Broadway Training Center of Westchester to Present ‘The Lightning Thief’ April 1-3 in Hastings-on-Hudson
Production Will Feature BTC’s Award-Winning Senior Ensemble (Grades 9-12) from Throughout Westchester, Connecticut and the Bronx
HASTINGS-ON-HUDSON, NY, March 7, 2022 – Broadway Training Center of Westchester (BTC), one of the region’s premier performing arts schools, will present The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical April 1 through April 3 at Hastings High School in Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y. The show will feature BTC’s award-winning Senior Ensemble consisting of advanced students (grades 9-12) from throughout Westchester, southern Connecticut and the Bronx.
Based on the best-selling Disney-Hyperion novel by Rick Riordan, The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical is the story of teenager Percy Jackson who discovers that he’s a demigod. He embarks on an epic journey with friends to find Zeus’ missing lightning bolt and prevent a war between the Greek gods.
Theatreworks USA initially introduced the show in New York City as a one-hour musical at the Lucille Lortel Theatre off-Broadway. After a national tour, an expanded version of the show returned to the Lucille Lortel Theatre in 2017 with a new score and further developed script before embarking on a second national tour in 2019. The Lightning Thief officially opened on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre in October 2019 and played a limited run, closing in early 2020. The show was nominated for three 2017 Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Musical.
“We’re extremely excited to bring this fun, high-energy show to Westchester,” said Jason Brantman, co-artistic director of the not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization. “It’s a magical story meant to teach our children, and us, the importance of accepting one’s identity and the power of friendship,” added Fiona Santos, musical director and fellow artistic director of Broadway Training Center.
Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter wrote that it “provides an excellent if irreverent introduction to Greek mythology that just might persuade some kids to dig deeper.” The Chicago Tribune described it as “One foot in Harry Potter and another in Dear Evan Hansen,” and Charles Isherwood of Broadway News raved “a thoroughly endearing family-friendly musical.”
With a faculty comprised of working professionals who have performed on Broadway and other top venues, BTC is well known for its high-quality productions and high-impact youth education work. The performance program, Ensemble, is BTC’s most intensive offering, requiring an entrance interview and placement audition. Providing conservatory-style training in a highly nurturing and professional environment, it involves a rigorous rehearsal schedule, plus a yearlong commitment to technique courses in two of the three core disciplines of acting, dance or voice.
The school and its students have won over 90 National Youth Arts Awards, including Outstanding Ensemble for 14 consecutive years. Westchester Magazine has lauded BTC theater classes as “the best in Southern Westchester.” Westchester Family has named it “Best Children’s Theater Company,” and BroadwayWorld dubbed BTC “the Best Dance Studio of the Decade” in Westchester and Rockland counties.
Arts Editors and Reporters: Please call 914-478-7065 to arrange for press passes or an interview with one of the artistic directors. Additional photos and video available on request.
ABOUT THE PERFORMANCES
Broadway Training Center of Westchester presents “The Lightning Thief”
Book by Joe Tracz
Music & Lyrics by Rob Rokicki
Adapted from the book The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Directed by Jason Brantman and Fiona Santos
Performed by the B
TC Senior Ensemble
Rated PG. Running time: 2 hours 15 minutes, including intermission
WHERE:
Hasting High School
1 Mt. Hope Blvd.
Hastings-on-Hudson, NY 10706
WHEN:
Friday. April 1 at 7:00 pm
Saturday, April 2 at 7:00 pm
Sunday, April 3 at 3:00 pm
TICKETS:
$22 adults, $18 students and seniors
www.BroadwayTraining.com/shows
VACCINATION & MASK POLICY:
Please note that government mandates, venue protocols, and event requirements are subject to change. Be sure to check the ticketing website for the latest information on this production’s COVID protocols.
ABOUT BROADWAY TRAINING CENTER:
Based in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, Broadway Training Center of Westchester is a premier performing arts school that provides year-long training programs in acting, voice, dance and performance ensembles for grades K-12 and adults. Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, BTC is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. For more information about its Youth, Teen and Adult Enrichmentprograms, please visit www.BroadwayTraining.com or call 914-478-7065.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Heather LoSchiavo
Managing Director
914-478-7065
Development@BroadwayTraining.com
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“Best Theatre Classes in Southern Westchester”- Westchester Magazine
About Broadway Training Center of Westchester
Broadway Training Center of Westchester is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Our mission is to inspire, nurture, challenge, amaze, educate and empower artists and audiences. At BTC, we see theatre as a vehicle for personal development. We strive to offer the most professional training in the most nurturing environment to bring out the best qualities of an individual: honesty, responsibility, commitment, collaboration, imagination, and generosity. Our goal is to create a place where each student can enter without fear, and be welcomed with love from everyone within. As teaching artists, we strive to help raise a generation who understands that we all have responsibility to each other, and that we can only succeed together. Broadway Training Center of Westchester was recently awarded Best Theatre Classes in Southern Westchester by Westchester Magazine. This premier performing arts school provides year-long training programs in Acting, Voice, Dance, and Performance Ensembles for grades K-12 and adults. No experience is necessary at any age; just a desire to learn, work hard, and have fun in the process. Our faculty is comprised of established industry professionals who focus on the joy of accomplishment and the enrichment of personal expression through classroom and performance work. We offer classes 6 days a week throughout the school year and summer performing arts programs.