This pandemic has presented a massive challenge to everyone in the entertainment industry. People have had to get creative, and many of us fans have been left wanting when it comes to new content. Given the challenges COVID has presented to anyone trying to create movies, tv shows or plays, I’m especially impressed every time I come across a particularly creative online project. And I’m not at all surprised that Starkid Productions is showing everyone up right now.
You may know Team Starkid as the creators of A Very Potter Musical, and/or the thing Darren Criss did before he got famous. But did you know that they’re still making musicals on their YouTube channel, and that those musicals are just as good as – if not even better than – A Very Potter Musical?
I’ve written about Starkid before, in my list of musicals to watch at home, and I still think everyone should watch every single one of their musicals because they are pure gold. If you’re looking for something fun and easy to watch, that will make you laugh so hard you cry and will definitely leave you with at least one song stuck in your head, you just can’t do better than Starkid. And it’s all free to watch!
This October, Starkid is returning to Hatchetfield – the setting for their two most recent musicals, The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals and Black Friday – for a series of livestream readings. Nightmare Time is happening in three parts, with each one featuring live readings of two scary stories, and at least three brand new songs. You can watch episode 1 on Youtube right now, and episode 2 is happening tonight! This one won’t be on Youtube for a while, so if you want to watch it right away, make sure you buy a ticket on the Starkid website. A live stream ticket gives you access to the live stream (obviously), and a digital ticket gives you access to the show after it’s over! You can buy digital tickets after the show, so you do have time to figure out if you want to watch it or not. Episode 3 is happening next week, on October 24th.
Having seen the first part of this series, my main takeaway is that I can’t think of any group of people better equipped to keep entertaining people during a pandemic. Part of the charm of Starkid is the low-budget, community theatre feel of it all. That really shines through in these online shows, where they don’t have access to a full set and technical difficulties are bound to occur. The level of weirdness is just… quintessential Starkid.
Longtime fans of Starkid are sure to love the callbacks to previous shows and the occasional breaking-the-fourth-wall moments. Plus, in classic Starkid fashion, yes, some of the storylines are surprisingly heartwarming despite the silliness. Did I cry during Watcher World? Maybe.
And if you’ve never watched a Starkid show before, I can’t possibly think of a better time to start. Grab yourself a hot beverage, turn on The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals, and enjoy the show.
NIGHTMARE TIME Episode 2 airs Saturday, October 17th at 7pm EST. Episode 3 airs Saturday, October 24th at 7pm EST.