U-M grad and "Glee" star Darren Criss
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…"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…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…Note: This story contains language that may not be appropriate for children.
"A Very Potter Musical"
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.
theater preview
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…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…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…