The show must go on: Sound engineer steps in, plays lead role in spring musical

By Ian Wesselhoff

A fter several successful shows on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, a medical emergency Saturday prevented “The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical” lead Wesley Baumann from continuing with his performance as the titular Percy. With the rest of the Saturday show cancelled, the status of the final show on Sunday, March 8, was in up in the air. 

That’s when Ryan Merchant stepped in. 

Merchant, a senior communication major, was the sound engineer for the production. Though he had no onstage experience, he fell in love with theatre through his sound design work and would often sing along with the cast from behind the sound board. 

Director Amy Pinney and student Stage Manager and Assistant Director Hannah Zdancewicz noticed that habit, and while they were figuring out how to continue the show, they joked with Merchant that he could fill in as Percy. He agreed. 

Merchant learned the blocking on Saturday night, and the cast went through impromptu rehearsals Sunday morning. The other cast members “rallied behind Ryan,” singing along with him as he rehearsed to help him gain confidence, said Winston Tripp, interim chair of the Department of Theatre & Dance. 

With less than 24 hours total to prepare for the lead role in the play, Merchant rose to the occasion. 

“He did remarkably well, and the energy in Russell was through the roof,” Tripp said. “There was a huge group specifically cheering for Ryan because they knew what he was doing.” 

On top of his performance, Merchant still gave sound direction before and after the show, and he helped break down the band’s equipment – “Because he’s the sound guy.” 

“I'm extremely proud of our students – cast and crew – for banding together to make it work,” Pinney said. “Hannah Zdancewicz was nothing short of heroic in her efforts to support Ryan.”