By Marlee Breakstone

StarKid Productions members describe themselves as an ensemble of writers, actors, directors, designers, producers, and other goof-offs. They are a prime example of how the internet has the ability to take a group of normal people and transform them into internationally known celebrities. This group was invented by drama and music students at the University of Michigan. Team Starkid has completed a plethora of projects throughout the course of their existence, the most well know of which is A Very Potter Musical (AVPM). This is a two hour long play that is a parody of the popular book and movie series, Harry Potter. Their other projects include A Very Potter Sequel (AVPS) and Starship.

This past November, select members of Team StarKid decided to set out to conquer the world, or at least the United States, and went on tour. Most of the members of Team StarKid that hold starring roles in their musicals accompanied their friends on the tour, with the exception of Bonnie Gruesen, who played the role of Hermione in the plays. The members of Team StarKid that were in attendance were Joe Walker, Dylan Saunders, Brian Holden, Joey Richter, Lauren Lopez, Jaime Lyn Beatty and Meredith Stepien. Darren Criss, one of the founders of and the main songwriter for this wonderful group, also joined his friends at a select few of their performances. Although he was only originally supposed to attend the two shows that took place on November 26 in New York, he also went to the show in New York that was on Sunday and the two shows that took place in Boston. Now known as a star playing Blaine on the show Glee, Darren had a blast singing the songs that helped him get his start and form the outstanding career that he has today.

When I first heard about this tour, titled the SPACE Tour, I did not know a lot about it. All I knew was that I absolutely had to be in attendance. Acquiring tickets was an ordeal, for they were greatly desired. I attended the show in November 26 and was lucky enough to have a VIP ticket. This means that before the show, I got to go to a brief meet and greet with the cast and have them sign a poster. They were all very nice and many of them engaged in conversation with me, including Joe Walker and Dylan Saunders. My VIP ticket also allowed me to have a spot during the show that was close to the stage, for the entire audience stood for the duration of the show. Charlene Kaye opened for the StarKids. She is best known for a song entitled “Dress and Tie” that she sings with Darren Criss. The entire audience was more than pleased when Darren himself emerged onto the stage and joined her in singing this song.

Team StarKid members sung a myriad of the songs from their shows. All of the songs were original and were written by members of the team. Darren Criss is responsible for writing the majority of these songs that we all know and love. Included among the songs they they sang were “I Wanna Be,” “Get Back Up,” “Kick It Up A Notch” and “The Way I Do” from the show Starship. A few of the songs from AVPM that were performed were “Different as can Be” and “Granger Danger.” “The Coolest Girl,” “Harry Freakin’ Potter” and “Getting Along” are three songs that they sang from the acclaimed AVPS. A band including a sub-group of Team StarKid and some of their other friends, called Jim and the Povolos, (which ironically does not include Jim Povolo himself) also sang a few original and extremely impressive songs. The show ended with the members of Team StarKid performing their most famous song, “Get Back To Hogwarts.” This song is the opening to AVPM and has gotten nearly 7,500,000 views on Youtube.

It would be an understatement to say that I thoroughly enjoyed my SPACE tour experience. It was honestly two of the most blissful hours of my life. The stars were modest and it was apparent that they have not, and probably never will, forget about where they got their humble beginnings. The fans in attendance were brought together by their common desire to find somewhere where they belong and people who will accept them for who they are, the means upon which Team Starkid was formed.