North Bay theatre students putting on musical production of Percy Jackson

North students put on Percy Jackson musical A group of musical theatre kids in North Bay are set to perform in 'The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical.'

Musical theatre students from across North Bay and the surrounding area are ready to showcase how weeks of hard work pays off as they prepare to perform ‘The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical.'

The production is being put on through the Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board’s Summer Challenge program.

Hoping to catch lightning in a bottle, David Dunn will be wielding the sword of Percy Jackson in the musical based on the popular book of the same name written by Rick Riordan.

It’s Dunn’s first time participating in the Summer Challenge program.

"It’s been absolutely incredible being able to meet so many amazing people," he said. "There are so many people here that have made me happy."

Based on Greek mythology, the musical follows the titular teenager who struggles with dyslexia and ADHD as he discovers his new demi-god powers and embarks on a destiny he doesn’t want while monsters follow his trail.

When it came to choosing which show to put on this year, the team that oversees the Summer Challenge program had this particular show at the top of their list because it's relatable to today’s youth.

"It’s all about not really fitting in and finding the people who don’t fit in as well," the musical’s choreographer Katie Caliciuri said.

"It celebrates the differences that everybody has."

Each summer, the musical theatre program brings students from Grades 6 to 12 from all of the school boards together. The challenge is that the young performers have a little more than two months to memorize all their lines, song lyrics and stage directions.

"It’s so nice to see the dedication of these kids. They show up every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday while they’re in school, while they’re doing exams," said Caliciuri.

The musical will use elements of rock 'n' roll music with an 'electric soundtrack.'

Joe Tracz adapted the stage play from Riordan's best-selling book -- which is the first in the Percy Jackson series -- and features an original rock score by Rob Rokicki.

"We’ve been going so fast for this show and we’re so prepared," said Willow Walters, who is playing a friend of Percy's named Annabeth.

"This past week, we’ve been just going over nit-picky things."

This year's summer musical is one of the biggest productions in the history of the Summer Challenge with close to 60 cast and 15 crew members.

"We have kids coming in from out of town who have a nice long drive in every day and every night," Caliciuri said.

The Summer Challenge program has been running for more than 40 years.

Through the years, hundreds of students have taken part.

And it’s the friendships made and the theatre experience that brings them back.

"It’s a great way to get into theatre and meet a lot of great people and have amazing experiences,” said Bryce Millard, who is playing another of Percy's friends named Grover.

The cast and crew will put on three shows in the Bishop Carter Auditorium at St. Joseph-Scollard Hall on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Tickets will be available at the door, at Creative Learning and in the front office of St. Joseph-Scollard Hall.

The doors will open each night at 6 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m.