When people think about recent musicals, minds drift to plays such as High School Musical and are often disappointed. It is also believed that musicals are a dying breed, and should left to the producers of Glee. A little known band of actors is quickly rising to the top of the musical ranks. Starkid productions, a band of actors from theUniversity ofMichigan, has been creating parodies and original plays since 2009. Their lack of recognition doesn’t deter their enthusiasm for musical theatre. After watching my first Starkid musical, it was hard to believe that any other musical can even hold a candle to it, but as I watched more and more of their plays, I realized I was wrong. Each Starkid production brings something new to the table, keeping audiences interested. From making jokes about Glee to preaching their love of Red Vines and Zefferon, they are always commenting on fads and trying to keep with the times. Unlike Glee, which appeals to a mainly teenage crowd, or High School Musical, which appeals to a younger demographic, Starkid musicals are meant for young adults who can handle cursing and sexual references in a slightly more mature way than preteens.
Everything about Starkid’s productions show a well learned group of directors. Instead of focusing on an expensive and elaborate set, the stage is set up in a simplistic way with the occasional painted scenery, in order to direct attention to the phenomenal actors who are preforming on the stage. The plays themselves contain the perfect amount of humor and drama, keeping a somewhat serious mood while entertaining the audience. The flow from regular speech to song is not forced; in fact it seems appropriate to be singing in that situation. Characters for parodies are perfectly cast, enlarging a small characteristic of a previously known character in order to inspire laughter. For example, in Starkid’s parody of Harry Potter, A Very Potter Musical, producers take the fact that the character of Umbridge is kind of mannish and augment that in their play, casting a muscular man to play that character.
From their well-written original plays to their creative parodies, Starkid Productions keep the audience guessing around every twist and turn.
