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StarKid Productions

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StarKid Productions
Formation2009 (2009)
TypeCommunity Theater
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, former theater students from the University of Michigan.[1] The troupe is now based in Chicago, Illinois.[1]

History

Prior to officially forming StarKid Productions in 2009, a number of future members produced and appeared in original plays and a web-series at The University of Michigan's School of Music, Theatre & Dance.

The name "StarKid" comes from a line in the group's first production, A Very Potter Musical, said by Lauren Lopez while portraying Draco Malfoy.[2]

StarKid launched their YouTube channel, StarKidPotter, on June 19, 2009. Since then, their combined productions have been viewed more than 100 million times.[3]

Musical theater productions

A Very Potter Musical

Main article: A Very Potter Musical

StarKid Productions first performed their show "Harry Potter, The Musical" on April 9–11, 2009 at the Walgreen Drama Center at the University of Michigan.[4] To avoid copyright infringement and a potential lawsuit from Warner Bros., the troupe decided to later change the name of its production to A Very Potter Musical.[5] StarKid Productions joined YouTube under the username StarKidPotter on June 19, 2009,[3] and uploaded the show as A Very Potter Musical on July 5, 2009. This musical parody follows years 1, 4, 6, and 7 of the Harry Potter books, though it is set during their second year. The musical was named one of "The 10 Best Viral Videos of 2009" by Entertainment Weekly.[6]

Me and My Dick

Main article: Me and My Dick

StarKid Productions performed and recorded a second musical in the fall of 2009, a coming-of-age story entitled Me and My Dick. It is written by Matt Lang, Nick Lang, Brian Holden, and Eric Kahn Gale, with music and lyrics by A.J. Holmes, Carlos Valdes, and Darren Criss. 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.[7]

A Very Potter Sequel

Main article: A Very Potter Sequel

StarKid Productions produced a second musical about Harry Potter named A Very Potter Sequel.[8] It was performed at the Walgreen Drama Center on May 14–16, 2010. The video-recording of the show premiered at the Harry Potter Fan Conference Infinitus on July 17, 2010 in Orlando, Florida and was subsequently released on YouTube on July 22.[9] It follows years 1, 3, and 5 of the Harry Potter books, and it is set during Harry's first year at Hogwarts. The sequel made the "What's Hot for the Week" list in August 2010 on EW.com.[10] Many of the songs from the sequel were released on A Very StarKid Album, which peaked at #14 on the iTunes Pop Charts.[8] A Very Potter Sequel was nominated for a Mashable Award for "Best Web Video".[11]

Starship

Main article: Starship (musical)

On November 1, 2010, StarKid Productions announced their new musical, titled Starship,[12] about a planet of large bugs where the lead character, Bug, portrayed by Joey Richter, finds a human starship and wants to become a Starship Ranger.[12] The sold-out shows were performed in Chicago from February 11, 2011 to February 22, 2011. It was released on YouTube on April 30, 2011, and premiered in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

Holy Musical B@man!

Main article: Holy Musical B@man! (musical)

Holy Musical B@man! is a parody musical based upon DC Universe's Batman, and was performed in Chicago at the Hoover-Leppen Theatre on March 22-25, 2012.[13] It was released on YouTube on April 13, 2012.[14]

To allow YouTube viewers a chance to watch the musical spoiler free, details of the musical have been kept secret by StarKid; with live audience members made to sign legal documents before the show to ensure no details would leak into the general public.[15] Two songs on the Holy Musical B@man soundtrack were made available on their Bandcamp account prior to the release of the play on YouTube.[16]

Concerts

LeakyCon

In July 2011, Starkid Productions performed at LeakyCon in Orlando, Florida. They sang a selection of songs from both A Very Potter Musical and A Very Potter Sequel.[17] StarKid is scheduled to return to LeakyCon 2012.[18]

Funtastic Slamaganza

On August 27 and 28, 2011, StarKid Productions performed in the "Funtastic Slamaganza" show at the Center on Halsted in Chicago. The proceeds of the Slamaganza went to a local Chicago charity called Snow City Arts which provides arts education to hospitalized children.[19] The show included performances from Jim and the Povolos, Matt the Magnificent and Corey Lubowich, Joe Walker's Clown routines, Meredith Stepien's stand-up comedy, songs from the StarKid Production shows and more.

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. 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.[20] Tyler Brunsman, Britney Coleman, Corey Dorris and Elona Finlay made surprise appearances throughout the tour.

A DVD based around the tour was shot, edited & directed by Liam White (another University of Michigan graduate). It was released March 24, 2012 and includes behind the scenes footage and footage from their actual concert.[21][22] A live album of one of the New York shows was released on iTunes on March 13, 2012.[21]

Apocalyptour

Main article: Apocalyptour

On April 9, 2012, StarKid announced their second national tour: "Apocalyptour"; titled in reference to the 2012 phenomenon.[14] The tour begins in Chicago on May 9, 2012, and will finish in New York City on June 10, 2012.[23]

C2E2

Team Starkid attended C2E2, Saturday, April 14, 2012. They signed autographs in full costume from Holy Musical B@man and held a Q&A panel.[24]

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.[25] Despite the series ending in a cliffhanger, no new episodes are planned to be made.

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. 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]

Future projects

StarKid has stated that they are working on a third Harry Potter musical, tentatively titled A Very Potter Senior Year, or "A Very Potter Threequel". Darren Criss will reportedly reprise his role as Harry Potter, yet, due to his busy schedule and scheduling conflicts with other StarKids, they are trying to find the time to make it.[26] At the Midwinter Gaming Convention in January of 2012 member Matt Lang, director of all StarKid Musicals to date, stated that if the show was not performed by the end of 2012, they would put the script online and leave it for someone else to finish and produce.[citation needed]


Principal cast and productions

Cast member Production
Little White Lie
(2007) 		A Very Potter Musical
(2009)[27] 		Me and My Dick
(2009)[28] 		A Very Potter Sequel
(2010)[9] 		Starship
(2011)[29] 		Holy Musical B@man!
(2012)[30]
Nico Ager   Sherlock Holmes, Sluggers, Citizen, Storekeeper
Julia Albain   Vincent Crabbe   Vincent Crabbe, Percy Weasley, Candy Lady Specs, Ensemble Vicki Vale, Evil Mother Goose,Martha Wayne
Chris Allen Duder Reese   [Cameo] Alfred/Lucius Fox/O'Malley/Qwang Li/Spider-Man, Two-Face, Gangster
Jaime Lyn Beatty   Ginny Weasley Sally Rita Skeeter, Ginny Weasley Neato Mosquito, Ensemble Poison Ivy, Candy, Gangster
Jeff Blim   Sweet Tooth, Aquaman, Joe Chill
Tyler Brunsman   Cedric Diggory, Cornelius Fudge   Lucius Malfoy [Cameo]  
Richard Campbell   Neville Longbottom Rick, The Kid That Hates Joey Neville Longbottom, Past Hermione [Cameo]  
Britney Coleman   Bellatrix Lestrange   Dean Thomas [Cameo]  
Brant Cox   Roach, Ensemble  
Darren Criss Toby Phillips Harry Potter [Cameo] Harry Potter  
Denise Donovan   February, Ensemble Catwoman, Pizza Guy
Corey Dorris   Big T Yaxley  
Elona Finlay Sami Reese  
Arielle Goldman   Weenie, Ensemble Lily Potter, Luna Lovegood, Hedwig, Fred Weasley [Cameo]  
Ali Gordon   Vanessa, Ensemble  
Bonnie Gruesen   Hermione Granger, voice of Zac Efron poster   Hermione Granger  
Brian Holden Zack   Flopsy, Ensemble Remus Lupin Junior, Veeto Mosquito, Ensemble Superman/Clark Kent, Evil Huckleberry Finn
A.J. Holmes   Joey's Heart   [Cameo]  
Matt Lang [Cameo]  
Nick Lang Kevin Bushwald   Arthur Weasley, Sorty, Scarfy, Mama Umbridge, Peter Pettigrew The Caller Bug, Mister Bug, Ensemble Robin, Barack Obama, Mobster
Lauren Lopez Tanya Freemont Draco Malfoy [Cameo] Draco Malfoy Taz, Buggette Buggington, Ensemble Commissioner Gordon, Calendar Man, Evil King Arthur
Devin Lytle   Cho Chang Miss Cooter Cho Chang, Charlie Weasley [Cameo]  
Lily Marks   Pansy Parkinson, Molly Weasley Sally's Heart, High Council Pussy Molly Weasley [Cameo]  
Nicholas Joseph Strauss-Matathia   The Old Snatch Sirius Black [Cameo] Penguin, Police Chief O'Hara,Thomas Wayne,
Alle-Faye Monka   Tiffany, Ensemble  
Joe Moses   Severus Snape Rick's Dick Severus Snape Krayonder, Ensemble  
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
Joey Richter   Ron Weasley Joey Richter Ron Weasley Bug  
Brian Rosenthal   Quirinus Quirrell   Seamus Finnigan, James Potter, Past Ron, King's Cross Person [Cameo]  
Meredith Stepien Meredith   Mega-Girl, Ensemble The Riddler, Rachel Dawes, TGI Fridays Worker, Chase Meridian
Dylan Saunders   Albus Dumbledore   Albus Dumbledore Tootsie Noodles, Pincer, Ensemble Green Lantern, Narrator, Mobster, Scarecrow, Construction Worker, Egghead, Gob
Sango Tajima   Lavender Brown   Lavender Brown  
Joe Walker   Lord Voldemort, voice of Zefron poster Dick Dolores Umbridge, voice of Zefron poster Up, Ensemble Batman, Chilly Willy

Principal crew

Role Production
Little White Lie A Very Potter Musical[27] Me and My Dick[28] A Very Potter Sequel[9] Starship[29] Holy Musical B@man![30]
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 Desginer   Marguerite Woodward Brian Holden
Matt Lang
Nick Lang 		Corey Lubowich June Saito
Lighting Desginer   Mary Clare Blake-Booth Max Kaufman Sarah Petty

Soundtrack albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Notes
Billboard Top Albums Billboard Top Cast Albums
[7][8][31][32] 		Billboard Top Compilation Albums
[31] 		iTunes Top Albums
[8] 		iTunes Top Pop Albums
[8]
Little White Lie[12] — — — — —
A Very Potter Musical[12]
  • Released: September 9, 2009
  • Formats: Digital download
 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Made only available for free on Bandcamp, therefore not eligible for Billboard/iTunes chart listings.[33]
Me and My Dick (A New Musical)[7][8][12]
  • Released: January 6, 2010
  • Formats: Digital download
 — 11 — — —
A Very StarKid Album[8]
  • Released: July 22, 2010
  • Formats: Digital download
 — — 19 27 14
A Very Potter Sequel[12]
  • Released: July 31, 2010
  • Formats: Digital download
 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Made only available for free on Bandcamp, therefore not eligible for Billboard/iTunes chart listings.[33]
Starship
  • Released: April 30, 2011
  • Formats: Digital download, Compact disc
 134 1 — 4 —
The SPACE Tour[32]
  • Released: March 13, 2012
  • Formats: Digital download, Compact disc
 — 2 — 17 4
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 N/A N/A Made only available for free on Bandcamp, therefore not eligible for Billboard/iTunes chart listings.[33]

Former logos

2009-2010
The original StarKid logo, created for the YouTube release of A Very Potter Musical, featured Rumbleroar (a character from the show) leaping over the word 'StarKid'. This logo was also used for Me and My Dick.


2010-2011
The StarKid logo was refreshed in 2010 for the release of A Very Potter Sequel. The new logo featured the planets of the solar system orbiting the word 'StarKid'. Elements of the original logo's background also feature in the new one. An embossed version of this logo was used for Starship.


2011-2012
This logo is an adaptation of the embossed one used for Starship, with the word 'StarKid' in a different font. This logo was used for DigiTour 2011 and The SPACE Tour.


2012-Present
The current logo is rather different from previous iterations. Created for Holy Musical B@man!, the logo comprises of the word 'StarKid' in an embossed, futuristic font (inspired by the Starship logo).


Logo Gallery

References

  1. ^ a b Borrelli, Christopher (November 1, 2011). "What exactly is Team StarKid?". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
  2. ^ "Of Harry Potter and Penises: Ann Arbor's Team StarKid Comes Home". The A.V. Club. Copied from the original (dead link). {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ a b "StarKid Productions". YouTube. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
  4. ^ Original Announcement from the University of Michigan[dead link]
  5. ^ Guerra, Jennifer (July 15, 2009). "A Very Potter Musical!". Michigan Radio. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  6. ^ Lyons, Margaret (December 29, 2009). "The 10 Best Viral Videos of 2009". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  7. ^ a b c Caulfield, Keith (March 18, 2010). "'My Dick' Rises to Become First Charting Student Musical". Billboard. Retrieved July 22, 2011.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g 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.
  9. ^ a b c "Home Page for 'A Very Potter Sequel'". StarKid Productions. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
  10. ^ "What's Hot for the Week". Entertainment Weekly. August 8, 2010. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  11. ^ Lavrusik, Vadim (December 1, 2010). "Mashable Awards: Announcing the Full List of Finalists". Mashable. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
  12. ^ a b c d e f Austrone, Xavier (November 22, 2010). "StarKid Interview: Starship Coverage & A VERY POTTER THREEQUEL!?". Wizarding Life. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
  13. ^ StarKid Productions (February 22, 2012). "Announcement Stardate 2.22.12 AD". YouTube. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
  14. ^ a b StarKid Productions (April 9, 2012). "Holy Musical B@man! and Apocalyptour Announcement 4.9.12". YouTube. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
  15. ^ Votta, Rae (April 9, 2012). "The End Is Near: Team StarKid Announce 'Apocalyptour'". Billboard. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
  16. ^ http://teamstarkid.bandcamp.com/
  17. ^ Votta, Rae (July 20, 2011). "Watch Team Starkid 'Get Back To Hogwarts' At LeakyCon". The Huffington Post. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
  18. ^ Anelli, Melissa (January 23, 2012). "StarKid at LeakyCon 2012 (A Starter List!)". LeakyCon. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
  19. ^ "Snow City Arts". Snow City Arts Charity. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  20. ^ "TOUR". StarKid Productions. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
  21. ^ a b StarKid Productions (March 14, 2012). "Announcement Stardate 3.14.12 AD". YouTube. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
  22. ^ StarKid Productions (March 23, 2012). "The SPACE Tour DVD - Official Trailer". YouTube. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
  23. ^ "Apocalyptour". StarKid Productions. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
  24. ^ http://www.teamstarkid.com/c2e2info.html
  25. ^ StarKid Productions (July 11, 2009). "StarKid Introduces: Little White Lie". YouTube. Retrieved 18 January 2012.
  26. ^ LeakyNews (October 15, 2011). "StarKid S.P.A.C.E. Tour on LeakyNews: Part 2". YouTube. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
  27. ^ a b "Home Page for 'A Very Potter Musical'". StarKid Productions. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
  28. ^ a b "Home Page for 'Me and My Dick'". StarKid Productions. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
  29. ^ a b "Home Page for 'Starship'". StarKid Productions. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
  30. ^ a b "Home Page for 'Holy Musical B@man!'". StarKid Productions. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
  31. ^ a b Donahue, Ann (13 November 2010). "'Glee' Newcomer Darren Criss Reflects on His 'Dream' Week". Billboard. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
  32. ^ 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.
  33. ^ a b c "Team StarKid Bandcamp". Bandcamp. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
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