StarKid Productions

StarKid Productions
Formation 2009 (2009)
Type Community theatre
Purpose Theatrical productions
Location
Official language
English
Affiliations University of Michigan, Basement Arts
Website www.teamstarkid.com

StarKid Productions, also known as Team StarKid, is a Chicago-based musical theatre company founded in 2009 at the University of Michigan by Darren Criss, Brian Holden, Matt Lang, and Nick Lang. Best known for the musical A Very Potter Musical, a parody of the Harry Potter series, the troupe produces musical-comedies inspired by pop culture, with original scripts, songs, and music. StarKid use social media for theatrical distribution, to make their productions accessible to a worldwide audience.

StarKid's repertoire additionally consists of albums, concerts, web series, sketch comedies, and books. The company's album Me and My Dick, featuring original songs and music, became the first charting student-produced musical recording on Billboard, debuting at #11 on the "Top Cast Albums" chart in 2010; the following year they landed at #1 on the same chart with Starship, another original album.

History

StarKid Productions is composed of actors, writers, directors, composers, choreographers, and designers, most of them originating from the University of Michigan's School of Music, Theater and Dance. The members met while collaborating on original and classic plays through Basement Arts, the university's student-run theater organization.

In April 2009, the students staged a musical parody of the Harry Potter series entitled A Very Potter Musical. The video of the play went viral on the Internet, garnering StarKid a worldwide cult following. Inspired by the success of the video, StarKid Productions was formed, named after a quote from A Very Potter Musical. Later, two successful sequels followed, named A Very Potter Sequel and A Very Potter Senior Year,[1][2]

Musical theater productions

  • As The Trail to Oregon and Ani were performed as part of the same season, several actors who appeared in one show worked as crew members on the other.

Upcoming productions

Sketch comedy productions

Concert tours

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.[21] 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. However, Eric Kahn Gale, one of the writers for the show, stated that he would write and publish a synopsis of season 2, which was released on September 3, 2013 on his Tumblr page.[22]

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.[23] It was originally only available as an e-book, but was later 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.[24]

Quicksand Jack

On March 15, 2013 StarKid released a teaser trailer for an upcoming graphic novel written by Matt and Nick Lang and illustrated by Jen Lang and Teia Smith. www.quicksandjackcomic.com

Cast and characters

Performer Production Characters
Nico Ager
Holy Musical B@man!Evil Sherlock Holmes, Sluggers, Citizen, Storekeeper, Plastic Man
A Very Potter Senior YearThomas Riddle
Julia Albain
A Very Potter MusicalVincent Crabbe
A Very Potter SequelVincent Crabbe, Percy Weasley, Candy Lady
StarshipSpecs, Ensemble
Holy Musical B@man!Vicki Vale, Evil Mother Goose, Zatanna, Martha Wayne
Starship: RequiemSpecs
AniEmily
Chris Allen
Little White LieDuder Reece
Starship[Cameo]
Holy Musical B@man!Alfred/Lucius Fox/O'Malley/Qwang Li/Spider-Man, Two-Face, Gangster
A Very Potter Senior YearMoaning Myrtle, Barty Crouch Jr./Mad-Eye Moody, Tom Riddle Sr.
AniAni
Jaime Lyn Beatty
A Very Potter MusicalGinny Weasley
Me and My DickSally
A Very Potter SequelRita Skeeter, Ginny Weasley
StarshipNeato Mosquito, Ensemble
Holy Musical B@man!Poison Ivy, Candy, Gangster, The Flash
A Very Potter Senior YearGinny Weasley
TwistedSea Witch, Ensemble
The Trail to Oregon!Daughter
Jeff Blim
Holy Musical B@man!Sweet Tooth, Aquaman, Joe Chill
A Very Potter Senior YearAragog
TwistedAladdin
The Trail to Oregon!Father
Pat Brady
A Very Potter Senior YearCandy Lady
Tyler Brunsman
A Very Potter MusicalCedric Diggory, Cornelius Fudge
A Very Potter SequelLucius Malfoy
Starship[Cameo]
A Very Potter Senior YearMinerva McGonagall, Lucius Malfoy, Cedric Diggory
Richard Campbell
A Very Potter MusicalNeville Longbottom
Me and My DickRick, The Kid That Hates Joey
A Very Potter SequelNeville Longbottom, Past Hermione
Starship[Cameo]
A Very Potter Senior YearNeville Longbottom, Frank Longbottom
Britney Coleman
A Very Potter MusicalBellatrix Lestrange
A Very Potter SequelDean Thomas
Starship[Cameo]
A Very Potter Senior YearBellatrix Lestrange, Dean Thomas
Brant Cox
StarshipRoach, Ensemble
A Very Potter Senior YearColin Creevey, Wizard Cop, Percy Weasley
Darren Criss
Little White LieToby Phillips
A Very Potter MusicalHarry Potter
Me and My Dick[Cameo]
A Very Potter SequelHarry Potter
A Very Potter Senior YearHarry Potter
Denise Donovan
StarshipFebruary, Ensemble
Holy Musical B@man!Catwoman, Pizza Guy, Black Canary
A Very Potter Senior YearMrs. Cole
TwistedBird, Ensemble
Starship: RequiemPhoton Ray
AniMara
Corey Dorris
Me and My DickBig T
A Very Potter SequelYaxley
A Very Potter Senior YearKingsley Shacklebolt
The Trail to Oregon!Grandpa, Cletus Jones
Elona Finlay
Little White LieSami Reese
A Very Potter Senior YearMadam Pomfrey, The Grey Lady, Spider
Nick Gage
TwistedThe Sultan, The Djinn, Ensemble
Eric Kahn Gale
Little White LieHunkytonk
A Very Potter Senior YearWizard Cop/Ensemble
Starship: RequiemMember of the Council of Three
AniSebulba, Ensemble
Arielle Goldman
Me and My DickWeenie, Ensemble
A Very Potter SequelLily Potter, Luna Lovegood, Hedwig, Fred Weasley
Starship[Cameo]
A Very Potter Senior YearLily Potter, Mary Riddle, Fred Weasley, Hannah Abbott, Spider
Ali Gordon
Me and My DickVanessa, Ensemble
Bonnie Gruesen
A Very Potter MusicalHermione Granger
A Very Potter SequelHermione Granger
Brian Holden
Little White LieZack
Me and My DickFlopsy, Ensemble
A Very Potter SequelRemus Lupin
StarshipJunior, Veeto Mosquito, Ensemble
Holy Musical B@man!Superman/Clark Kent, Evil Huckleberry Finn
A Very Potter Senior YearRubeus Hagrid, The Basilisk, Remus Lupin
Starship: RequiemThor X0, Member of the Council of Three
AniJ.J., Ensemble
A.J. Holmes
Me and My DickJoey's Heart
Starship[Cameo]
A Very Potter Senior YearGilderoy Lockhart
Bob Joles
Starship[Cameo]
A Very Potter Senior YearNarrator
Matt Lang
Little White Lie[Cameo]
Nick Lang
Little White LieKevin Bushwald
A Very Potter SequelArthur Weasley, Sorty, Scarfy, Peter Pettigrew, Mama Umbridge
StarshipThe Caller Bug, Mister Bug, Ensemble
Holy Musical B@man!Robin, Barack Obama, Mobster
A Very Potter Senior YearArthur Weasley, Sorty, Scarfy, Damian
Starship: RequiemN/A
AniPappy, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ensemble
Lauren Lopez
Little White LieTanya Freemont
A Very Potter MusicalDraco Malfoy
A Very Potter SequelDraco Malfoy
StarshipTaz, Buggette Buggington, Ensemble
Holy Musical B@man!Commissioner Gordon, Calendar Man, Evil King Arthur, Green Arrow
A Very Potter Senior YearDraco Malfoy
TwistedMonkey, Maleficent, Ensemble
The Trail to Oregon!Son
Evanna Lynch
A Very Potter Senior YearLuna Lovegood
Devin Lytle
A Very Potter MusicalCho Chang
Me and My DickMiss Cooter
A Very Potter SequelCho Chang, Charlie Weasley
Starship[Cameo]
A Very Potter Senior YearCho Chang, Charlie Weasley
Starship: RequiemN/A
Robert Manion
TwistedHandsome Hero, Ensemble
Starship: RequiemN/A
Lily Marks
A Very Potter MusicalPansy Parkinson, Molly Weasley
Me and My DickSally's Heart, High Council Pussy
A Very Potter SequelMolly Weasley
Starship[Cameo]
A Very Potter Senior YearMolly Weasley, Pansy Parkinson
Alle-Faye Monka
Me and My DickTiffany, Ensemble
A Very Potter Senior YearFleur Delacour, The Basilisk, Albus Scarfy Potter, Spider
Joe Moses
A Very Potter MusicalSeverus Snape
Me and My DickRick's Dick
A Very Potter SequelSeverus Snape
StarshipKrayonder, Ensemble
A Very Potter Senior YearNearly Headless Nick, Severus Snape
Starship: RequiemN/A
AniBob, Veers, Ensemble
Alex Paul
TwistedPirate Captain, Ensemble
Jim Povolo
Little White LieJim Povolo
A Very Potter MusicalGregory Goyle, Rumbleroar
A Very Potter SequelGregory Goyle, Firenze, Bill Weasley, Past Draco
StarshipThe Overqueen, Sweetheart Mosquito, Ensemble
Holy Musical B@man!Mr. Freeze, Matches, Hawkman, Photoshop Downloader, Joe
A Very Potter Senior YearBill Weasley, Gregory Goyle, Rumbleroar
TwistedThe Captain of the Guards, Ensemble
Starship: RequiemMotherbolt Mega-Girl
Joey Richter
A Very Potter MusicalRon Weasley
Me and My DickJoey Richter
A Very Potter SequelRon Weasley
StarshipBug
A Very Potter Senior YearRon Weasley
The Trail to Oregon!McDoon, Everyone Else
Brian Rosenthal
A Very Potter MusicalQuirinus Quirrell
A Very Potter SequelSeamus Finnigan, James Potter, Past Ron, King's Cross Guard
Starship[Cameo]
A Very Potter Senior YearSeamus Finnigan, James Potter, Quirinus Quirrell
Starship: RequiemAl Mega-Girl
Dylan Saunders
A Very Potter MusicalAlbus Dumbledore
A Very Potter SequelAlbus Dumbledore
StarshipTootsie Noodles, Pincer, Ensemble
Holy Musical B@man!Green Lantern, Narrator, Mobster, Scarecrow, Construction Worker, Egghead, Gob
A Very Potter Senior YearAlbus Dumbledore/Man with the Beard
TwistedJa'far
Starship: RequiemTootsie Noodles
Rachael Soglin
TwistedThe Princess
The Trail to Oregon!Mother
Meredith Stepien
Little White LieMeredith
StarshipMega-Girl, Ensemble
Holy Musical B@man!The Riddler, Rachel Dawes, TGI Fridays Worker, Chase Meridian, Wonder Woman, Hostage
A Very Potter Senior YearHermione Granger
TwistedSherrezade
Starship: RequiemMega-Girl
AniOola, Percussion
Nicholas Joseph Strauss-Matathia
Me and My DickThe Old Snatch
A Very Potter SequelSirius Black
Starship[Cameo]
Holy Musical B@man!Penguin, Police Chief O'Hara, Thomas Wayne, Mr. Mxyzptlk, Captain Marvel
A Very Potter Senior YearFenrir Greyback, Sirius Black
Sango Tajima
A Very Potter MusicalLavender Brown
A Very Potter SequelLavender Brown, George Weasley
A Very Potter Senior YearLavender Brown, George Weasley, Spider, Wang Mu
Joe Walker
A Very Potter MusicalLord Voldemort
Me and My DickDick
A Very Potter SequelDolores Umbridge
StarshipUp, Ensemble
Holy Musical B@man!Batman, Chilly Willy
A Very Potter Senior YearTom Riddle/Lord Voldemort
TwistedPrince Achmed, Ensemble
AniTarkin

[25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32][33][34] [35] [36]

Principal crew

Production Role Personnel
Little White Lie [25]
DirectorEric Kahn Gale
Assistant DirectorNick Lang, Brian Holden
WritersChris Allen, Eric Kahn Gale, Matt Lang, Nick Lang
MusicChuck Criss, Darren Criss, Mark Swiderski, Grant Anderson
A Very Potter Musical [26]
DirectorMatt Lang
Assistant DirectorNick Lang
WritersMatt Lang, Nick Lang, Brian Holden
MusicDarren Criss, A.J. Holmes
ChoreographerBritney Coleman
Scenic DesignerLisa Griebel
Costume DesignerMarguerite Woodward
Lighting DesignerMary Clare Blake-Booth
Me and My Dick [27]
DirectorMatt Lang
Assistant DirectorNick Lang, Brian Holden, Eric Kahn Gale
WritersMatt Lang, Nick Lang, Brian Holden, Eric Kahn Gale
MusicA.J. Holmes, Carlos Valdes, Darren Criss
ChoreographerAlle-Faye Monka
Scenic DesignerCorey Lubowich
Costume DesignerBrian Holden, Matt Lang, Nick Lang
Lighting DesignerMax Kaufman
A Very Potter Sequel [28]
DirectorMatt Lang
Assistant DirectorNick Lang
WritersMatt Lang, Nick Lang, Brian Holden
MusicDarren Criss
ChoreographerJames Tolbert
Scenic DesignerCorey Lubowich
Costume DesignerCorey Lubowich
Lighting DesignerSarah Petty
Starship [29]
DirectorMatt Lang
Assistant DirectorNick Lang
WritersMatt Lang, Nick Lang, Brian Holden, Joe Walker
MusicDarren Criss
ChoreographerDenise Donovan
Scenic DesignerCorey Lubowich
Costume DesignerJune Saito
Lighting DesignerSarah Petty
Holy Musical B@man! [30]
DirectorMatt Lang
Assistant DirectorNick Lang
WritersMatt Lang, Nick Lang
MusicNick Gage, Scott Lamps
ChoreographerKatie Spelman
Scenic DesignerCorey Lubowich
Costume DesignerJune Saito
Lighting DesignerSarah Petty
A Very Potter Senior Year [31]
DirectorMatt Lang, Nick Lang
WritersMatt Lang, Nick Lang, Brian Holden
MusicClark Baxtresser, Pierce Siebers, A.J. Holmes, Darren Criss
Scenic DesignerCorey Lubowich
Costume DesignerJune Saito
Twisted [32][37]
DirectorBrian Holden
WritersMatt Lang, Nick Lang, Eric Kahn Gale
MusicA.J. Holmes, Kaley McMahon
ChoreographerJames Tolbert, Joe Moses
Scenic DesignerJama McMahon, Emily Thomas
Costume DesignerJune Saito
Lighting DesignerSarah Petty
The Trail to Oregon [35]
DirectorNick Lang
WritersJeff Blim, Matt Lang, Nick Lang (with additional writing by Brian Holden)
MusicJeff Blim (with additional music by Drew DeFour)
ChoreographerKatie Spelman
Scenic DesignerJen Lang, Teia Smith
Costume DesignerNick Lang
Lighting DesignerSarah Petty
Ani [36]
DirectorMatt Lang
Assistant DirectorNick Lang
WritersMatt Lang, Nick Lang
MusicClark Baxtresser, Pierce Siebers
ChoreographerKatie Spelman
Scenic DesignerJen Lang, Teia Smith
Costume DesignerMatt Lang, Nick Lang
Lighting DesignerSarah Petty

Soundtrack albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Notes
Billboard Top Albums Billboard Top Cast Albums
[4][6][38][39][40]
Billboard Top Compilation Albums
[38]
Little White Lie[41]
A Very Potter Musical[41]
  • 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)[4][6][41]
  • Released: January 6, 2010
  • Formats: Digital download
11 Album is the first ever student-produced college musical to debut on a Billboard chart.[4]
A Very StarKid Album[6]
  • Released: July 22, 2010
  • Formats: Digital download
19
A Very Potter Sequel[41]
  • 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[39]
  • 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.
Apocalyptour[40]
  • Released: October 2, 2012
  • Formats: Digital download, Compact disc
3
A Very StarKid Senior Year
  • Released: December 15, 2012
  • Formats: Digital download
N/A N/A N/A Made only available via the official StarKid store, therefore not eligible for Billboard chart listings.
Twisted
  • Released: November 28, 2013
  • Formats: Digital download
Ani
  • Released: October 31, 2014
  • Formats: Digital download
Reached #4 on Billboard Comedy Albums.
The Trail to Oregon!
  • Released: February 13, 2015
  • Formats: Digital download

References

  1. "Team StarKid". StarKid Productions. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
  2. Borrelli, Christopher (November 1, 2011). "What exactly is Team StarKid?". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 18, 2011.
  3. Lyons, Margaret (December 29, 2009). "The 10 Best Viral Videos of 2009". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Caulfield, Keith (March 18, 2010). "'My Dick' Rises to Become First Charting Student Musical". Billboard. Retrieved July 22, 2011.
  5. "What's Hot for the Week". Entertainment Weekly. August 8, 2010. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
  6. 1 2 3 4 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.
  7. Lavrusik, Vadim (December 1, 2010). "Mashable Awards: Announcing the Full List of Finalists". Mashable. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
  8. Thompson, Paul. "2011 BroadwayWorld Chicago Award Winners". Broadway World. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
  9. "Music - StarKid". StarKid. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  10. "That What I Call StarKid! Volume2". StarKid Productions. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  11. "Starship Requiem Twitter Announcement". Twitter. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  12. "Starship Requiem Plot Summary". Tumblr. Retrieved 31 March 2014.
  13. "Buy Tickets". ovationtix.com. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  14. StarKid Productions (March 6, 2015). "The Trail to Oregon! in New York City!!!". YouTube. Retrieved March 9, 2015.
  15. "Comedy Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  16. StarKid Productions (January 1, 2016). "FireBringer - A New Stone-Age Musical - Summer 2016". YouTube. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  17. StarKid Productions (March 16, 2016). "Let's Start Something! - Firebringer 2016". YouTube. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
  18. "TOUR". StarKid Productions. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
  19. StarKid Productions (April 9, 2012). "Holy Musical B@man! and Apocalyptour Announcement 4.9.12". YouTube. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
  20. "Apocalyptour". StarKid Productions. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
  21. StarKid Productions (July 11, 2009). "StarKid Introduces: Little White Lie". YouTube. Retrieved 18 January 2012.
  22. Gale, Eric Kahn (September 3, 2013). "Little White Lie Season 2 Synopsis". Tumblr. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  23. StarKid Productions (Jun 7, 2012). "The Bully Book". YouTube. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
  24. StarKid Productions (January 8, 2012). "Team Starkid Chat of Doom". YouTube. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  25. 1 2 StarKid Productions (July 6, 2009). "Little White Lie: Episode 1, Part 2". YouTube. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  26. 1 2 StarKid Productions (July 5, 2009). "A Very Potter Musical: Act 2, Part 9". YouTube. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  27. 1 2 StarKid Productions (November 13, 2009). "Me And My Dick: Act 2, Part 10". YouTube. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  28. 1 2 StarKid Productions (July 22, 2010). "A Very Potter Sequel: Act 2, Part 14". YouTube. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  29. 1 2 StarKid Productions (April 30, 2011). "Starship: Act 2, Part 10". YouTube. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  30. 1 2 StarKid Productions (April 13, 2012). "Holy Musical B@man!: Act 2, Part 6". YouTube. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  31. 1 2 StarKid Productions (March 15, 2013). "A Very Potter Senior Year: Act 2, Part 7". YouTube. Retrieved March 15, 2013.
  32. 1 2 StarKid Productions (May 19, 2013). "Twisted FAQ". Tumblr. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
  33. StarKid Productions (September 24, 2013). "StarKid Update 9/24/13: Twisted, 1Night 2Last 3Ever, & Quicksand Jack". YouTube. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  34. Tumblr (March 31, 2014). ""Starship: Requiem" to be performed at LeakyCon 2014". Tumblr. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  35. 1 2 StarKid Productions (February 13, 2015). "The Trail to Oregon! Ending: Grandpa Dies". YouTube. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  36. 1 2 StarKid Productions (October 31, 2014). "ANI: A Parody". YouTube. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  37. Gioia, Michael (June 24, 2013). "New Team StarKid Musical Twisted: The Untold Story of a Royal Vizier Will Open in Chicago". Playbill. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
  38. 1 2 Donahue, Ann (13 November 2010). "'Glee' Newcomer Darren Criss Reflects on His 'Dream' Week". Billboard. Retrieved 10 February 2011.
  39. 1 2 Caulfield, Keith (March 22, 2012). "StarKid's 'Space' Sets Sail, Debuts at No. 2 on Cast Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved March 23, 2012.
  40. 1 2 Caulfield, Keith (October 12, 2012). "Congrats to @TeamStarkid: #ApocalyptourLive Debuts at No. 3 on @Billboard's Top Cast Albums Chart!". Twitter. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  41. 1 2 3 4 Austrone, Xavier (November 22, 2010). "StarKid Interview: Starship Coverage & A VERY POTTER THREEQUEL!?". Wizarding Life. Retrieved November 23, 2010.

External links

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