Basement Arts : All posts

U-M's Basement Arts presents 'The Last Five Years'

The University of Michigan's Basement Arts—a student-run theater organization—will present "The Last Five Years" on April 21 at 7:30 p.m., and April 22 at 2 p.m., at Studio One in the Walgreen Drama Center, 1226 Murfin. Admission is free. More after the jump…

'Glee''s Darren Criss may return to Ann Arbor for new Potter musical; Team Starkid sets Chicago premiere

Team Starkid — the young creative team behind the University of Michigan-born viral online hits "A Very Potter Musical" and "A Very Potter Sequel" — recently announced, via an interview with WizardingLife.com, two news items: Not only is the team on the verge of premiering a brand new original musical in Chicago in February, but it also hopes to stage a third Harry Potter-inspired musical in Ann Arbor, on U-M's campus, before the final film installment of the series hits movie theaters next year.

And because TS member and U-M theater grad ('09) Darren Criss — whose star has skyrocketed virtually overnight by way of playing Blaine, Kurt's friend and mentor on "Glee" — played the lead role in the first two musical Harry Potter spoofs, in addition to co-writing the catchy score, TS is hoping to work around Criss' schedule to ensure that he can be part of the third show as well. The first two Potter musicals were originally Basement Arts student productions at U-M that were filmed and put online.

According to the Starkids involved with the WizardingLife.com interview — Brian Holden, Joe Walker, and brothers Matt and Nick Lang — the team has a story in mind for a third Potter show; plans to reuse the set from the previous Potter shows; and would put the show together during a two-week rehearsal period.

More after the jump…

New musical 'Placebo' premieres via U-M's Basement Arts this weekend

"Placebo," a new musical written by current U-M students Danny Abosch and Joshua Borths, will premiere November 11-13 at the U-M's Walgreen Drama Center, in Studio 1, at 1226 Murfin. Tickets are free.

More after the jump…

with video: "A Very Potter Sequel" will premiere on YouTube July 22 at 8 p.m.

Team Starkid — a production company largely composed of University of Michigan musical theater grads — has posted a new video to announce the online debut of its most recent venture, "A Very Potter Sequel," on Thursday, July 22 at 8 p.m. on YouTube.

More after the jump…

"A Very Potter Sequel" next likely online sensation for U-M's Team StarKid

Note: This story contains language that may not be appropriate for children.

When Team StarKid — a group of (mostly) theater students, now graduates, from the University of Michigan — debuted an original show about a certain young wizard in April 2009 (“A Very Potter Musical”), they had no idea where the fan-made parody would take them.

More after the jump…

theater preview

with video: Basement Arts presents Joss Whedon's "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog" on stage this weekend

Basement Arts — a student-run theater group at the University of Michigan that offers free performances on most weekends — will present a stage adaptation of the Emmy Award-winning Internet musical mini-series, "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog," on Thursday, February 18 at 7 p.m.; Friday, February 19 at 7 and 11 p.m.; and Saturday, February 20 at 4 and 7 p.m., at the Studio I Theatre in U-M's Walgreen Drama Center, 1226 Murfin Avenue.

In Joss Whedon's cult-hit Web series — which appeared during the writers' strike — aspiring villain Dr. Horrible wants to join the Evil League of Evil, but his attempts at world domination always fall through. He also can't gather the courage to talk to his crush, and his arch-nemesis Captain Hammer thwarts him at every turn.

More after the jump…

U-M's Basement Arts announces lineup of free weekly shows

Basement Arts, a student-run theater company at the University of Michigan, just announced this semester's lineup of free shows. Performances happen on Thursdays at 7 p.m., Fridays at 7 and 11 p.m., and Saturdays at 7 p.m. in Studio 1 of the Walgreen Drama Center, 1226 Murfin.

More after the jump…

ARTillery and Basement Arts stage Sarah Ruhl's "Eurydice"

Live theater productions are in short supply at this time of year, so it's exciting to hear that this weekend, the University of Michigan's Duderstadt Center will host a staging of Sarah Ruhl's "Eurydice," presented by ARTillery and Basement Arts.

Local theater fans may recognize Ruhl as the author of "The Clean House," produced by Performance Network in 2007. The celebrated, acclaimed playwright regularly fuses surreal elements and imaginative flights of fancy with dramatic, contemporary situations.

More after the jump…