New Albany-Floyd County student previews 'Percy Jackson' musical, emphasizes safety for flying effects

A student at New Albany-Floyd Co Con Sch previewed the school's production of Percy Jackson, the lightning thief musical and said she serves as both assistant director and a performer who plays Katie Gardner.

The student told the meeting that the show is based on Rick Riordan's book The Lightning Thief and is geared toward younger audiences. She described her backstage responsibilities, including operating the ZFX flying harness system and ensuring the safety of performers and stage crew.

"I play Katie Gardner," the student said, and added that her duties include "help[ing] make sure things run smoothly backstage" and managing the harnesses that allow actors to fly. She emphasized safety as a priority: "Mostly, the most important thing is safety." The student also described the production's tone and themes, saying it is "bright and colorful" and "like getting inside the mind of a teenager," and that the show explores ideas about belonging and fighting for people you care about.

She said the production creates a close-knit atmosphere among participants, calling it a family and noting the social benefits for students involved. In discussing one of her songs, she summarized a lyric theme: a character named Sally telling her son that fitting in "doesn't mean you're not special and important." The student said she is "really proud of the students, and I think that people are gonna love it."

No formal actions, votes, performance dates, ticket information, or logistical details (venue, run dates, or ticket prices) were provided in the remarks; those details were not specified in the transcript.