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Regardless of how much talent is in one place, it all goes nowhere fast without a good director. Jamey Strawn, director of this musical, helped to shine a light on the question: "Why The Lightning Thief?" He began by sharing that when the musical came out on Broadway, he loved it. As a person who enjoys various fantasy-based entertainment, this show was something that caught his eye. In fact, he said one of the primary reasons he decided on this show was because the age range of the characters fit so well with the student body.

"It is a huge book to read in middle school," he said. "I thought it would bring people– specifically families– back into the theater. I think it is the perfect 'shot in the arm' to get things back to normal, and for getting people to come back out and support the arts." He also spoke to the reality performers are now living in post-covid, in terms of health and safety. This translates to casting swings for the production; someone who covers multiple parts and must be ready to fill in at a moment's notice for any one of them.

Some swings have had to step up to fill one role completely, and others are still working tirelessly alongside their peers, prepared for anything. In an interview with cast member Zachary Farmer, I heard about his experience stepping up to fill the role of supporting character, Luke Castellan, in the show. "I was heading to class and passed Jamey in the hallway," Farmer said. "He asked if we could talk for a few minutes, and before I knew it, he was saying I would be stepping in for Luke." When I asked him to expand on this experience, he gladly elaborated. He spoke to the mixed emotions that came up during the process of stepping up to fill his first supporting character in a college show. "I was kind of stunned," he said, "but after we talked about the character and an overview of what would happen next, I became less nervous and more excited. Now I feel very ready."

Not all swings have had the same experience. Tre Taylor, a swing for the production covering a total of 15 parts, spoke with me about what things have been like from his lens. "In terms of casting, I went ahead and said 'yes' because this is something I want to do post-graduation. Getting the experience now can only help me later," he said. Being a swing is adequately described as a "no thanks" job. In other words, it is common for swings to go without receiving much, if any, credit. For whoever fills this role, life looks like an average of 3-4 separate tracks to memorize without the promise of ever seeing stage time.

"I want to be clear; this has not detoured me from wanting to pursue being a swing," Taylor explained. "It has just given me a very clear vision of what this job actually is, and where I need to improve as I move forward." We spoke about the acceptance, cooperation, and support overflowing from both the primary cast and every swing counterpart. Even those in the cast who might never set foot in front of an audience are giving their everything to make sure the show is in great hands.

Some institutions are known for casting based on only seniority. One of the show's stars, Gabby Casto, shows that our program is not one of those. Gabby is a freshman who has taken on the challenge of playing two vital roles in this production. She is first seen as Sally Jackson, Percy's mother, and next as The Oracle; the character who sets the entire plot of the show in motion. These roles in addition to ensemble work have been given to her, yet I saw clearly during our interview that she is handling the experience with grace and talent to boot. I inquired what it was like from her perspective as a freshman to walk into a brand-new program, barely knowing anyone involved in the show, with so much work to do right from the start.

"It was my first round of college auditions here, and I was hearing all this hype about people wanting to get into the show," she said. "The audition and the callback were both really just a situation where I decided to do my thing, ya know? Try my best and see what happens." Casto's mindset of bringing a "do my thing" perspective to an audition was inspiring to me. "I remember at the first rehearsal I was terrified, but everyone treated me like an equal right from the start. No one has ever made me feel inferior. It has been such a helpful and warm environment." Casto goes on to talk about her opinion on an integral part of the industry she works in.

"The core of a great performer is not just to be a good singer, actor, and dancer. It's treating everyone with respect and being a good human. It is just as important to be a good human as it is to be a good performer." This undoubtedly captures a great mindset for all performers to exist with.

I decided to save the most iconic of roles for last. How could I not sit down with the alleged lightning thief himself? Alex Simpson and I discussed what it has been like for him being Percy Jackson from the start of the process until now. He explained to me that due to the pandemic, he essentially lost the spring of his freshman year, and the entirety of his sophomore year.

"So, I'm a junior now," he began, "but as a freshman I was only ever in the Henry, our student run theater. Last year I was in Edges, so even though it was filmed I did get a bit of a steppingstone from the Henry to a Mainstage show." He went on to tell me that because of this odd covid blip in his college career, it essentially feels like he went straight from being in the Henry to getting Percy Jackson. I wanted to know what that meant to him.

"I was not nervous about the material, honestly, because I love this role. I love being Percy Jackson. It was terrifying seeing a cast of such great talent. I just didn't want to be washed out by these incredibly talented individuals playing all of the other parts." We discussed how this huge leap brought on valid and natural feelings of imposter syndrome in the early stages of being cast. Then, we got the chance to reflect on his growth through the process.

"I no longer have that fear of being washed out," he said. "It’s excitement now, because I know that this show is going to be so fun, so good, and so funny. I have the jitters, because this is the biggest role I have ever had, but it’s definitely not fear anymore."