Matt Lang News

From the mind of Emmy & Golden Globe Award-winning actor and songwriter Darren Criss  comes ROYALTIES, a satirical take on the oft-untold story of songwriters behind the world's biggest hits. The show follows the ascent of a ragtag songwriting duo - Sara and Pierce (Criss) - as they navigate the strange and hilarious challenges of creating a truly great song, week after week. 

Probably one of the most difficult shows in American musical theater to pull off right is Stephen Sondheim's "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street". It's got incredibly complex music with layers upon layers of intertwining vocals, a bevy of rich, complex characters and a dark and foreboding tone that when done wrong can just come across as comical. Unfortunately the current production from Seattle Musical Theatre misses the mark on each of these qualities. Not completely mind you as there were some notable exceptions but never the complete package to make this production shine.

Have you ever seen a production where you thought that the actors where too good for the show? That's how it felt watching Studio 18 Production's inaugural show 'Bonnie & Clyde' at 12th Avenue Arts. I am very impressed that this brand new company threw together such a talented cast for this musical, and at such an esteemed venue. Unfortunately, with its pandering plot line and repetitive score, this musical felt beneath the caliber of those involved.

Presented at 12th Ave Arts this August, Bonnie & Clyde come back to life in this thrilling musical with music by Frank Wildhorn. This classic tale of passion and crime during the Great Depression is set to a rockabilly, blues and gospel score. Bonnie & Clyde's premiere took place in 2009 at the La Jolla Playhouse, followed by a Broadway opening in 2011. After a short but well-received four week run, the production was nominated for three Outer Critics Circle Awards and five Drama Desk Awards, both including Best New Musical, as well as two nominations for the 2012 Tony® Awards. Performed by an incredibly talented cast of local Seattle actors, this show is a wild ride you won't want to miss.

Set in the 1840s, 'The Trail To Oregon!' follows the All-American, dysfunctional family as they set off from Independence, Missouri to head out west in search of a new life in the greatest place on earth... Oregon! What the clueless pioneers don't count on is that they'll have to face every obstacle imaginable along the way, from snake-bites, to bandits, to dysentery! It's the original cross-country road trip... from hell! Loosely inspired by the popular, retro computer game, 'The Oregon Trail,' this raucous, raunchy, musical spoof features 6 performers, 13 songs, multiple possible endings, and a heaping helping of audience participation. With the live audience not only naming all the people in the wagon party, but also choosing which family members they'd like to see die, no two performances of 'The Trail To Oregon!' will ever be the same.

Team StarKid, the musical theater troupe and YouTube phenomenon, debuted their newest musical, ANI: A Parody this summer, and now the full performance is available to watch online.

YouTube sensation Team StarKid will present Twisted in Concert, an abridged version of their most recent show Twisted: The Untold Story of a Royal Vizier, at 54 Below at 7pm and 11:30pm on Monday, March 17th.

YouTube sensation Team StarKid will present Twisted in Concert, an abridged version of their most recent show Twisted: The Untold Story of a Royal Vizier, at 54 Below at 7pm and 11:30pm on Monday, March 17th.

Internet sensation Team StarKid will present its newest Chicago production, TWISTED: The Untold Story of a Royal Vizier, an original musical comedy parody from the creative team behind the viral hits A Very Potter Musical, Starship, and Holy Musical B@man.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Jungle Book' reviews, 'Oklahoma!' on the radio, Broadway In Chicago's Park preview, 'Hedwig' and 'Rooms' rock, Team StarKid is back, community theater in Glenview, a children's musical in Mundelein, plus the 'Summer Birthday Showtune Blowout' July 10th!

Internet sensation Team StarKid proudly presents it's newest Chicago production, TWISTED: The Untold Story of a Royal Vizier, an original musical comedy parody from the creative team behind the viral hits A Very Potter Musical, Starship and Holy Musical B@man.

Internet sensation Team StarKid will present its newest Chicago production, TWISTED: The Untold Story of a Royal Vizier, an original musical comedy parody from the creative team behind the viral hits A Very Potter Musical, Starship, and Holy Musical B@man.

Team StarKid, the musical theater troupe and YouTube phenomenon, debuted their highly anticipated sequel to the parody musicals A Very Potter Musical and A Very Potter Sequel at LeakyCon in August 2012. Now you can watch the whole musical, featuring Broadway veteran Darren Criss, who plays Harry Potter himself, below!

As 2012 comes to a close, many Austin theater companies are putting together their 2013-2014 season. Given the incredible talent in this town and the large number of daring, courageous theater groups in the Austin area, here are my picks for 13 musicals that I'd love to see produced in the 2013-2014 season.

Team StarKid, the musical theater troupe and YouTube phenomenon, just debuted their highly anticipated sequel to the parody musicals A Very Potter Musical and A Very Potter Sequel at LeakyCon on August 11, 2012. Catch an inside look at the show with Broadway veteran Darren Criss, who plays Harry Potter himself, below!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Cyndi Lauper and 'Kinky Boots' for free, Darren Criss and Team StarKid, 'Little Shop,' lots of 'Legally Blonde,' a 'Rocky Horror' book and much, much more!

Team StarKid, the musical theater troupe and YouTube phenomenon, will debut their highly anticipated sequel to the parody musicals A Very Potter Musical and A Very Potter Sequel at LeakyCon on August 11, 2012. View the announcement below!

Team StarKid, the musical theater troupe and YouTube phenomenon, will debut their highly anticipated sequel to the parody musicals A Very Potter Musical and A Very Potter Sequel at LeakyCon on August 11, 2012.

Internet sensation Team StarKid will be joined by special guest rapper/poet George Watsky for one stop of APOCALYPTOUR, at Nob Hill Masonic Center in San Francisco tonight, May 25 at 7:30 p.m. As previously announced, "Glee" star and StarKid co-founder Darren Criss will join the tour for two performances at the House of Blues in Los Angeles on Thursday, May 24 at 7:30 p.m. and the Roseland Ballroom in New York City, Sunday, June 10 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for these performances, priced $30 - $35, may be purchased via Ticketmaster.com or LiveNation.com (additional outlets for other cities noted below).

Internet sensation Team StarKid will be joined by special guest rapper/poet George Watsky for one stop of APOCALYPTOUR, at Nob Hill Masonic Center in San Francisco on Friday, May 25 at 7:30 p.m. As previously announced, "Glee" star and StarKid co-founder Darren Criss will join the tour for two performances at the House of Blues in Los Angeles on Thursday, May 24 at 7:30 p.m. and the Roseland Ballroom in New York City, Sunday, June 10 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for these performances, priced $30 - $35, may be purchased via Ticketmaster.com or LiveNation.com (additional outlets for other cities noted below).