Liam D. on bringing Percy Jackson to life

Grade 10 student Liam D. is about to step into the shoes of one of fiction’s most famous sixth graders.

As the lead in CIS’s upcoming production of The Lightning Thief: A Percy Jackson Musical, Liam will take on the role of Percy Jackson. He will bring his own sense of humour to the legendary demigod. We caught up with Liam to hear how he landed the role, what it has been like preparing for the show, and what he has discovered along the way.

What was your reaction when you found out you got the role of Percy Jackson?

I was quite excited and surprised when I first found out I got Percy. I was encouraged to audition by my family, and from there I was drawn to Percy’s audition song as it seemed like fun to try out.

Since then, preparing for the role has meant plenty of practising songs, memorising lyrics and lines, and, of course, remembering all the blocking. “There are a lot of things to memorise,” Liam says.

Percy is a character that many people already know and love. How are you making the role your own?

It is an approach that comes naturally to Liam. Like Percy, he finds that humour can sometimes be a way of deflecting from more serious conversations. “Percy’s use of jokes to deflect serious topics of conversation is something I can relate to,” he says.

What has been the most challenging part of playing Percy?

For Liam, the biggest challenge is playing a character much younger than himself.

“The most challenging part of this role is that I am a 16-year-old trying to play a sixth grader,” he says.

Beyond stepping into Percy’s character, Liam has also had the chance to experience the production from a new perspective. Having always wondered what was behind the David Foster Theatre curtain, he says, “now I know.”

One moment that has stood out was the cast’s first reading of the script, which helped him see just how far the production has come since those early rehearsals.

What is one thing you’ll take away from being part of this production?

For Liam, one of the biggest lessons has been the importance of working together to tell a story.

“The main takeaway I have from this show is learning how to collaborate to tell a story or convey a message, which I deem a useful skill to have in life.”

While the audience may see the performers on stage, Liam hopes they also recognise the many people who help bring a musical together. “Oftentimes I think it can be easy to overlook other roles that partake in the production of a musical, and they deserve as much credit as anyone else.”
When the curtain goes up, Liam is looking forward to sharing the production with the CIS community. “We are excited to show the CIS community the musical, and we hope everyone enjoys the show.”

Catch Liam and the CIS cast in The Lightning Thief: A Percy Jackson Musical, running 19-21 November at the David Foster Theatre.