Clear Space to present ‘The Lightning Thief’ starting May 6

Clear Space Theatre will bring "The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical,” to Rehoboth starting Friday, May 6. This two-hour musical, based on the book by Rick Riordan, received three Drama Desk Award nominations in 2017, including Outstanding Musical. It was praised for keeping true to the book’s image of Percy Jackson, and maintaining his snarky humor along with his self-deprecating, self-assured spirit.

Percy Jackson, a teenager who discovers he is a demigod, partners with his friends to search for Zeus’ missing lightning bolt to prevent a war among the gods. The show uses punk-rock music, lighting and sound effects, and creative stage design to take the already fascinating story even further. This is a musical that will surprise and entertain all ages.

David Button, Clear Space artistic director, was taken immediately when he first read the Percy Jackson books in 2020. “The books bring to life all of the magic and imagination of the Greek world, but they also bring everything into the 21st century. For outsiders, Percy Jackson is easy to identify with, and the books bring full circle the idea of readers being a hero.” Adding "The Lightning Thief" to the 2022 season was an easy choice for Button, since it brings the book’s magic to the stage with high energy, humor and great theatrical style.

The cast of "The Lightning Thief" includes familiar and new faces. Christopher Decker, who recently played Frank in “The Rocky Horror Show,” will portray Percy Jackson, and Devon Frieder plays the role of Annabeth. Dakarai Brown is new to Clear Space and will be playing Grover Underwood. Brown is a musical theatre graduate from Ithaca College and comes to Rehoboth from Annapolis, Md.

Sponsored by Jay and Vicki Allen of The Elegant Plate, "The Lightning Thief" runs for three weekends, May 6-8, 13-15 and 20-22, with Friday and Saturday shows starting at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at ClearSpaceTheatre.org or by calling 302-227-2270.  In an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19, masks are required inside the building, and no food or drink is allowed inside the theater.

Clear Space Theatre is a nonprofit regional organization serving residents and visitors to Southern Delaware since 2004. Clear Space performs 13 shows during its season and has year-round performing arts programs for children and adults. Clear Space is located at 20 Baltimore Ave., Rehoboth Beach.