A Very Potter MusicalOpening Date: July 2009
Closing Date: July 2009 Air date: July 2009 Medium: internet Where to watch: online |
Stage Production Notes
Starkid, a performance troupe and production company, was formed in 2009 at the University of Michigan. The collaborative group aims to create “ accessible, quality theater for the modern era” by making live entertainment available to audiences online.
StarKid’s first production, A Very Potter Musical (AVPM), was a parody of the popular series Harry Potter. The group were careful to point out that the show was not endorsed by J.K. Rowling or Warner Bros, and avoided legal issues by not charging admission.
The musical parody was an instant hit, going viral shortly after its online release and attracting over 2 million views. To date, it has accumulated over 14.5 million views.
Following on from the success of A Very Potter Musical, StarKid embarked on a national tour of a concert entitled S.P.A.C.E Tour. The show was performed in 16 cities around the United States in the space of a month.
In 2012, StarKid released a bulletin announcing that they had not authorized any other performances of A Very Potter Musical due to agreements with Warner Bros, and that groups performing the musical were doing so illegally.
StarKid has since created live concerts, sketch comedy shows, and original musicals including Me and My Dick, A Very Potter Sequel, Holy Musical B@man!, The Trail to Oregon, and Firebringer. The company recently launched a Kickstarter for a new original musical, The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals.
All of StarKid’s productions are available freely on YouTube, and also to purchase on DVD via the StarKid website.
Starkid, a performance troupe and production company, was formed in 2009 at the University of Michigan. The collaborative group aims to create “ accessible, quality theater for the modern era” by making live entertainment available to audiences online.
StarKid’s first production, A Very Potter Musical (AVPM), was a parody of the popular series Harry Potter. The group were careful to point out that the show was not endorsed by J.K. Rowling or Warner Bros, and avoided legal issues by not charging admission.
The musical parody was an instant hit, going viral shortly after its online release and attracting over 2 million views. To date, it has accumulated over 14.5 million views.
Following on from the success of A Very Potter Musical, StarKid embarked on a national tour of a concert entitled S.P.A.C.E Tour. The show was performed in 16 cities around the United States in the space of a month.
In 2012, StarKid released a bulletin announcing that they had not authorized any other performances of A Very Potter Musical due to agreements with Warner Bros, and that groups performing the musical were doing so illegally.
StarKid has since created live concerts, sketch comedy shows, and original musicals including Me and My Dick, A Very Potter Sequel, Holy Musical B@man!, The Trail to Oregon, and Firebringer. The company recently launched a Kickstarter for a new original musical, The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals.
All of StarKid’s productions are available freely on YouTube, and also to purchase on DVD via the StarKid website.
Filmed Production Notes
A Very Potter Musical was filmed live at the University of Michigan. Possibly to avoid copyright issues, the musical is divided into parts, 14 parts for Act 1 and 9 parts for Act 2.
Act 1, Part 1 has been viewed over 14.6 million times. The other 23 videos have received significantly less views, though the numbers remain in the millions.
A Very Potter Musical is available to view on YouTube.
A Very Potter Musical was filmed live at the University of Michigan. Possibly to avoid copyright issues, the musical is divided into parts, 14 parts for Act 1 and 9 parts for Act 2.
Act 1, Part 1 has been viewed over 14.6 million times. The other 23 videos have received significantly less views, though the numbers remain in the millions.
A Very Potter Musical is available to view on YouTube.
A Very Potter Musical PRODUCTION CREDITS
Theatre: University of Michigan
Producer: StarKid
Book: Nick Lang, Matt Lang, Brian Holden
Music: A.J. Holmes and Darren Criss
Director: Matt Lang
Musical Director: A.J. Holmes
Choreography: Britney Coleman
Scenic Design: Lisa Griebel
Costume Design: Marguerite Woodward
Lighting Design: Mary Clare Blake Booth
Sound Design: Mat Glenn
Stage Manager: Emily Stromberg
Conductor: A.J. Holmes
Cast:
Darren Criss (Harry Potter), Joey Richter (Ron Weasley), Bonnie Gruesen (Hermione Granger), Joseph Walker (Lord Voldemort), Lauren Lopez (Draco Malfoy), Jaime Lyn Beatty (Ginny Weasley), Dylan Saunders (Albus Dumbledore), Brian Rosenthal (Quirinus Quirrell), Joe Moses (Severus Snape), Jim Povolo (Gregory Goyle), Britney Coleman (Bellatrix Lestrange), Tyler Brunsman (Cedric Diggory), Devin Lytle (Cho Chang), Richard Campbell (Neville Longbottom), Julia Albain (Vincent Crabbe), Sango Tajima (Lavender Brown), Lily Marks (Molly Weasley)
Theatre: University of Michigan
Producer: StarKid
Book: Nick Lang, Matt Lang, Brian Holden
Music: A.J. Holmes and Darren Criss
Director: Matt Lang
Musical Director: A.J. Holmes
Choreography: Britney Coleman
Scenic Design: Lisa Griebel
Costume Design: Marguerite Woodward
Lighting Design: Mary Clare Blake Booth
Sound Design: Mat Glenn
Stage Manager: Emily Stromberg
Conductor: A.J. Holmes
Cast:
Darren Criss (Harry Potter), Joey Richter (Ron Weasley), Bonnie Gruesen (Hermione Granger), Joseph Walker (Lord Voldemort), Lauren Lopez (Draco Malfoy), Jaime Lyn Beatty (Ginny Weasley), Dylan Saunders (Albus Dumbledore), Brian Rosenthal (Quirinus Quirrell), Joe Moses (Severus Snape), Jim Povolo (Gregory Goyle), Britney Coleman (Bellatrix Lestrange), Tyler Brunsman (Cedric Diggory), Devin Lytle (Cho Chang), Richard Campbell (Neville Longbottom), Julia Albain (Vincent Crabbe), Sango Tajima (Lavender Brown), Lily Marks (Molly Weasley)
Sources
Articles
Karen Hua, “Darren Criss And Team StarKid Talk Capitalizing On Viral Success,” Forbes (Oct 13, 2015)
Rae Votta, “Inside Darren Criss' Team StarKid: From 'A Very Potter Musical' to SPACE Tour,” Billboard (Nov 28, 2011)
Websites
StarKid, “A Very Potter Musical,” Accessed via: http://www.teamstarkid.com/a-very-potter-musical
Who Say, “SPECIAL BULLETIN REGARDING ILLEGAL PERFORMANCES OF STARKID SHOWS,” Accessed via: https://web.archive.org/web/20120711233402/https://www.whosay.com/teamstarkid/photos/200439
Karen Hua, “Darren Criss And Team StarKid Talk Capitalizing On Viral Success,” Forbes (Oct 13, 2015)
Rae Votta, “Inside Darren Criss' Team StarKid: From 'A Very Potter Musical' to SPACE Tour,” Billboard (Nov 28, 2011)
Websites
StarKid, “A Very Potter Musical,” Accessed via: http://www.teamstarkid.com/a-very-potter-musical
Who Say, “SPECIAL BULLETIN REGARDING ILLEGAL PERFORMANCES OF STARKID SHOWS,” Accessed via: https://web.archive.org/web/20120711233402/https://www.whosay.com/teamstarkid/photos/200439
Written by Luisa Lyons (July, 2018)