Luke Castellan

Irvin was an early fan of the Percy Jackson series (since 2008), so a demigod costume had been a long time coming. One was not ready in time for the release of the first film in 2010, and no one cared enough to cosplay for the second film in 2013. In May 2010, Irvin attempted to dress up as Luke Castellan, the tortured and traitorous son of Hermes. He did a test run at a friend's birthday party, and then wore it while attending a very disappointing release event for Rick Riordan's equally disappointing The Red Pyramid. Irvin even got to ask Rick Riordan a question (What happens to grown-up halfbloods?).

The costume was laid to rest (not that there was much to it) for over four years, until an occasion warranted it. But when Theatreworks USA made a musical out of The Lightning Thief, it was time to don the orange t-shirt once more! With four more years and three dozen more costumes under his belt, Irvin revised and improved the costume (the new version is pictured). With a better wig, a proper sword, and a very convincing scar (so much so that all the mortals at work and at home thought was real), no one could miss that it was Luke. To complete the experience, Luke was accompanied by Annabeth and Percy. Many photos were taken, and a new ship set sail much to Annabeth's ire: Lukercy. There was much grabbing of swords.

The musical was perfect - everything Irvin dreamed and more. Afterwards, Irvin and his friends got to meet the cast, who were all also huge fans of the material. Parker Drown, the Luke in the musical, was extremely envious of Irvin's scar - since Parker plays about half a dozen characters, it's not feasible for him to be scarred or blond, but as a fan he obviously wanted to be. There was much mutual fanboying going on, and all of them took a truly epic group picture. After such an amazing experience, the trio of demigods planned a return the following week to catch the last evening performance. Costumed once again, they got to sit in the front row and see the cast notice them there. Afterwards, the show's creative director (whom they had met at the first outing) introduced the demigods to the writer of musical, Joe Tracz. He was a true fan of the books, and they had a great conversation about all things theater and Percy Jackson. This was followed by more fanboying with the cast, and Irvin even got his cards of Percy and Grover from The Ultimate Guide signed by their respective actors.

Luke emerged again as Irvin's fourth and final costume in a PJO cosplay day the following June. His friends were dressed as Annabeth and Thalia, finally allowing for photos of the trio pre-Camp Half-Blood. The photo shoot turned really emotional really quickly as they shot photos of Luke giving Annabeth her knife, Thalia sacrificing herself as Luke led Annabeth away, Luke and Annabeth discovering the pine tree, and then Luke and Thalia fighting as Annabeth held up the sky. The cosplayers themselves may have welled up once or twice taking those photos.

Two years later, The Lightning Thief returned to off-Broadway, so Irvin dusted off the costume. All of it - the shirt, the sword, Irvin himself - were a little battered and worse for the wear, but at this point the costume had become recognizable to the musical's producer and Annabeth actress. Now a member of the press (for Hypable), Irvin was invited to not only see the musical, but also to attend the opening night afterparty afterwards. Here is the photo album from that night, where Irvin got to meet not only the cast and producer, but also composer Rob Rokicki.