On November 2, 2022, the Cerritos High School Drama Program opened its doors to the first production of the school year: The Lightning Thief.

The Lightning Thief is a musical adaptation of the book with the same name by Rick Riordan. The musical follows Percy Jackson, a 12-year-old who just found out that he’s a demigod (or halfblood, as the demigods call themselves), has to embark on a heroic journey to find Zeus’ lightning bolt to prevent a war from breaking out between all of the Gods. Accompanied by Annabeth Chase, the daughter of Athena, and Grover Underwood, a half-man half-goat called a satyr, the trio travel all the way from New York to Los Angeles, while battling horrifying monsters and making unlikely allies. 

“It’s not a traditional show,” says director John Zamora, who has directed Mamma Mia and Working: The Musical in the past. “Every single scene is distinct, and it flows together with the music.”

Senior Susanah Maestas, who plays Annabeth Chase, has been dreaming of playing Annabeth since the musical first debuted. “I’ve always related to Annabeth ever since I read the books in 8th grade, and being her is a dream come true.”

The Lightning Thief will play for 3 more nights, with the show closing production on November 5, 2022.