If you didn't realize, you've also seen Corey Doris (Fred) as Yaxley (A Very Potter Sequel) and Kingsley Shacklebolt (A Very Potter Senior Year). A.J. Holmes (Fezziwig) was in fact Gilderoy Lockhart (A Very Potter Senior Year), and Brian Rosenthal (Young Scrooge) was Quirrell, Seamus Finnigan, and James Potter (A Very Potter Musicals). This was Janaya Mahealani Jones' (Belle) first appearance with Starkid. Although, funnily enough, in their original 2020 online version of VHS Christmas Carol, Belle was portrayed by Britney Coleman (Bellatrix). This is the first time you've seen James Tolbert (Christmas Present), but he did work as Starkid's choreographer for A Very Potter Sequel and Twisted (and this), among others. Jamie Burns (Christmas Future) is also a first for you. Despite your considering it and disregarding it, Brian Holden (Remus Lupin/Hagrid/Basilisk) was in fact Tiny Tim. This (2021) was about 8 years after Twisted and A Very Potter Senior Year (2012/2013) and 12 years after A Very Potter Musical (2009). In 2022, they did The Starkid Jangle Ball Holiday Tour, where they did concert renditions of various villain songs and the VHS Christmas Carol. I saw them in Boston, MA. It was the first time they had gone on tour since 2012.
Super happy you reacted to this! You mentioned Curt Mega in the credits, you should add “Spies Are Forever” by Tin Can Bros to your list, he plays the main character and there’s lots of Starkid actors in it :) TCB is founded by Joey Richter, Brain Rosenthal and Corey Lubowich from Starkid!!
A couple details you were asking about. 1. This performance was filmed in 2021, Twisted was in 2013, and the original A Very Potter Musical was in 2009. 2. At this point Joey Richter (Ron) and Lauren Lopez (Draco) were engaged but not married yet.
I always forget about this show in the Starkid canon but it's an absolutely legitimate "Christmas Carol" telling and a rare tongue-in-cheek pastiche that respects both its music genre and the original tale and is still uplifting and manages to deliver the spirit of the Dickens original. EVERY SONG bangs perfectly, is shockingly-good 80s pastiche, and the show is tightly-wound and doesn't overstay its welcome. That moment where the Future Spirit's wail turns to "Ebeneezer Scrooge" manages to be chilling and groovy at the same time, a true coup de théâtre.
Merry Christmas!!! Priceless is definitely my favorite song from this show. A few things you were asking: 1. Yes, the mustache is real, so is the hair. 2. The only new people (to you) in this show are Janaya (belle), Jamie burns (Christmas future) and James (Christmas present, who actually was the choreography for the Harry Potter shows) The rest were all in the Harry Potter shows. 3. Yes the blonde guy playing young scrounge and more characters (Brian Rosenthal) is the actor who played Quirrell and tiny tim (Brian Holden) is the person that played Lupin and Hagrid (and directed twisted) 4. Another person you didn’t seem to recognize is Fred (Cory Dorris) who played yaxsly in AVPS and Kingsley Shacklebolt in AVPSY 5. The guy playing the piano and narrating the show, Clark, wrote the music and also wrote a lot of other StarKid musicals, including some of the songs in AVPSY
I’m going to add a fun fact that I don’t see in the comments yet- Meredith Stepien (Jacob Marley in this and Hermione in A Very Potter Senior Year) posted a bunch of BTS for this show and their recent tour on her youtube channel, and she mentioned that this is her favorite Starkid show. She only plays one role in the live show because when she is not on stage as Marley, she’s working the sound mixer for the band. A lot of the cast mention in the BTS that they like this show so much, they want to do a seasonal run every year for as long as they can but I don’t know if that’s a definite thing or an idea they are just kicking around.
More things you were asking at the end: 1. Yes they release all the music there’s a studio album version for almost every one of their shows, the last two topped the Billboard charts. 2. They don’t tour the actual shows. When they do tour it’s a concert of only the music from a bunch of shows. The most recent one they’ve done in 2022 (the jingle ball tour) had 2 acts. The first a bunch of villains songs from all their shows and the second was a concert version of VVHCC 3. Yes, they do a version of this show every winter. In 2020 it was a from home version, in 2021 was the one you just saw, in 2022 was the tour and just a month ago in 2023 they did a new staged version of the show that was way longer and had a whole new act one with more Christmas stories. They plan to do a version of this every year. 4. That’s the only sung through show they did so far
And the digital ticket (pro-shot quality!) for this years 2023 VHS Christmas Carols (with the 2 extra stories and 13 GORGEOUS new songs) is still available through the end of December! Highly highlyyy recommend
Hey, Happy Christmas! 🎄 Hope you and you family have a great day! 'Spies are Forever' is a musical made by Tin Can Bros (Joey Richter(Ron), Brian Rosenthal(Quirrell) and Corey Lubowich(producer of many Starkid musicals)). Can you add it to list? It is in the same genre and has many Starkid actors in it. Edit: This is the only show they have done which doesn't have dialogue. The ghost of Christmas present has been their choreographer from their Potter show days. That was Quirrell, Tiny Tim was Lupin and Fred was Yaxley. If you didn't know, Brian Holden(Lupin) and Meredith(Hermione) are also married
I was lucky enough to be in the audience when they filmed this night! It was the first real Starkid play I'd ever gotten the chance to see live (besides the Homecoming concert in 2019), and they really are so electric in person. No one puts on a show like Starkid, the energy in the room is INSANE. It was a small theater with tables, instead of rows of seats, and I was sitting right behind one of the cameras. AJ Holmes (Fezziwig, Lockhart) came out to do a pre-show bit with the audience, wandering around doing 80s music trivia and telling jokes. It was called the "Fezziwig's Christmas Cocktail Party" pre-show or something like that, and it was a blast. It was also a night that Joe Walker (Voldemort) was in the audience watching. (I wanted to get an autograph, but I didn't want to bug him lmao) I will say, the one thing you do miss out on by not watching the Starkid shows in order is how awesome it is when certain people show up in a show. People like Jaime Lyn Beatty (Ginny) and Lauren Lopez (Malfoy) have been in almost every single show, which usually came out once a year before covid. But after Twisted in 2013, Dylan Saunders (Ja'far) hadn't been in any productions until Black Friday in 2019, and then this in 2020. It's such a vibe when fan faves are gone for a long time and then come back again. Since they're all such good friends outside of the shows, it's so lovely to see how none of them ever really leave it behind forever, in whatever capacity. Even Darren Criss came back after 10 years for the Homecoming anniversary concert, despite not doing anything since the last Potter musical. I just love this entire group so much, I wish I was friends with them, truly 😭
Darren was in A Very Starkid Reunion in 2015 and also performed with Starkid at Elsie Fest that same year, so he really only returned after 4 years at Homecoming.
My favorite song is Priceless as well. But that transition in Final Ghost with the melody turning into Ebenezer Scrooge is just amazing. I also love the “Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Funny” part in it.
The original presentation of VHS Christmas Carol was not a recording of a live show, as it was performed by each actor separately during lockdown, and the way it was edited, effects chosen, etc., did resemble the look of direct-to-video shows of the era. (So Turkey Boy being on a screen behind Scrooge is actually a nod to the original, as well as a way to let Ali reprise her role.) Don't ask me how old I am that I remember what those looked like! And yes, Mrs. Cratchit having a sassy attitude when it comes to the topic of Scrooge is faithful to Dickens's version. My favorite song? Well, "Christmas Electricity" gets stuck in my head constantly, but I might love "That Scrooge" just a little more. Flawless Whitney Houston vibe.
This is so wonderful, and deserves so many more views! 'Priceless' is my favorite too! Lauren Lopez and Joey Richter are amazing together and give a great performance
Priceless is my favourite song, too! It's just so wholesome! Though Christmas Electricity does get stuck in my head a lot! haha The reason the show was called 'A VHS Christmas Carol' is because it was released during the pandemic, with all of the actors making 80's style music videos from home, that were then tied together with Clarke's musical naration and livestreamed. It was SUCH a cool way to keep performing through a really difficult time for musical theatre!
Oh my god, Veggie, best Christmas present!!! Happy holidays to you! extremely hyped to watch Christmas Carol again with you! Edit after i watched: Joey's mustache is his own and very real! and Tiny Tim and some bg characters is indeed Lupin. as well as Quirrell, yep, that is him. Xmas Carol is so much fun because so many original members are involved. Funnily enough, Brittney, who played Bellatrix was Belle in their very first version of this show that they made during the lockdown. Incredibly hard to pick a fav here! the whole soundtrack just rotates in my head at all times.
Thanks for this amazing wholesome reaction and a very merry Christmas to you! To explain the Turkey Boy on the screen cameo: in 2020 they did a first run of the show, a recorded from home version because of COVID. Turkey Boy was played by Ali Gordon, returning after her only StarKid role in 2009’s Me and My Dick (and not being able to make it to A Very Potter Senior Year). The role grew popular with the fanbase because of the accent and also from suddenly having Ali back in a show. A year later, in 2021, they did this version. Ali couldn’t make it to be live on stage, but instead of recasting her, they wanted to keep her in the role and found a solution by pre-recording footage.
Arguably one of (if not the) most faithful adaptation of A Christmas Carol is the one with the Muppets, plus it's a musical, also Michael Caine is the definitive Scrooge - he's amazing. And he did it surrounded by singing felt. I'd recommend watching it.
My recommendation for your next Starkid musicals is: 1. Starship - space comedy about an alien bug who wants to be human, kind of a little mermaid like story, stars Joey Richter (Ron) as the lead 2. Firebringer - comedy about how humans discovered fire, features Lauren Lopez (Draco) and Meredith Stepien (Hermione/Scheherazade) as main characters. 3. Spies Are Forever - made by Starkid’s sister company Tin Can Bros, it’s a parody of American spy movies/James Bond, stars Lauren Lopez (Draco), Joey Richter (Ron), Joseph Walker (Voldemort/Achmed) and Brian Rosenthal (Quirrel)
I watched all Starkid musicals (except MAMD) a few years ago but only watched this one fairly recently. I absolutely loved it. The concept seemed weird to me, but it 100% works. Christmas Electricity in particular is such a bop, it still just randomly enters my mind sometimes.
I discovered Starkids a few months ago with their play The Guy Who Didn't LIke Musicals, and I've enjoyed the hell out of their shows since. Thus, I have a few observations from this show: Christmas Past was indeed going for an Olivia Newton John vibe, although should could also have been channeling Jane Fonda, who helped popularize the aerobics craze of the early 80's. Yet, I can still appreciate the character having a cigarette, which highlighted the hypocrisy (or ignorance) of many of the fitness gurus of the time. That Scrooge was a great take on the 80's ballads, and I appreciate the Whitney Houston feeling of the song. Christmas Electricity is one of my favorite songs from the show, as its catchiness reminds me of the breakdance songs of the mid 80's. Plus those glasses of Christmas Present are amazing. Pricessless is probably my favorite song, especially since it's very much like "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Know" by Starship (the band, not the play). The Final Ghost is another great song that matches the darkness of some of the synth of the later 80's, perhaps with bands such as Pet Shop Boys.
So the name of the girl who plays future is Jamie… her first show with Starkid was Firebringer and she has a killer song towards the end. Powerhouse vocals Firebringer should be added to your list. It’s meridiths (Jacob Marley) first time writing music and the harmonies are amazing. It’s also really funny!!
Thanks so much for the Christmas present. It was perfect watching this with you. By now, I am sure some people have told you who you knew and who was new. You actually did a pretty good job recognizing people, so thumbs up. I don't know if anyone else has added that Brian R., Joey, and Corey formed an offshoot of Team StarKid called Tin Can Brothers. They wanted to try their hands at writing and directing and stuff. Two things they parody is Scooby-Doo (the Solve-It Squad) and James Bond/spy movies (Spies Are Forever). Those are some more things you should check out in time. Believe me, there is plenty of content as long as you like watching these talented people. Plus, they are nowhere near done. New projects are on the horizon and who knows how much more we will get. 😉 Anyway, again, this was great. Thank you.
A lot of people have commented to answer some of the questions you had, so I won’t answer them all. I’m not sure if anyone has responded to this though: * The recorded part in the last song, which was only projected on the screen is because the actress (Ali Gordon) was originally in the first version of the show. The character’s name is Turkey Boy and it became something of an inside joke within the cast that Turkey Boy was such an iconic and important character, but since Ali was unable to do the show live with them they had to include her and that specific character in the live show version!!
I‘ve heard you say that Christmas Past reminds you of Madonna. If I remember correctly the references they were going for are: Jacob - Annie Lennox Christmas Past - Olivia Newton John, Let‘s Get Physical Christmas Now - Wham, Wake Me Up Before you Go Go Belle - Whitney Houston There might be more I‘m currently not remembering though. And just to add: the boy at the end (yellow jumper, only appearing on screen) was played by Ali Gordon. She only appeared in Me and My Dick prior to this. They‘ve done an online version of this show during covid which was all home recorded videos put together and so when the live shows came, and her role was so small, they just used her video from the online version for the live version.
Yay! I'm so happy this came out, and that you enjoyed it! To answer your most pressing question, the mustache IS real! Thank you so much for continuing to do these Starkid reactions, they're so much fun :D
I'm so happy you watched this!!! Its what I commented on your last vid! Your reaction was the exact same as my own, recognizing all the actors throughout made me so happy and the story was very true to the source material, not a parody or anything. Btw, my favorite song is the ghost of Christmas future, "The Final Ghost"!
I actually did watch the original one, which isn't on youtube, and listen to the soundtrack every year. There are more than a couple i can't get through without crying 😂@VeggieGamer
I'm really impressed by how good you were at regocnizing the actors actually! Though 56:36 "No thats definitly not Lupin" 😂 That actually *is* Lupin! Fun fact: that actor (Brian Holden) is married to the actor playing Jacob Marly (Meredith Stepien) I have a very hard time choosing just one favorite song! I love Three Spirits (Jacob Marly's song). But also the Ghost of Christmas future's song and Priceless! It's one of those three!
Priceless gets stuck in my head for days at a time. It's so nice. And, if I remember the book correctly, Mrs. Cratchit hating Scrooge's guts is highly accurate.
Yes, Joey Richter (Ron)'s mustache is real. Britney Coleman (Bellatrix) does not play Belle here, but she actually did play Belle in the original virtual version as well as on the album. You should listen to the album, she (and everyone else) sounds so amazing! That Scrooge is my favorite song.
I'm so happy that you're reacting to this now! It's just so nice to do for christmas!! But for the rest of the shows i agree that doing the newest stuff later. But I think most people agree this one is an exception. 58:55 - Whamageddon is actually played in many contries besides UK! Here in Denmark we play it too! And I survived whamageddon for the first time this december, so I'm feeling super proud of that! 😁
Yay you did it! Lovin' the love for Jaime Lyn Beatty (Past), she's a gem, and was very amused by how adamant you were that Tiny Tim was not Lupin. Don't know if anyone said it, but since you kept mentioning Joey and Lauren: besides them being married, Brian Holden and Meredith are as well. That's a fun thing to remember if you ever watch Firebringer ;)
Yay!! Oh my god, thank you for this, Veggie. I was having a rather crap Christmas, and this is probably the best thing that’s gonna happen for me today. I don’t know how you do it, but you always post Starkid stuff when I need it the most.
@Veggie Gamer Fun Fact Time! #1) This entire show as the brain child of the man who wrote it: Clark Baxtresser. His concept behind the show was wanting to write and produce a music album that tells a story. He chose "A Christmas Carol." When COVID hit, Starkid needed something they could do from home. Clark came up with the idea of adapting his "Album That Tells A Story" idea to a visual medium. In order to do his vision justice, he decided to write the show as a series of Music Videos. That's why it's all music and no spoken dialogue. Clark slightly modified the show when they decided to bring live to stage the following year after lockdown ended because he realized that, as a live show, he needed transitions between each song which weren't in the original because, again, the original visual concept was just a series of Music Videos. #2) The Ghost of Christmas Past was based off of Olivia Newton-John. #3) The Ghost of Christmas Future was based off of Bonnie Tyler; specifically her look from "Total Eclipse of The Heart." Also, they decided to keep The Ghost of Christmas Future completely without dialogue to reinforce the fact that the future is yet to be written. I asked Corey Lubowich about this during the RUclips Premiere because he was in the chat during the premiere. And since you asked, "This Scrooge" is, hands down, the best song of the show/album. Janaya takes it to a whole 'nother level. When I first watched this during the initial run, my jaw hit the floor when she let loose with that Whitney Houston Belt. "Priceless" is my second favorite song of the show.
So James who played Christmas present (Christmas electricity) is starkiids choreographer and only recently started to be on stage… but wanted to share since you mentioned he had moves lol him and Lauren do a lot of the choreo
I remember it was first after covid life show and i literally cried during Priceless because it gets totally different vibe when you think about it in the covid context... especially for life theatre actors.
The usual musicals are more along the lines of A Very Potter Musical, where it's not ALL singing and there is regular spoken dialogue. VHS Christmas Carol is kind of a special case because it was originally released as pretty much a Zoom-recorded performance during the pandemic, so they were trying out something new rather than their usual yearly musical
I think it's fine and maybe better to go back and forth a bit in the musicals, I just recommend not leaving all the early ones until the end and maybe save some of the more recent ones until last... Either way, it should be fine to watch this for Christmas. The staging depends on the show really... This was probably a smaller show... They don't typically tour a whole show... This being performed in Chicago after this one is probably partly because Team Starkid used to be based in Chicago for a while, before moving to LA, and some of these cast members still live there, so it's like a chance to do the show in their home town too... This said, Team StarKid has done tours before... But more like concerts of a selection of songs rather than a whole musical... Now and then they've done one-off concerts or performances, maybe showed up at conventions... I think they've done their craziest stuff at conventions... Like I think one time they did the opening to A Very Potter Musical, but like maybe twice the normal speed or something lol. I think my favourite song for this might be That Scrooge... It's like the powerhouse song that really hits the feels... But I could see my favourite shifting because a lot of them are really great... The Christmas Carol is a great story... I'm not the biggest fan of the dryer retellings though... I dunno... I'd say that despite really enjoying this version, my favourite version is the Muppets Christmas Carol... Scrooged is a pretty fun, more modern take too, with Bill Murray, I think... There was also a pretty cool Disney version with Scrooge McDuck in the leading role... But yeah, I highly recommend the Muppets version (although, try to find a way to watch the extended version with the extra song in it... I think Disney Plus has it as an option... But I suppose if you get to Belle and Scrooge breaking up and there isn't a song there, maybe you can just find the song on its own, watch that, then go back to the movie... I think it's called "The Love is Gone").
Hi Veggie , I hope you have had a Happy Christmas 😊🎉. I would just like to say I can't believe that you haven't seen a Christmas Carol. As you like musicals you ought to see the Albert Finney's version it also has Anton sorry I can't remember his last name that is brilliant but if you want to see a really great theatrical version then the 1951 black and white Alistair Sims don't get me wrong the other versions are good I will always watch a new version but none of the beat that version, you used to talk about the David Thewlis an inspector calls you ought to see the Alistair Sims version of that. Also Scrooge has only fools and horses George Cole as the young Scrooge who was Alistair's son or was it adopted. Or the funny Scrooged with Bill Murray. Now I am going to restart this and watch it properly.
Hi Veggie, am glad you keep saying the Harry Potter character's name cause it would annoy me in trying to figure out I think the ghost of Christmas past was based on Olivia Newton John physical the ghost of Christmas present looked like George Michael - wham and the ghost of Christmas future looks like Bonnie Tyler , I like the Christmas past song.
Just to give you a quick run-down: Draco/Emily Cratchit (Lauren Lopez) Ron/Bob Cratchit (Joey Richter) Jafar/Dumbledore/Scrooge (Dylan Saunders) Sherazade/Jacob Marley (Meredith Stepien) Lupin/Tiny TIm (Brian Holden) Ginny/Christmas Past (Jamie Lynn Beatty) Christmas Present (James Tolbert) Christmas Future (Jamie Burns) Quirrell/Young Scrooge (Brian Rosenthal) Gilderoy/Mr. Fezziwigs (AJ Holmes) Belle (Janaya Mahealani Jones) Fred (Corey Doris) Keyboard/Narrator (Clark Baxtresser) And thats just whos on VHS, there are a lot more members of starkid
So glad you enjoyed this, the songs are all just so good! I wonder if you’re planning to react to Stranger Things in the future, the 80s vibe made me think of that 🥰
Glad you enjoyed it Veggie, the Christmas timing was too good an opportunity to waste. Young Scrooge is Quirrel, and you spotted Lupin as Tiny Tim and a couple of other characters. This is only sung-through one to date and about the straightest/non-parody rendition. Joey doesn't always have a real moustache, but the moustache does come back to play a starring role every once in a while.
Watched this last year when kt was posted on YT, and I had a few parts stuck in my head afterward. Now I’m wondering if this would be a good musical for a smaller/school-age theatre group to do. I can see them doing this at the school I went to.
The girl playing the ghost of Christmas future is completely new as far as I know. I have only ever seen her here, but I haven't watched the super old stuff so she could have been there and I not know.
after this your next starkid adventure should be hatchetfield. (starts with the guy who didn’t like musicals) it’s amazing and their best work next to twisted in my opinion
I love how excited you get when you notice familiar faces 🥹🥹 I imagine this must be what it’s like to get shown the future and suddenly see how far friends have evolved in 10+ years
![YoungBoy Never Broke Again - Catch Me [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/KxwEXXFQMTY/mqdefault.jpg)
If you didn't realize, you've also seen Corey Doris (Fred) as Yaxley (A Very Potter Sequel) and Kingsley Shacklebolt (A Very Potter Senior Year).
A.J. Holmes (Fezziwig) was in fact Gilderoy Lockhart (A Very Potter Senior Year), and Brian Rosenthal (Young Scrooge) was Quirrell, Seamus Finnigan, and James Potter (A Very Potter Musicals).
This was Janaya Mahealani Jones' (Belle) first appearance with Starkid. Although, funnily enough, in their original 2020 online version of VHS Christmas Carol, Belle was portrayed by Britney Coleman (Bellatrix).
This is the first time you've seen James Tolbert (Christmas Present), but he did work as Starkid's choreographer for A Very Potter Sequel and Twisted (and this), among others. Jamie Burns (Christmas Future) is also a first for you.
Despite your considering it and disregarding it, Brian Holden (Remus Lupin/Hagrid/Basilisk) was in fact Tiny Tim.
This (2021) was about 8 years after Twisted and A Very Potter Senior Year (2012/2013) and 12 years after A Very Potter Musical (2009).
In 2022, they did The Starkid Jangle Ball Holiday Tour, where they did concert renditions of various villain songs and the VHS Christmas Carol. I saw them in Boston, MA. It was the first time they had gone on tour since 2012.
Super happy you reacted to this! You mentioned Curt Mega in the credits, you should add “Spies Are Forever” by Tin Can Bros to your list, he plays the main character and there’s lots of Starkid actors in it :) TCB is founded by Joey Richter, Brain Rosenthal and Corey Lubowich from Starkid!!
Spies are forever is my favourite strike show please do!
Lol at the double-take at Curt Mega's name 😂 someone needs to watch Spies Are Forever
Fun fact. Brian Holden (Tiny Tim/Lupin) and Meredith Stepien (Hermione/Sherazad/ Jacob Marley) are also married to each other.
A couple details you were asking about.
1. This performance was filmed in 2021, Twisted was in 2013, and the original A Very Potter Musical was in 2009.
2. At this point Joey Richter (Ron) and Lauren Lopez (Draco) were engaged but not married yet.
They are married. I was just saying that at the time of this show they were engaged but not married yet.
Your reaction to Curt Mega’s name was my favourite. I’ve seen many recommendations for Spies are Forever and I totally second those
I always forget about this show in the Starkid canon but it's an absolutely legitimate "Christmas Carol" telling and a rare tongue-in-cheek pastiche that respects both its music genre and the original tale and is still uplifting and manages to deliver the spirit of the Dickens original. EVERY SONG bangs perfectly, is shockingly-good 80s pastiche, and the show is tightly-wound and doesn't overstay its welcome. That moment where the Future Spirit's wail turns to "Ebeneezer Scrooge" manages to be chilling and groovy at the same time, a true coup de théâtre.
Merry Christmas!!! Priceless is definitely my favorite song from this show.
A few things you were asking:
1. Yes, the mustache is real, so is the hair.
2. The only new people (to you) in this show are Janaya (belle), Jamie burns (Christmas future) and James (Christmas present, who actually was the choreography for the Harry Potter shows) The rest were all in the Harry Potter shows.
3. Yes the blonde guy playing young scrounge and more characters (Brian Rosenthal) is the actor who played Quirrell and tiny tim (Brian Holden) is the person that played Lupin and Hagrid (and directed twisted)
4. Another person you didn’t seem to recognize is Fred (Cory Dorris) who played yaxsly in AVPS and Kingsley Shacklebolt in AVPSY
5. The guy playing the piano and narrating the show, Clark, wrote the music and also wrote a lot of other StarKid musicals, including some of the songs in AVPSY
Also, Janaya replaces Brittany Coleman (Bellatrix) from the original online version of this musical.
I’m going to add a fun fact that I don’t see in the comments yet- Meredith Stepien (Jacob Marley in this and Hermione in A Very Potter Senior Year) posted a bunch of BTS for this show and their recent tour on her youtube channel, and she mentioned that this is her favorite Starkid show. She only plays one role in the live show because when she is not on stage as Marley, she’s working the sound mixer for the band.
A lot of the cast mention in the BTS that they like this show so much, they want to do a seasonal run every year for as long as they can but I don’t know if that’s a definite thing or an idea they are just kicking around.
More things you were asking at the end:
1. Yes they release all the music there’s a studio album version for almost every one of their shows, the last two topped the Billboard charts.
2. They don’t tour the actual shows. When they do tour it’s a concert of only the music from a bunch of shows. The most recent one they’ve done in 2022 (the jingle ball tour) had 2 acts. The first a bunch of villains songs from all their shows and the second was a concert version of VVHCC
3. Yes, they do a version of this show every winter. In 2020 it was a from home version, in 2021 was the one you just saw, in 2022 was the tour and just a month ago in 2023 they did a new staged version of the show that was way longer and had a whole new act one with more Christmas stories. They plan to do a version of this every year.
4. That’s the only sung through show they did so far
And the digital ticket (pro-shot quality!) for this years 2023 VHS Christmas Carols (with the 2 extra stories and 13 GORGEOUS new songs) is still available through the end of December! Highly highlyyy recommend
Hey, Happy Christmas! 🎄 Hope you and you family have a great day!
'Spies are Forever' is a musical made by Tin Can Bros (Joey Richter(Ron), Brian Rosenthal(Quirrell) and Corey Lubowich(producer of many Starkid musicals)). Can you add it to list? It is in the same genre and has many Starkid actors in it.
Edit: This is the only show they have done which doesn't have dialogue.
The ghost of Christmas present has been their choreographer from their Potter show days.
That was Quirrell, Tiny Tim was Lupin and Fred was Yaxley.
If you didn't know, Brian Holden(Lupin) and Meredith(Hermione) are also married
Big yes to this!! I would love to see a SAF reaction as it is my favorite starkid related thing
Yes! I love Spies are Forever! Veggie should definitely react to it, it's so good!
spies are forever is perfect
I was lucky enough to be in the audience when they filmed this night! It was the first real Starkid play I'd ever gotten the chance to see live (besides the Homecoming concert in 2019), and they really are so electric in person. No one puts on a show like Starkid, the energy in the room is INSANE. It was a small theater with tables, instead of rows of seats, and I was sitting right behind one of the cameras. AJ Holmes (Fezziwig, Lockhart) came out to do a pre-show bit with the audience, wandering around doing 80s music trivia and telling jokes. It was called the "Fezziwig's Christmas Cocktail Party" pre-show or something like that, and it was a blast. It was also a night that Joe Walker (Voldemort) was in the audience watching. (I wanted to get an autograph, but I didn't want to bug him lmao)
I will say, the one thing you do miss out on by not watching the Starkid shows in order is how awesome it is when certain people show up in a show. People like Jaime Lyn Beatty (Ginny) and Lauren Lopez (Malfoy) have been in almost every single show, which usually came out once a year before covid. But after Twisted in 2013, Dylan Saunders (Ja'far) hadn't been in any productions until Black Friday in 2019, and then this in 2020. It's such a vibe when fan faves are gone for a long time and then come back again. Since they're all such good friends outside of the shows, it's so lovely to see how none of them ever really leave it behind forever, in whatever capacity. Even Darren Criss came back after 10 years for the Homecoming anniversary concert, despite not doing anything since the last Potter musical. I just love this entire group so much, I wish I was friends with them, truly 😭
Darren was in A Very Starkid Reunion in 2015 and also performed with Starkid at Elsie Fest that same year, so he really only returned after 4 years at Homecoming.
My favorite song is Priceless as well. But that transition in Final Ghost with the melody turning into Ebenezer Scrooge is just amazing. I also love the “Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Funny” part in it.
The original presentation of VHS Christmas Carol was not a recording of a live show, as it was performed by each actor separately during lockdown, and the way it was edited, effects chosen, etc., did resemble the look of direct-to-video shows of the era. (So Turkey Boy being on a screen behind Scrooge is actually a nod to the original, as well as a way to let Ali reprise her role.) Don't ask me how old I am that I remember what those looked like! And yes, Mrs. Cratchit having a sassy attitude when it comes to the topic of Scrooge is faithful to Dickens's version. My favorite song? Well, "Christmas Electricity" gets stuck in my head constantly, but I might love "That Scrooge" just a little more. Flawless Whitney Houston vibe.
This is so wonderful, and deserves so many more views! 'Priceless' is my favorite too!
Lauren Lopez and Joey Richter are amazing together and give a great performance
Priceless is my favourite song, too! It's just so wholesome! Though Christmas Electricity does get stuck in my head a lot! haha
The reason the show was called 'A VHS Christmas Carol' is because it was released during the pandemic, with all of the actors making 80's style music videos from home, that were then tied together with Clarke's musical naration and livestreamed. It was SUCH a cool way to keep performing through a really difficult time for musical theatre!
Omg, another Starkid reaction so fast?? It IS the best Christmas I had so far!!
Oh my god, Veggie, best Christmas present!!! Happy holidays to you! extremely hyped to watch Christmas Carol again with you!
Edit after i watched: Joey's mustache is his own and very real! and Tiny Tim and some bg characters is indeed Lupin. as well as Quirrell, yep, that is him. Xmas Carol is so much fun because so many original members are involved.
Funnily enough, Brittney, who played Bellatrix was Belle in their very first version of this show that they made during the lockdown.
Incredibly hard to pick a fav here! the whole soundtrack just rotates in my head at all times.
Thanks for this amazing wholesome reaction and a very merry Christmas to you!
To explain the Turkey Boy on the screen cameo: in 2020 they did a first run of the show, a recorded from home version because of COVID. Turkey Boy was played by Ali Gordon, returning after her only StarKid role in 2009’s Me and My Dick (and not being able to make it to A Very Potter Senior Year). The role grew popular with the fanbase because of the accent and also from suddenly having Ali back in a show. A year later, in 2021, they did this version. Ali couldn’t make it to be live on stage, but instead of recasting her, they wanted to keep her in the role and found a solution by pre-recording footage.
Yes, and the 2023 version saw her as The Little Matchstick Girl. :)
Hell yes!! Very festive. I love VHSCC, its so underrated
Arguably one of (if not the) most faithful adaptation of A Christmas Carol is the one with the Muppets, plus it's a musical, also Michael Caine is the definitive Scrooge - he's amazing. And he did it surrounded by singing felt. I'd recommend watching it.
My recommendation for your next Starkid musicals is:
1. Starship - space comedy about an alien bug who wants to be human, kind of a little mermaid like story, stars Joey Richter (Ron) as the lead
2. Firebringer - comedy about how humans discovered fire, features Lauren Lopez (Draco) and Meredith Stepien (Hermione/Scheherazade) as main characters.
3. Spies Are Forever - made by Starkid’s sister company Tin Can Bros, it’s a parody of American spy movies/James Bond, stars Lauren Lopez (Draco), Joey Richter (Ron), Joseph Walker (Voldemort/Achmed) and Brian Rosenthal (Quirrel)
love how you didn't list curt for spies are forever 😭😭
@cream_cheese_bagel I was naming people Veggie has already seen. As of this comment, he doesn't know who Curt is.
For a first experience with a Christmas carol this is actually a really decent adaption of the book
This is the best Christmas Present
Screw the plot- my favorite part of every reaction is you pointing out every returning actor!😂 Gets me so excited 😭
I watched all Starkid musicals (except MAMD) a few years ago but only watched this one fairly recently. I absolutely loved it. The concept seemed weird to me, but it 100% works. Christmas Electricity in particular is such a bop, it still just randomly enters my mind sometimes.
i really enjoy seeing u get so excited at recognising the cast bc that’s half the fun of starkid shows to me , i love seeing who’s playing who
I discovered Starkids a few months ago with their play The Guy Who Didn't LIke Musicals, and I've enjoyed the hell out of their shows since. Thus, I have a few observations from this show:
Christmas Past was indeed going for an Olivia Newton John vibe, although should could also have been channeling Jane Fonda, who helped popularize the aerobics craze of the early 80's. Yet, I can still appreciate the character having a cigarette, which highlighted the hypocrisy (or ignorance) of many of the fitness gurus of the time.
That Scrooge was a great take on the 80's ballads, and I appreciate the Whitney Houston feeling of the song.
Christmas Electricity is one of my favorite songs from the show, as its catchiness reminds me of the breakdance songs of the mid 80's. Plus those glasses of Christmas Present are amazing.
Pricessless is probably my favorite song, especially since it's very much like "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Know" by Starship (the band, not the play).
The Final Ghost is another great song that matches the darkness of some of the synth of the later 80's, perhaps with bands such as Pet Shop Boys.
So the name of the girl who plays future is Jamie… her first show with Starkid was Firebringer and she has a killer song towards the end. Powerhouse vocals
Firebringer should be added to your list. It’s meridiths (Jacob Marley) first time writing music and the harmonies are amazing. It’s also really funny!!
Clark Baxtresser musical goat ❤
Belle is a new starkid member Janaya, she's amazing!
Same as you, I love Priceless (cried very much when it was reprised in the end) and the song for the Ghost of Christmas Future.
Thanks so much for the Christmas present. It was perfect watching this with you. By now, I am sure some people have told you who you knew and who was new. You actually did a pretty good job recognizing people, so thumbs up. I don't know if anyone else has added that Brian R., Joey, and Corey formed an offshoot of Team StarKid called Tin Can Brothers. They wanted to try their hands at writing and directing and stuff. Two things they parody is Scooby-Doo (the Solve-It Squad) and James Bond/spy movies (Spies Are Forever). Those are some more things you should check out in time. Believe me, there is plenty of content as long as you like watching these talented people. Plus, they are nowhere near done. New projects are on the horizon and who knows how much more we will get. 😉 Anyway, again, this was great. Thank you.
A lot of people have commented to answer some of the questions you had, so I won’t answer them all. I’m not sure if anyone has responded to this though:
* The recorded part in the last song, which was only projected on the screen is because the actress (Ali Gordon) was originally in the first version of the show. The character’s name is Turkey Boy and it became something of an inside joke within the cast that Turkey Boy was such an iconic and important character, but since Ali was unable to do the show live with them they had to include her and that specific character in the live show version!!
And yes, they’re hoping to do this show every year! So if you’d like to see it in person, you have a chance in the future!
I‘ve heard you say that Christmas Past reminds you of Madonna.
If I remember correctly the references they were going for are:
Jacob - Annie Lennox
Christmas Past - Olivia Newton John, Let‘s Get Physical
Christmas Now - Wham, Wake Me Up Before you Go Go
Belle - Whitney Houston
There might be more I‘m currently not remembering though.
And just to add: the boy at the end (yellow jumper, only appearing on screen) was played by Ali Gordon. She only appeared in Me and My Dick prior to this. They‘ve done an online version of this show during covid which was all home recorded videos put together and so when the live shows came, and her role was so small, they just used her video from the online version for the live version.
Ooh, you could be right with the Olivia Newton John thing! I didn't think of that! Great call!
I think I've watched this show at least 20 times this December alone but I got to see Starkid perform live on a tour last year and it was incredible.
Yay! I'm so happy this came out, and that you enjoyed it! To answer your most pressing question, the mustache IS real! Thank you so much for continuing to do these Starkid reactions, they're so much fun :D
I'm so happy you watched this!!! Its what I commented on your last vid! Your reaction was the exact same as my own, recognizing all the actors throughout made me so happy and the story was very true to the source material, not a parody or anything. Btw, my favorite song is the ghost of Christmas future, "The Final Ghost"!
I’m so happy you’re reacting to this!!! VHS CC has a special place in my heart
I got a quarter way through this reaction and remembered i haven't actually watched this one yet
I have literally had 'Christmas Electricity' stuck in my head ever since!
I actually did watch the original one, which isn't on youtube, and listen to the soundtrack every year. There are more than a couple i can't get through without crying 😂@VeggieGamer
I'm really impressed by how good you were at regocnizing the actors actually!
Though 56:36 "No thats definitly not Lupin" 😂 That actually *is* Lupin! Fun fact: that actor (Brian Holden) is married to the actor playing Jacob Marly (Meredith Stepien)
I have a very hard time choosing just one favorite song! I love Three Spirits (Jacob Marly's song). But also the Ghost of Christmas future's song and Priceless! It's one of those three!
This is my mum's favourite musical, and I love it too I'm so glad you watched it!!
Priceless gets stuck in my head for days at a time. It's so nice. And, if I remember the book correctly, Mrs. Cratchit hating Scrooge's guts is highly accurate.
Yes, Joey Richter (Ron)'s mustache is real.
Britney Coleman (Bellatrix) does not play Belle here, but she actually did play Belle in the original virtual version as well as on the album. You should listen to the album, she (and everyone else) sounds so amazing!
That Scrooge is my favorite song.
I'm so happy that you're reacting to this now! It's just so nice to do for christmas!! But for the rest of the shows i agree that doing the newest stuff later. But I think most people agree this one is an exception.
58:55 - Whamageddon is actually played in many contries besides UK! Here in Denmark we play it too! And I survived whamageddon for the first time this december, so I'm feeling super proud of that! 😁
Yay you did it! Lovin' the love for Jaime Lyn Beatty (Past), she's a gem, and was very amused by how adamant you were that Tiny Tim was not Lupin. Don't know if anyone said it, but since you kept mentioning Joey and Lauren: besides them being married, Brian Holden and Meredith are as well. That's a fun thing to remember if you ever watch Firebringer ;)
Oh and for me: All the songs are frkn bangers! Clark did such an amazing job
Christmas Electricity is my favorite to dance to, but Priceless is my favorite for the feels
Yesss got covid yesterday and this is a great thing to watch while recovering, I’ve been waiting for this
Yess, I love that you did this for christmas. it‘s such an underrated show (judging by views on their channel) but I love it so much. Happy Holidays 🎉
Yay!! Oh my god, thank you for this, Veggie. I was having a rather crap Christmas, and this is probably the best thing that’s gonna happen for me today. I don’t know how you do it, but you always post Starkid stuff when I need it the most.
YESSSS YOU’VE JOINED THE “CRY WHEN SCROOGE CALLS BOB ‘PRICELESS’” CLUB!!!!!
@Veggie Gamer
Fun Fact Time!
#1) This entire show as the brain child of the man who wrote it: Clark Baxtresser. His concept behind the show was wanting to write and produce a music album that tells a story. He chose "A Christmas Carol." When COVID hit, Starkid needed something they could do from home. Clark came up with the idea of adapting his "Album That Tells A Story" idea to a visual medium. In order to do his vision justice, he decided to write the show as a series of Music Videos. That's why it's all music and no spoken dialogue. Clark slightly modified the show when they decided to bring live to stage the following year after lockdown ended because he realized that, as a live show, he needed transitions between each song which weren't in the original because, again, the original visual concept was just a series of Music Videos.
#2) The Ghost of Christmas Past was based off of Olivia Newton-John.
#3) The Ghost of Christmas Future was based off of Bonnie Tyler; specifically her look from "Total Eclipse of The Heart." Also, they decided to keep The Ghost of Christmas Future completely without dialogue to reinforce the fact that the future is yet to be written. I asked Corey Lubowich about this during the RUclips Premiere because he was in the chat during the premiere.
And since you asked, "This Scrooge" is, hands down, the best song of the show/album. Janaya takes it to a whole 'nother level. When I first watched this during the initial run, my jaw hit the floor when she let loose with that Whitney Houston Belt. "Priceless" is my second favorite song of the show.
So James who played Christmas present (Christmas electricity) is starkiids choreographer and only recently started to be on stage… but wanted to share since you mentioned he had moves lol him and Lauren do a lot of the choreo
I remember it was first after covid life show and i literally cried during Priceless because it gets totally different vibe when you think about it in the covid context... especially for life theatre actors.
HYPED FOR THIS
The mustache was genuine 😊
The usual musicals are more along the lines of A Very Potter Musical, where it's not ALL singing and there is regular spoken dialogue. VHS Christmas Carol is kind of a special case because it was originally released as pretty much a Zoom-recorded performance during the pandemic, so they were trying out something new rather than their usual yearly musical
I think it's fine and maybe better to go back and forth a bit in the musicals, I just recommend not leaving all the early ones until the end and maybe save some of the more recent ones until last... Either way, it should be fine to watch this for Christmas.
The staging depends on the show really... This was probably a smaller show... They don't typically tour a whole show... This being performed in Chicago after this one is probably partly because Team Starkid used to be based in Chicago for a while, before moving to LA, and some of these cast members still live there, so it's like a chance to do the show in their home town too... This said, Team StarKid has done tours before... But more like concerts of a selection of songs rather than a whole musical... Now and then they've done one-off concerts or performances, maybe showed up at conventions... I think they've done their craziest stuff at conventions... Like I think one time they did the opening to A Very Potter Musical, but like maybe twice the normal speed or something lol.
I think my favourite song for this might be That Scrooge... It's like the powerhouse song that really hits the feels... But I could see my favourite shifting because a lot of them are really great...
The Christmas Carol is a great story... I'm not the biggest fan of the dryer retellings though... I dunno... I'd say that despite really enjoying this version, my favourite version is the Muppets Christmas Carol... Scrooged is a pretty fun, more modern take too, with Bill Murray, I think... There was also a pretty cool Disney version with Scrooge McDuck in the leading role... But yeah, I highly recommend the Muppets version (although, try to find a way to watch the extended version with the extra song in it... I think Disney Plus has it as an option... But I suppose if you get to Belle and Scrooge breaking up and there isn't a song there, maybe you can just find the song on its own, watch that, then go back to the movie... I think it's called "The Love is Gone").
ooooh thx for the treat 😎 utter christmas everyone ♥
I literally just finished waching vhscc 😅
If you ever decide to react to 'A Christmas Carol', I'd recommend the 1984 version. It's my personal favourite!
Muppets is honestly one of the best versions imo
I think the christmas past song is my favorite.
Hi Veggie , I hope you have had a Happy Christmas 😊🎉. I would just like to say I can't believe that you haven't seen a Christmas Carol. As you like musicals you ought to see the Albert Finney's version it also has Anton sorry I can't remember his last name that is brilliant but if you want to see a really great theatrical version then the 1951 black and white Alistair Sims don't get me wrong the other versions are good I will always watch a new version but none of the beat that version, you used to talk about the David Thewlis an inspector calls you ought to see the Alistair Sims version of that.
Also Scrooge has only fools and horses George Cole as the young Scrooge who was Alistair's son or was it adopted. Or the funny Scrooged with Bill Murray. Now I am going to restart this and watch it properly.
Hi Veggie, am glad you keep saying the Harry Potter character's name cause it would annoy me in trying to figure out I think the ghost of Christmas past was based on Olivia Newton John physical the ghost of Christmas present looked like George Michael - wham and the ghost of Christmas future looks like Bonnie Tyler , I like the Christmas past song.
Lupin was both Tiny Tim and the guy with the big wig lmao (I’m pretty sure that’s Percy’s wig from the Potter ones)
Merry Christmas! 😊
Just to give you a quick run-down:
Draco/Emily Cratchit (Lauren Lopez)
Ron/Bob Cratchit (Joey Richter)
Jafar/Dumbledore/Scrooge (Dylan Saunders)
Sherazade/Jacob Marley (Meredith Stepien)
Lupin/Tiny TIm (Brian Holden)
Ginny/Christmas Past (Jamie Lynn Beatty)
Christmas Present (James Tolbert)
Christmas Future (Jamie Burns)
Quirrell/Young Scrooge (Brian Rosenthal)
Gilderoy/Mr. Fezziwigs (AJ Holmes)
Belle (Janaya Mahealani Jones)
Fred (Corey Doris)
Keyboard/Narrator (Clark Baxtresser)
And thats just whos on VHS, there are a lot more members of starkid
Merry Christmas Veggie hope you have a great day ^_^
VINDICATIOOOOOOOOONNNNN!!!
So glad you enjoyed this, the songs are all just so good! I wonder if you’re planning to react to Stranger Things in the future, the 80s vibe made me think of that 🥰
Yay! Merry christmas!! Im sick in bed today so this was a treat :)
Glad you enjoyed it Veggie, the Christmas timing was too good an opportunity to waste. Young Scrooge is Quirrel, and you spotted Lupin as Tiny Tim and a couple of other characters. This is only sung-through one to date and about the straightest/non-parody rendition. Joey doesn't always have a real moustache, but the moustache does come back to play a starring role every once in a while.
Watched this last year when kt was posted on YT, and I had a few parts stuck in my head afterward.
Now I’m wondering if this would be a good musical for a smaller/school-age theatre group to do. I can see them doing this at the school I went to.
at 11:37 ish a few seconds missing
Merry Christmas!
The ghost of Christmas future is Chorn in Firebringer!
Definitely if you eventually watch Firebringer keep in mind she's a gorgeous singer :]
It sucks that these videos get so much less attention than your others!!!
Hey, Merry Christmas!
Сan you check it out "One Piece Live Action" series, please? Or/and maybe even manga?
The girl playing the ghost of Christmas future is completely new as far as I know. I have only ever seen her here, but I haven't watched the super old stuff so she could have been there and I not know.
She was in firebringer too (chorn)
Jamie Burns. She was in Firebringer too as Chorn. She's also part of Jim and the Povolos (and is often in Meredith's vlogs!)
after this your next starkid adventure should be hatchetfield. (starts with the guy who didn’t like musicals)
it’s amazing and their best work next to twisted in my opinion
I love how excited you get when you notice familiar faces 🥹🥹 I imagine this must be what it’s like to get shown the future and suddenly see how far friends have evolved in 10+ years