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| Tanya Freemont || [[Draco Malfoy]] || style="background:lightgrey;"| &nbsp; || Draco Malfoy || Taz, Buggette Buggington, Ensemble || [[James Gordon (comics)|Commissioner Gordon]], [[Calendar Man]], Evil King Arthur, [[Green Arrow]] || Draco Malfoy<ref name="hypableAVP3Darticle"></ref>
| Tanya Freemont || [[Draco Malfoy]] || [cameo] || Draco Malfoy || Taz, Buggette Buggington, Ensemble || [[James Gordon (comics)|Commissioner Gordon]], [[Calendar Man]], Evil King Arthur, [[Green Arrow]] || Draco Malfoy<ref name="hypableAVP3Darticle"></ref>
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Revision as of 23:00, 15 October 2012

StarKid Productions
Formation2009 (2009)
TypeCommunity theatre
PurposeTheatrical productions
Location
Official language
English
AffiliationsUniversity of Michigan, Basement Arts
Websitewww.teamstarkid.com

StarKid Productions, also known as Team StarKid, is a media and musical theatre production company founded in 2009 by Darren Criss, Brian Holden, Matt Lang, and Nick Lang. The founders, and the majority of the members, are former students from the University of Michigan's School of Music, Theatre & Dance. The troupe is now based in Chicago, Illinois.

History

Members of StarKid Productions met at the University of Michigan's School of Music, Theater and Dance, collaborating on original plays through Basement Arts, the university's student-run theater organization. Fond of staging parody fantasy stories such as The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, they decided in April 2009 to produce a musical parody of Harry Potter. After uploading the videos of the play on YouTube for friends and family, the videos went viral, much to their surprise, and they quickly garnered a worldwide cult following. As a result of the viral success, theater students Darren Criss and Brian Holden, along with brothers Matt and Nick Lang, created the musical theater company StarKid Productions. They named their company after a quote, taken from a scene in A Very Potter Musical, where Draco Malfoy (portrayed by Lauren Lopez) mocks Harry Potter.

StarKid Productions has evolved into a media company, not only producing musical theater productions, but also soundtrack albums, web-series, books, and concert tours. They launched their YouTube channel, StarKidPotter, on June 19, 2009, and, since then, their combined productions have been viewed more than 100 million times.[1][2][3]

Musical theater productions

A Very Potter Musical

A Very Potter Musical

Main article: A Very Potter Musical

Written by: Matt Lang, Nick Lang, and Brian Holden
Music and lyrics by: A.J. Holmes and Darren Criss
Date: April 2009
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Plot: Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, dealing with the trials and tribulations of adolescence, his participation in the House Cup Championship, and the return of the dark wizard Lord Voldemort to power. The story follows years 1, 4, 6, and 7 of the Harry Potter books, though it is set during their second year.
Notes: The musical was named one of "The 10 Best Viral Videos of 2009" by Entertainment Weekly.[4]

Me and My Dick

Me and My Dick

Main article: Me and My Dick

Written by: Matt Lang, Nick Lang, Eric Kahn Gale and Brian Holden
Music and lyrics by: A.J. Holmes, Carlos Valdes and Darren Criss
Date: October 2009
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Plot: A coming-of-age story about high school adolescents and their pursuit of love.
Notes: The cast album of the production is the first student-produced college musical's cast recording to debut on a Billboard chart. It debuted at #11 on Billboard's Top Cast Albums Chart.[5]

A Very Potter Sequel

A Very Potter Sequel

Main article: A Very Potter Sequel

Written by: Matt Lang, Nick Lang, and Brian Holden
Music and lyrics by: Darren Criss
Date: May 2010
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Plot: A Very Potter Sequel picks up where A Very Potter Musical left off with Lord Voldemort destroyed. Lucius Malfoy then decides to go back in time to Harry Potter's first year at Hogwarts to destroy him before he becomes a bigger threat than he already is. It follows years 1, 3, and 5 of the Harry Potter books, and it is set during Harry's first year at Hogwarts.
Notes: The sequel made the "What's Hot for the Week" list in August 2010 on EW.com.[6] Many of the songs from the sequel were released on A Very StarKid Album, which peaked at #14 on the iTunes Pop Charts.[7] A Very Potter Sequel was nominated for a Mashable Award for "Best Web Video".[8]

Starship

Starship

Main article: Starship (musical)

Written by: Matt Lang, Nick Lang, Brian Holden, and Joe Walker
Music and lyrics by: Darren Criss
Date: February 2011
Location: Chicago, IL
Plot: Starship is about an alien planet inhabited by giant insects, called Bug-World. One of these insects, named Bug, comes across a crashed human starship and becomes infatuated with the idea of becoming a Starship Ranger, and he gets his chance when a group of humans land on Bug-World in an attempt to colonize the planet.
Notes: All shows sold out. Soundtrack album debuted at #1 on Billboard Top Cast Albums. Play won Broadway World (Chicago Awards) Best New Work / New Adaptation Award.[9]

Holy Musical B@man!

Holy Musical B@man!

Main article: Holy Musical B@man!

Written by: Matt Lang and Nick Lang
Music and lyrics by: Nick Gage and Scott Lamps
Date: March 2012
Location: Chicago, IL
Plot: Holy Musical B@man! is based upon DC Universe's Batman. After the brutal murder of his parents, Bruce Wayne commits his life to waging a one man war on crime. But when he realises that life isn't fun when you're alone, he sets out to find a super friend.
Notes: Holy Musical B@man! soundtrack was released, along with its companion album, That's What I Call StarKid! Volume 2, through Bandcamp and iTunes.[10][11]

A Very Potter 3D: A Very Potter Senior Year

Written by: Matt Lang, Nick Lang, and Brian Holden
Music and lyrics by: A.J. Holmes, Clark Baxtresser, Pierce Siebers, Nick Lang, Matt Lang, and Darren Criss
Date: August 11, 2012
Location: LeakyCon, Chicago, IL
Plot: TBA
Notes: StarKid presented a staged reading of the play. It featured nearly all of the StarKid actors and actresses.

Concert tours

The SPACE Tour

The SPACE Tour

Main article: The SPACE Tour

On September 27, 2011, StarKid Productions announced their first national concert tour: "The SPACE (StarKid Precarious Auditory Concert Experience) Tour". The group performed at 21 stops in 15 cites. The tour began on November 4, 2011 in Ann Arbor, Michigan and ended on November 27, 2011 in New York City. The tour featured songs performed in all their productions and the StarKids who participated were Lauren Lopez, Joey Richter, Joe Walker, Brian Holden, Dylan Saunders, Jaime Lyn Beatty and Meredith Stepien. Darren Criss performed in the Boston and New York shows. Elona Finlay appeared at the Canada shows.[12]

File:Apocalyptour.png
Apocalyptour

Apocalyptour

Main article: Apocalyptour

On April 9, 2012, StarKid Productions announced their second national tour: "Apocalyptour"; titled in reference to the 2012 phenomenon.[13] The tour began in Chicago on May 9, 2012, and finished with a sold-out show at the Roseland Ballroom in New York City on June 10, 2012.[14]

Web series

Little White Lie

In 2007, members including Matt Lang, Nick Lang, Eric Kahn Gale, Brian Holden, Darren Criss, Lauren Lopez, Elona Finlay, Chris Allen, Meredith Stepien, and Jim Povolo produced an online video series called Little White Lie. It was released in 2009 on StarKid's YouTube channel.[15] Despite the series ending in a cliffhanger, StarKid members have confirmed at various events that there will be no season 2, as it was an expensive production and the actors who took part in it are scattered all over the country.

Books

The Bully Book

On June 7, 2011, Starkid Productions released a novel named The Bully Book, written by Eric Kahn Gale with illustrations by Matt and Nick Lang.[16] It was originally only available as an e-book, but later it was announced that it would be re-released in hardcover on December 26, 2012. Gale mentioned in an interview that it takes place in the same universe as Little White Lie and the sequel will tie into the series. [citation needed]

Principal cast and productions

Cast member Production
Little White Lie
(2007) 		A Very Potter Musical
(2009)[17] 		Me and My Dick
(2009)[18] 		A Very Potter Sequel
(2010)[19] 		Starship
(2011)[20] 		Holy Musical B@man!
(2012)[21] 		A Very Potter 3D: A Very Potter Senior Year
(2012)
Nico Ager   Evil Sherlock Holmes, Sluggers, Citizen, Storekeeper, Plastic Man TBA
Julia Albain   Vincent Crabbe   Vincent Crabbe, Percy Weasley, Candy Lady Specs, Ensemble Vicki Vale, Evil Mother Goose, Zatanna, Martha Wayne TBA
Chris Allen Duder Reese   [Cameo] Alfred/Lucius Fox/O'Malley/Qwang Li/Spider-Man, Two-Face, Gangster TBA
Jaime Lyn Beatty   Ginny Weasley Sally Rita Skeeter, Ginny Weasley Neato Mosquito, Ensemble Poison Ivy, Candy, Gangster, The Flash TBA
Jeff Blim   Sweet Tooth, Aquaman, Joe Chill TBA
Tyler Brunsman   Cedric Diggory, Cornelius Fudge   Lucius Malfoy [Cameo]   TBA
Richard Campbell   Neville Longbottom Rick, The Kid That Hates Joey Neville Longbottom, Past Hermione [Cameo]   Neville Longbottom[22]
Britney Coleman   Bellatrix Lestrange   Dean Thomas [Cameo]   TBA
Brant Cox   Roach, Ensemble   TBA
Darren Criss Toby Phillips Harry Potter [Cameo] Harry Potter   Harry Potter[22]
Denise Donovan   February, Ensemble Catwoman, Pizza Guy, Black Canary TBA
Corey Dorris   Big T Yaxley   TBA
Elona Finlay Sami Reese   TBA
Arielle Goldman   Weenie, Ensemble Lily Potter, Luna Lovegood, Hedwig, Fred Weasley [Cameo]   TBA
Ali Gordon   Vanessa, Ensemble  
Bonnie Gruesen   Hermione Granger   Hermione Granger  
Brian Holden Zack   Flopsy, Ensemble Remus Lupin Junior, Veeto Mosquito, Ensemble Superman/Clark Kent, Evil Huckleberry Finn TBA
A.J. Holmes   Joey's Heart   [Cameo]   TBA
Matt Lang [Cameo]  
Nick Lang Kevin Bushwald   Arthur Weasley, Sorty, Scarfy, Peter Pettigrew The Caller Bug, Mister Bug, Ensemble Robin, Barack Obama, Mobster TBA
Lauren Lopez Tanya Freemont Draco Malfoy [cameo] Draco Malfoy Taz, Buggette Buggington, Ensemble Commissioner Gordon, Calendar Man, Evil King Arthur, Green Arrow Draco Malfoy[22]
Evanna Lynch   Luna Lovegood[22]
Devin Lytle   Cho Chang Miss Cooter Cho Chang, Charlie Weasley [Cameo]   TBA
Lily Marks   Pansy Parkinson, Molly Weasley Sally's Heart, High Council Pussy Molly Weasley [Cameo]   TBA
Nicholas Joseph Strauss-Matathia   The Old Snatch Sirius Black [Cameo] Penguin, Police Chief O'Hara, Thomas Wayne, Mr. Mxyzptlk, Captain Marvel TBA
Alle-Faye Monka   Tiffany, Ensemble   TBA
Joe Moses   Severus Snape Rick's Dick Severus Snape Krayonder, Ensemble   TBA
Jim Povolo Jim Povolo Gregory Goyle, Rumbleroar   Gregory Goyle, Firenze, Bill Weasley, Past Draco The Overqueen, Sweetheart Mosquito, Ensemble Mr. Freeze, Matches, Hawkman, Photoshop Downloader, Joe TBA
Joey Richter   Ron Weasley Joey Richter Ron Weasley Bug   Ron Weasley[22]
Brian Rosenthal   Quirinus Quirrell   Seamus Finnigan, James Potter, Past Ron, King's Cross Person [Cameo]   TBA
Meredith Stepien Meredith   Mega-Girl, Ensemble The Riddler, Rachel Dawes, TGI Fridays Worker, Specs, Chase Meridian, Wonder Woman, Hostage Hermione Granger[22]
Dylan Saunders   Albus Dumbledore   Albus Dumbledore Tootsie Noodles, Pincer, Ensemble Green Lantern, Narrator, Mobster, Scarecrow, Construction Worker, Egghead, Gob TBA
Sango Tajima   Lavender Brown   Lavender Brown, George Weasley   TBA
Joe Walker   Lord Voldemort Dick Dolores Umbridge Up, Ensemble Batman, Chilly Willy TBA

Principal crew

Role Production
Little White Lie A Very Potter Musical[17] Me and My Dick[18] A Very Potter Sequel[19] Starship[20] Holy Musical B@man![21]
Director Eric Kahn Gale Matt Lang
Assistant Director Nick Lang
Brian Holden 		Nick Lang Nick Lang
Brian Holden
Eric Kahn Gale 		Nick Lang
Writer Chris Allen
Eric Kahn Gale
Matt Lang
Nick Lang 		Matt Lang
Nick Lang
Brian Holden 		Matt Lang
Nick Lang
Brian Holden
Eric Kahn Gale 		Matt Lang
Nick Lang
Brian Holden 		Matt Lang
Nick Lang
Brian Holden
Joe Walker 		Matt Lang
Nick Lang
Music Chuck Criss
Darren Criss
Mark Swiderski 		Darren Criss
A.J. Holmes 		A.J. Holmes
Carlos Valdes
Darren Criss 		Darren Criss Nick Gage
Scott Lamps
Choreographer   Britney Coleman Alle-Faye Monka James Tolbert Denise Donovan Katie Spelman
Scenic Designer   Lisa Griebel Corey Lubowich
Costume Designer   Marguerite Woodward Brian Holden
Matt Lang
Nick Lang 		Corey Lubowich June Saito
Lighting Designer   Mary Clare Blake-Booth Max Kaufman Sarah Petty

Soundtrack albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Notes
Billboard Top Albums Billboard Top Cast Albums
[5][7][23][24] 		Billboard Top Compilation Albums
[23]
Little White Lie[25] — — —
A Very Potter Musical[25]
  • Released: September 9, 2009
  • Formats: Digital download
 N/A N/A N/A Made only available for free on Bandcamp, therefore not eligible for Billboard chart listings.
Me and My Dick (A New Musical)[5][7][25]
  • Released: January 6, 2010
  • Formats: Digital download
 — 11 — Album is the first ever student-produced college musical to debut on a Billboard chart.[5]
A Very StarKid Album[7]
  • Released: July 22, 2010
  • Formats: Digital download
 — — 19
A Very Potter Sequel[25]
  • Released: July 31, 2010
  • Formats: Digital download
 N/A N/A N/A Made only available for free on Bandcamp, therefore not eligible for Billboard chart listings.
Starship
  • Released: April 30, 2011
  • Formats: Digital download, Compact disc
 134 1 —
The SPACE Tour[24]
  • Released: March 13, 2012
  • Formats: Digital download, Compact disc
 — 2 —
That's What I Call StarKid! Volume 2
  • Released: April 13, 2012
  • Formats: Digital download
 — — —
Holy Musical B@man!
  • Released: April 13, 2012
  • Formats: Digital download
 N/A N/A N/A Made only available for free on Bandcamp, therefore not eligible for Billboard chart listings.

Concerts and conventions

Year Event Location Notes
2011 DigiTour Illinois & Kansas StarKid members took part in the DigiTour, a musical tour for musicians of YouTube.[26]
2011 LeakyCon Orlando, Florida StarKid sang a selection of songs from both A Very Potter Musical and A Very Potter Sequel.[27]
2011 Funtastic Slamaganza Chicago, Illinois Charity show for Snow City Arts which provides arts education to hospitalized children.[28]
2012 MidWinter Gaming Convention Milwaukee, Wisconsin StarKid members held a Q & A panel and screened StarKid shows.[29]
2012 Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo Chicago, Illinois StarKid held a Q & A panel, dressed in full costume from Holy Musical B@man.[30] Moderated by Brian Rosenthal, with special guest appearance by Sean Astin as "Dylan Saunders."
2012 Ascendio Orlando, Florida A Harry Potter convention. StarKid held a Q & A with viewings of their shows.[31]
2012 LeakyCon Chicago, Illinois StarKid presented a staged reading of A Very Potter 3D: A Very Potter Senior Year, concluding their trilogy of Harry Potter musicals. The show included nearly every member of Team StarKid.
2012 Ringcon Bonn, Germany Eight members of Team Starkid held two Q&A panels at Ringcon 2012 at the Maritim hotel in Bonn. At the closing ceremony, they performed an a capella version of "Somebody's Buddy", a song from "Holy Musical B@man", and hinted at a possible visit at Ringcon 2013.[32]

References

  1. ^ "StarKid Productions". YouTube. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
  2. ^ "Treasures of the Past: Gollum". StarKid Productions. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  3. ^ Borrelli, Christopher (November 1, 2011). "What exactly is Team StarKid?". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
  4. ^ Lyons, Margaret (December 29, 2009). "The 10 Best Viral Videos of 2009". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  5. ^ a b c d Caulfield, Keith (March 18, 2010). "'My Dick' Rises to Become First Charting Student Musical". Billboard. Retrieved July 22, 2011. Cite error: The named reference "Billboard" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  6. ^ "What's Hot for the Week". Entertainment Weekly. August 8, 2010. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  7. ^ a b c d Milam, Whitney (July 24, 2010). "A Very Potter Musical's Team StarKid Premieres Sequel, Tops Glee and Gaga on iTunes, and Talks Future Projects". Hollywood News. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  8. ^ Lavrusik, Vadim (December 1, 2010). "Mashable Awards: Announcing the Full List of Finalists". Mashable. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
  9. ^ Thompson, Paul. "2011 BroadwayWorld Chicago Award Winners". Broadway World. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
  10. ^ http://teamstarkid.bandcamp.com/
  11. ^ "That What I Call StarKid! Volume2". StarKid Productions. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  12. ^ "TOUR". StarKid Productions. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
  13. ^ StarKid Productions (April 9, 2012). "Holy Musical B@man! and Apocalyptour Announcement 4.9.12". YouTube. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
  14. ^ "Apocalyptour". StarKid Productions. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
  15. ^ StarKid Productions (July 11, 2009). "StarKid Introduces: Little White Lie". YouTube. Retrieved 18 January 2012.
  16. ^ "The Bully Book". StarKid Productions. Retrieved 12 June 2012.
  17. ^ a b "Home Page for 'A Very Potter Musical'". StarKid Productions. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
  18. ^ a b "Home Page for 'Me and My Dick'". StarKid Productions. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
  19. ^ a b "Home Page for 'A Very Potter Sequel'". StarKid Productions. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
  20. ^ a b "Home Page for 'Starship'". StarKid Productions. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
  21. ^ a b "Home Page for 'Holy Musical B@man!'". StarKid Productions. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
  22. ^ a b c d e f http://www.hypable.com/2012/08/13/team-starkid-premieres-a-very-potter-senior-year-what-we-can-tell-you/
  23. ^ a b Donahue, Ann (13 November 2010). "'Glee' Newcomer Darren Criss Reflects on His 'Dream' Week". Billboard. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
  24. ^ a b Caulfield, Keith (March 22, 2012). "StarKid's 'Space' Sets Sail, Debuts at No. 2 on Cast Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved March 23, 2012.
  25. ^ a b c d Austrone, Xavier (November 22, 2010). "StarKid Interview: Starship Coverage & A VERY POTTER THREEQUEL!?". Wizarding Life. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
  26. ^ "StarKid joins the Digitour". Deviant Art. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  27. ^ Votta, Rae (July 20, 2011). "Watch Team Starkid 'Get Back To Hogwarts' At LeakyCon". The Huffington Post. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
  28. ^ "Snow City Arts". Snow City Arts Charity. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  29. ^ "Team StarKid at the MidWinter Gaming Convention". www.wherevent.com. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  30. ^ http://www.teamstarkid.com/c2e2info.html
  31. ^ "Accio Team StarKid Fans!". Asciendo 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
  32. ^ "Snow City Arts". Visual Results. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
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