When Columbia High School presents "The Lightning Thief," audiences can expect to understand the motivation of the characters on stage, especially if the audience members are high-school students.

"It's a show about kids dealing with their parents' mistakes, and I think that's relatable to a lot of people," said Nevaeh Kilby, a senior who plays Grover. "I think the message speaks to a lot of people."

Columbia will present the show at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 14, through Saturday, March 16, with an additional performance at 2 p.m. on March 16. It will be performed in the high school auditorium, 901 Ironville Pike.

"The Lightning Thief" is based on the first book in the series by Rick Riordan. "It's about Greek mythology, but set in the modern day," said Eva Fanous, a junior who is a member of the lighting crew. "It's about the children of the Greek gods. They're called half-bloods because they're half human, half god. The main character is Percy Jackson, and he finds out he's a half blood and he has to go on a quest to help his father prevent a war between the gods."

The musical features several fight scenes, and the cast worked with fight coordinator Rebecca Gentry to prepare.

"There are a lot of intense scenes," explained Kaitlin Scheele, a senior who plays Annabeth. "There is a capture the flag scene that is a big fight scene."

She added that the show includes a mix of emotions on stage. "There are funny parts, but there are also tragic parts," she said. "These are 12-year-olds who are sent on a quest to save the world. It gets pretty intense. There are moments of insecurity and moments when they are ready to fight and take on the world."

Along with stage combat, the show features a variety of special effects, said Kenshin Meekins, a senior who is the sound designer.

"This is a complicated show for tech," he stated. "We're using fog and other special effects, and the lighting design and sounds we're using make the show great."

"The Lightning Thief" features a cast of 25 with a dozen crew members, and the cast members range from second-graders through high-school seniors. Many of the younger students are siblings of the high-schoolers.

Kaitlin hopes audiences will leave the show feeling a bond with the characters. "There's a least one character in the show that will speak to you," she said. "There's a connection level, whether it's their confidence or their insecurity."

And Eva expects audiences won't soon forget the musical, adding, "You will go home with at least one song stuck in your head."

Tickets for "The Lightning Thief" will be sold at the door. All seating is general admission.