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Black FridayOpening Date: Oct 31, 2019
Closing Date: Dec 8, 2019 Air date: Nov 2019 Medium: online Where to watch: DVD, Blu-Ray, digital download |
Stage Production Notes
In 2009, StarKid created A Very Potter Musical. After uploading it to YouTube, “because that was easier than making DVDs for the cast and crew,” the parody musical went viral and launched the career of several performers including Darren Criss.
StarKid went on to produce eleven more musicals, including two Potter-musical sequels, all of which were made available on YouTube.
In April 2019, StarKid announced a celebration of their 10th anniversary with the launch of a Kickstarter campaign to fund a new original musical, Black Friday. Described as a “comedy-horror musical about the shopping day from hell,” Black Friday tells the story of the season’s hottest new toy, the Tickle-Me Wiggly, causing the city of Hatchetfield to go literally mad. A groups of locals must band together to save humanity from an inter dimensional being with a taste for chaos.
The Kickstarter was immensely successful, with nearly 3000 backers pledging $155,000 in a week. Within a month of the launch, 11,000 backers had raised over $500,000.
Black Friday premiered in Los Angeles at the 99-seat Hudson Mainstage Theatre on October 31, 2019. With in-person tickets selling for $75 (priority admission) and $55 (general admission) each, the production sold out its run. In addition to in-person tickets, digital tickets were made available (more below). $20 rush tickets were also available via TodayTix.
In 2009, StarKid created A Very Potter Musical. After uploading it to YouTube, “because that was easier than making DVDs for the cast and crew,” the parody musical went viral and launched the career of several performers including Darren Criss.
StarKid went on to produce eleven more musicals, including two Potter-musical sequels, all of which were made available on YouTube.
In April 2019, StarKid announced a celebration of their 10th anniversary with the launch of a Kickstarter campaign to fund a new original musical, Black Friday. Described as a “comedy-horror musical about the shopping day from hell,” Black Friday tells the story of the season’s hottest new toy, the Tickle-Me Wiggly, causing the city of Hatchetfield to go literally mad. A groups of locals must band together to save humanity from an inter dimensional being with a taste for chaos.
The Kickstarter was immensely successful, with nearly 3000 backers pledging $155,000 in a week. Within a month of the launch, 11,000 backers had raised over $500,000.
Black Friday premiered in Los Angeles at the 99-seat Hudson Mainstage Theatre on October 31, 2019. With in-person tickets selling for $75 (priority admission) and $55 (general admission) each, the production sold out its run. In addition to in-person tickets, digital tickets were made available (more below). $20 rush tickets were also available via TodayTix.
Filmed Production Notes
The opening weekend performances were filmed and made available to audiences online to rent for a $15 “digital ticket”. Viewers had access to the video for 30 days, and once started had 72 hours to watch the production “at their leisure.” Viewers were encouraged to "settle in with all of the snacks the theaters won’t provide and make a real night of it."
The digital tickets were not without issue, as some fans attempted to bootleg the footage.
The opening weekend performances were filmed and made available to audiences online to rent for a $15 “digital ticket”. Viewers had access to the video for 30 days, and once started had 72 hours to watch the production “at their leisure.” Viewers were encouraged to "settle in with all of the snacks the theaters won’t provide and make a real night of it."
The digital tickets were not without issue, as some fans attempted to bootleg the footage.
Everyone just be cool, m’kay? If people are gonna bootleg the digital ticket, we won’t do it anymore! And we think that would be a pretty big bummer. pic.twitter.com/x4pfKoq12A
— Team StarKid (@TeamStarKid) November 7, 2019
Team StarKid announced on their website that a different night of the production would be filmed, edited, and uploaded to YouTube at the end of 2019 or beginning of 2020.
Black Friday is now available on DVD, Blu-Ray and for digital download via Team Starkid.
Black Friday is now available on DVD, Blu-Ray and for digital download via Team Starkid.
Black Friday PRODUCTION CREDITS
Theatre: Hudson Mainstage Theatre, LA
Producer: StarKid Productions, Nick Lang, Corey Lubowich
Book: Nick Lang, Matt Lang
Music and Lyrics: Jeff Blim
Director: Nick Lang
Musical Director and Orchestrations: Matt Dahan
Choreography: James Tolbert
Costume Design: Robert Merkel
Lighting Design: Sarah Petty
Sound Design: Gilly Moon
Stage Manager: Paul Gabriel
Cast: Jaime Lyn Beatty, Jeff Blim, Corey Dorris, Angela Giarratana, Lauren Lopez, Robert Manion, Jon Matteson, Curt Mega, Joey Richter, Dylan Saunders, James Tolbert, Kim Whalen, Kendall Nicole Yakshe
Theatre: Hudson Mainstage Theatre, LA
Producer: StarKid Productions, Nick Lang, Corey Lubowich
Book: Nick Lang, Matt Lang
Music and Lyrics: Jeff Blim
Director: Nick Lang
Musical Director and Orchestrations: Matt Dahan
Choreography: James Tolbert
Costume Design: Robert Merkel
Lighting Design: Sarah Petty
Sound Design: Gilly Moon
Stage Manager: Paul Gabriel
Cast: Jaime Lyn Beatty, Jeff Blim, Corey Dorris, Angela Giarratana, Lauren Lopez, Robert Manion, Jon Matteson, Curt Mega, Joey Richter, Dylan Saunders, James Tolbert, Kim Whalen, Kendall Nicole Yakshe
Sources
- Kickstarter, “StarKid's 10niversary Celebration!” Accessed via: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/starkid/starkids-10niversary-celebration/description
- Team StarKid, “Black Friday,” Accessed via: https://www.teamstarkid.com/black-friday
- Twitter, Team StarKid, Accessed via: https://twitter.com/TeamStarKid/status/1192567075807457285
Written by Luisa Lyons (November, 2019)