LeakyCon 2012 is in full swing here in Chicago! This morning LeakyNews attended a Q&A session with Team StarKid. Team StarKid members Brian Holden, Clark Baxtresser, and Dylan Saunders talked about their experiences with the team and their newest musical, A Very Potter Senior Year.
The preparation for AVPSY has been quite different from their past shows. Team Starkid will only have three days of rehearsal before the big show this Saturday. In fact, they only wrote the first song (which comes last in the musical) this past Sunday. Are they nervous about so little rehearsal time? “We never have read throughs,” laughed Dylan. Having worked together before, Team Starkid knows how to get down to business.
Having performed in hundreds of venues, LeakyNews wanted to know how performing at LeakyCon is different for StarKid. “The room itself is so different,” said Brian, “It’s not built for a play. The hotel is building one for the show. It’s also the biggest audience we’ve ever had.” “The stakes are raised,” says Dylan, “I’m worried about mispronouncing anything (Is it levOOsa or leveoSA?). I pay more respect to LeakyCon shows than other shows.”
What can you expect to see in A Very Potter Senior Year? It’s going to be epic. With a large amount of canon to still be covered and a large cast of actors who needed roles, AVPSY is “more of an event” than a typical show. There may be reprises from the earlier shows, but StarKid wasn’t giving away any spoilers. “We do say it’s the end a lot,” confesses Dylan, “And there may be a song about it being the end.”
It may be the end of their Very Harry Musicals, but what comes next for Team StarKid? They plan on finding new ways of collaborating and maybe someday holding open auditions.
Don’t miss any of the StarKid action this weekend! Tomorrow The Joe Moses One-Man Showses is at 10am and a Starkid signing at 2pm, both on the Main Stage. A Very Starkid Event II- A Very Potter Musical 3D: A Very Potter Senior Year is Saturday at 12pm, live on the main stage for those with passes or on live-feed in the Grand Ballroom for those who do not.
We also had the chance to talk with three actors from the Harry Potter films: Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood), William Melling (Nigel), and Robbie Jarvis (Young James Potter). Though the actors never plan on saying goodbye to their Harry Potter counterparts, each mentioned alternate characters they would like to play: Trelawney for Evanna, Neville for William, and Snape for Robbie. Evanna spoke out about the Luna/Neville ship, noting that although they shared similar experiences and understood each other quite well, they would remain just friends. Robbie confirmed that his image of James Potter was firmly aligned with Harry’s vision, calling James’s not-so-wholesome moments the “arrogance of youth.”
When the three actors were asked to name a British or Irish actor they’d like to work with, William and Evanna mentioned Brendan and Domhnall Gleeson, respectively, and Robbie quickly cited Tom Hardy. Evanna noted that sitting in the make-up room with Jason Isaacs and Mark Williams was a treat; the veteran actors were always telling stories, putting on voices, and generally having as much fun as possible at six in the morning. Robbie also mentioned Imelda Staunton (calling her an acting “goddess”) and Emma Thompson.
Among the lessons learned from the books, Evanna explained she valued the idea that you don’t have to be brilliant to do something great, and Harry is a great example. Robbie thanked the Harry Potter series from bringing him to reading for enjoyment, noting that “you can never quantify the importance of books.”
The Potter actors will be featured on Friday in An Afternoon with HP Alumni and the Cast Photo Booth. Check out the LeakyNews YouTube channel for more from our talk with the actors soon!
Special thanks to our Twitter followers Carolina del Busto and Luigina Ciolfi for sending in questions!
In other LeakyCon news, the Opening Ceremony was a great success. Some performers included LeakyStars contestants, members of Team StarKid, Rae Sterling, Alex Carpenter, and Matt Maggiacomo. The first rock concert is underway, and there will be ridiculous midnight movie madness later. Stay tuned to LeakyNews for all of the latest LeakyCon updates!
