQot4a7WY?si=mHfdSuGR64jDSaV3
Their Sign Accompaniment: https://youtu.be/4sp5I89AoM4?si=dczGRaRkx6RlLRvm
(Chiron)
Put You In Your Place Learning Tracks: https://youtu.be/6nzo5abeBw4?si=jihzpnoGTDcoyft3
Put You In Your Place Accompaniment: https://youtu.be/nt4iZjKZePA?si=gc2WB0_5xrmuLo7h
(Clarisse)
Campfire Song Learning Tracks: https://youtu.be/cSMvzWPT_BI?si=tOjM9xb63_nPTYk5
Campfire Song Accompaniment: https://youtu.be/HoyFYHZ5PCY?si=k6FLdTIsIZSEahnz
(Katie, Silena and Luke)
Good Kid Learning Tracks: https://youtu.be/TWMKZheixoA?si=cGPewHSicQxJFHLn
Good Kid Accompaniment: https://youtu.be/TnqMeMzJyBc?si=j2IMgm3Bq10tiRCM
(Percy)
Strong – Learning Tracks: https://youtu.be/z8qEJMlVWPM?si=-tll6b4-J8DHntQI
Strong Accompaniment: https://youtu.be/GAX9ngR64w0?si=3L6JAvQyVrL7Qb2A
(Sally)
My Grand Plan Learning Tracks: https://youtu.be/ldn9byXbtp4?si=dSJEcUKJeDPhUqnC
My Grand Plan Accompaniment: https://youtu.be/NphElYiWaxM?si=K_P70QoDspEzqz5O
(Annabeth)
The Oracle Learning Tracks: https://youtu.be/KIW-deRxroE?si=UHA6Rd-aiajCmAE4
The Oracle Accompaniment: https://youtu.be/R1MmMDr7Wco?si=NX7uQ05SWzj6ZQOE
(The Oracle)
The Son of Poseidon Learning Tracks: https://youtu.be/RdgLduF5e2g?si=aar-t4kIOoR07fcz
The Son of Poseidon Acc: https://youtu.be/NWUyK-Jbvyw?si=D0rOcbnd-eSswcLT
(Ares)
D.O.A. Learning tracks: https://youtu.be/4-FvIplCZdo?si=Ofig_pjEGIR9vPx4
D.O.A. Accompaniment: https://youtu.be/93BcR1SgkZM?si=WuGPKjxLiyLZ-ZQu
(Charon)
LINK TO CAST RECORDING: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLightningThiefMusical
Grover – “The Tree on the Hill”
Mr. Dodds – “Another Terrible Day”
Chiron – “Their Sign”
Clarisse – “Put You in Your Place”
Katie/Silena/ Luke – “The Campfire Song”
Percy – “Good Kid”
Sally – “Strong”
Annabeth – “My Grand Plan”
Oracle – The Oracle
Ares – Son of Poseidon
Charon – D.O.A.
3) Movement
The Lightning Thief will come to life with both playful, energetic musical staging and stage combat with and without weaponry! At your audition, you will learn and perform collaborative movements. Please dress for movement and wear closed-toed shoes or at least socks, black attire preferred.
Attach video link:
Character List & Descriptions
PRINCIPALS:
Percy Jackson – Son of Poseidon, a good kid with a teenage temper (Tenor)
Annabeth – Daughter of Athena, smarter than you (Soprano)
Grover – A Happy-go-lucky satyr, like a hippie kid with hooves (TBA)
Luke – Son of Hermes, cool camp counselor (Tenor-baritone)
Sally Jackson – Percy’s hard-working mother (Mezzo-soprano)
Mr. Brunner aka Chiron – Wise centaur, part-time Latin teacher (Tenor-baritone)
Clarisse – Tough jock girl, daughter of Ares (Mezzo-soprano)
Silena Beauregard – Daughter of Aphrodite
Katie Gardner – Daughter of Demeter
MYTHOLOGICAL BEINGS:
Mrs. Dodds – A Fury posing as a substitute algebra teacher
Minotaur – Half-man, half-bull
Mr. D aka Dionysus – God of wine, snarky camp director
The Oracle – A hippie mummy
Aunty Em aka Medusa – Avid sculptor
Echidna – Mother of monsters
Ares – God of war, rock star in leather pants
Kronos – Father of the Twelve Olympian gods, he ate some of his kids in a jealous rage, but Zeus freed his siblings from their plight and they all banded together to overthrow Kronos.
Thalia – Daughter of Zeus
Charon – Ferryperson to the Underworld
DJ Cerberus – Three-headed dog a la Daft Punk
Hades – God of the dead, moody and melodramatic
UNSUSPECTING HUMANS:
Gabe Ugliano – Percy’s foul, bean-dip loving stepfather
Greyhound Passenger 1
Greyhound Passenger 2
Train Conductor
Newscaster
Farmer
Bianca – a mysterious girl in 1930s clothes
IN THE AFTERLIFE …
James Brown
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Kurt Cobain
Janis Joplin
Vienna Boys Choir
THE MERAKI (ΜΕΡΆΚΙ):
With a name that is the Greek equivalent to the concept of Labor of Love, we will also cast a team of magic moment movers and shakers that will create special effects, like Medusa’s death and Thalia’s transformation into a tree, will portray Echoes, Statues, Greek gods during the “Campfire Song,” and enrich the world of our story with stylized movement and combat.
Audition Prep:
MONOLOGUES
For your Lightning Thief audition please prepare a one-minute monologue. Choosing the right monologue is an important part of your audition preparation. A polished monologue gives you a chance to show off your acting skills and demonstrate your connection to the production. Here are some suggestions on how to get started!
1) Familiarize yourself with the show! Read the script, listen to the music, watch samples of performances on YouTube, and thoroughly read all of the audition information, including the character descriptions, that has been provided.
2) Ask yourself: Which role(s) do I see myself in? Which role(s) do I think the directors will see me in? Consider all of the possibilities! Don’t get set on just one character as performers may be asked to cover multiple roles.
3) Choose a monologue that captures the essence of the characters that you would like to be considered for.
4) Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. Perform your monologue in front of others and ask for feedback to help you improve your audition and increase your comfort.
5) Memorization is a plus but is not required. Have fun!
We are excited to see your performance!
If you have other questions after reading this notice, you may contact The Augusta Players at (706) 826-4707 or email jrplayers@augustaplayers.org
