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Darren Criss Headlines a Broadway Master Class

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#1

Darren Criss Headlines a Broadway Master Class

Posted: 1/12/16 at 5:49am

This Playbill article caused some degree of consternation. While Darren Criss seems to be a well-meaning person, many were wondering why someone with merely two Broadway shows under his belt qualifies him to lead a Broadway master class? http://www.playbill.com/news/article/see-darren-criss-teach-musical-theatre-master-class-378833

"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
#2

Darren Criss Headlines a Broadway Master Class

Posted: 1/12/16 at 6:43am

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "This Playbill article caused some degree of consternation. While Darren Criss seems to be a well-meaning person, many were wondering why someone with merely two Broadway shows under his belt qualifies him to lead a Broadway master class? http://www.playbill.com/news/article/see-darren-criss-teach-musical-theatre-master-class-378833

The fact that he has been in two Broadway shows qualifies him to lead a Broadway master class., and while he was leading he wasn't the only one there from the theater community that offered their time and know-how to the students who attended,

Students in the master class had the opportunity to work with Criss as well as Broadway's Jessica Lea Patty, Broadway Workshop director Marc Tumminelli and Telsey Casting's Patrick Goodwin and Rikki Gimelstob; 45 students from all over the United States attended this special day.

The "consternation" by "the many" is all for naught.

Updated On: 1/12/16 at 06:43 AM

#3

Darren Criss Headlines a Broadway Master Class

Posted: 1/12/16 at 7:25am

Patti LuPone FANatic said: "This Playbill article caused some degree of consternation. While Darren Criss seems to be a well-meaning person, many were wondering why someone with merely two Broadway shows under his belt qualifies him to lead a Broadway master class? http://www.playbill.com/news/article/see-darren-criss-teach-musical-theatre-master-class-378833

"

And he also graduated from a very prestigious Musical Theater college program. As well as starred in a very Musical Theater hit tv show. So while not maybe a "master". He has at least a little bit of cred.

Updated On: 1/12/16 at 07:25 AM

#4

Darren Criss Headlines a Broadway Master Class

Posted: 1/12/16 at 7:47am

And all of the above is saying nothing of his work on original musicals (the Very Potter Musical trilogy, Me and My Dick) as a writer and performer with his college troupe, Team StarKid, which brought him to the Internet's attention in the first place.

Formerly gvendo2005
Broadway Legend
joined: 5/1/05

Blocked: After Eight, suestorm, david_fick, emlodik, lovebwy, Dave28282, joevitus, BorisTomashevsky, Seb28

Updated On: 1/12/16 at 07:47 AM

#5

Darren Criss Headlines a Broadway Master Class

Posted: 1/12/16 at 8:24am

So, let's see......

  • Starred in 2 Broadway shows: How To Succeed and Hedwig
  • Starred in a musical-based television series: Glee
  • Written and/or starred in musical shows: Very Potter Musical trilogy and Me and My Dick
  • Founder of the college musical theater troupe, Team StarKid
  • Graduated with a degree in musical theater from a prestigious musical theater college program
  • Is well known and respected in the theater community and entertainment industry

I'd say he's pretty qualified.

Updated On: 1/12/16 at 08:24 AM

#6

Darren Criss Headlines a Broadway Master Class

Posted: 1/12/16 at 8:49am

I thought this was talking about the show masterclass

My father (AIDS) My sister (AIDS) My uncle and my cousin and her best friend (AIDS, AIDS, AIDS) The gays and the straights And the white and the spades
#9

Darren Criss Headlines a Broadway Master Class

Posted: 1/24/16 at 2:00pm

CarlosAlberto said: "So, let's see......

  • Starred in 2 Broadway shows: How To Succeed and Hedwig
  • Starred in a musical-based television series: Glee
  • Written and/or starred in musical shows: Very Potter Musical trilogy and Me and My Dick
  • Founder of the college musical theater troupe, Team StarKid
  • Graduated with a degree in musical theater from a prestigious musical theater college program
  • Is well known and respected in the theater community and entertainment industry

I'd say he's pretty qualified."

H2$ was for him was all of 3 weeks I believe? And I saw it, was a huge fan of his at the time, and was embarassed by how bad he was. Stayed far from Hedwig.

...is Glee now qualification to lead an MT master class? Have you seen that show and how inaccurate it is regarding musical theatre?

Granted, I think he writes good music and enjoy the shows he's written, I'll give him that. Let him lead a class of sorts on that then.

He and about 15 other people are founders of Team Starkid, which he quickly abandoned and never had to help run so...?

He wasn't an MT at UofM, he was an acting major. While not easy, not nearly as prestigious as their MT program. Just had to make that correction. Also, numerous friends of his lovingly tell stories about how Darren was lazy and skated by, didn't do his assignments or come prepared etc. yet the professors all still worshipped him. Not a work ethic I personally want passed down to the next generous myself.

Well known and respected? I'm sorry but by who? Aside from Gleeks and some old school Starkid/HP fans, does anyone even know who Darren Criss is?

If I show you the darkness I hold inside, will you bring me to light?

Updated On: 1/24/16 at 02:00 PM

#10

Darren Criss Headlines a Broadway Master Class

Posted: 1/24/16 at 2:57pm

For anyone who is citing Criss's "credentials" you do know you sound sarcastic and are negating his credentials to teach a master class.

But if he has a following who will pay to watch his "master class", there's "one born every minute."

#11

Darren Criss Headlines a Broadway Master Class

Posted: 1/24/16 at 5:04pm

Cripes. For the love of everything that is pure and sacred he taught the damn class. It's over. Nothing you could do about it now. Get on with your lives.

Updated On: 1/24/16 at 05:04 PM

#12

Darren Criss Headlines a Broadway Master Class

Posted: 1/24/16 at 11:57pm

The people complaining sound like they have a serious case of sour grapes. It's kind of ridiculous. Whether you like it or not, the guy has had two leading roles on Broadway. You'll find a lot of people leading "master classes" based on a lot less. I saw him in Hedwig (I did not see H2$), and I thought he was great. Vocally much better than I expected, actually. His voice is really not suited for traditional Broadway roles, IMO, but it worked very well for Hedwig. Michigan does produce incredible MTs, but even so, nearly half their MT grads never make it to Broadway.

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