Yale Kids Make “Darq Knight” Musical
IvyGate doesn't usually cover individual student theater productions. This is mostly because we aim to report things you want to read. But when a tipster told us Yale was running a Batman musical, we were intrigued. A musical based on "The Dark Knight," set to U2 and various 80s power ballads? We couldn't resist.
"Darq Knight: The Musical" was written by Marshall Pailet and James Pollack, '09, with help from Tessa Williams, '10, and Emma Barash, '11. It ran Thursday through Saturday at the Off Broadway Theater (I'm guessing this is a Yale student venue). In an email, Pollack said the show's premise is a hypothetical collaboration between Chrisopher Nolan and Bono.
The tipster describes the plot:
The overarching plot was the same as the real Dark Knight movie set to 80s music. Of course there were many flourishes such as the characters were Maggie Gyllenhaal and Katie Holmes instead of a Rachel (And Katie was dating Lord Xenu). Alfred was sexually attracted to Bruce/Batman, Bruce was a 6’7” skinny white guy, and batman was a much shorter African American guy. The three had a moment singing “With or Without You” together. And Morgan Freeman narrated the entire thing.
I hope you all understand how awesome this show must have been. After the jump, more pictures and the playbill.
Photos (above and after jump) are by Charlie Croom, '12.
The playbill:
A Director’s Note from Christopher Nolan:
“Darq Knight: The Musical” was once upon a time the brain lovechild of a midsummer coffee date between myself and Bono, and has quickly become the most important and influential work of our time. We feel the original Dark Knight text superimposed upon the insightful work of modern musical genius that is the epic 80’s rock cannon will not only entertain the masses, but also begin a dialogue on important and profound issues such as slavery, government, medicare, and of course the existence of God. And inform. Text.
Batman.............................................Robert Downey Jr.
Bruce Wayne...............................................Cory Finley
Joker....................................................Matthew George
Harvey Dent / 2-Face..................................Will Turner
Maggie Gyllenhaal................................Tessa Williams
Katie Holmes...........................................Emma Barash
Alfred................................................Brennan Caldwell
Commissioner Gordon.............................Dean Salovey
Dean Salovey......................................Hannah Corrigan
Morgan Freeman......................................Lee Seymour
Pencil Face...........................................Matt McCollum
Random Asian Banker..........................Mallory Baysek
Gordon’s Wife...........................................Kate Berman
Gordon’s Son.........................................Stanley Seiden
Russian Dancer...............................Jordan Zimmerman
Lord Xenu...........................................Raphael Shapiro
Clangsters......................................Jeremy Lloyd, Mark Sonnenblick, Raphael Shapiro, Noah Bokat-Lindell, Stanley Seiden, Naomi Grunditz, Jordan Zimmerman
The Epic Dancers..........................Nick Murphy, Michelle Shorn, Laurel Hart, Elizabeth Eddy
Caution:
This show makes use of a fog machine, rocking lights, and epic brilliance.
And now: more pictures!
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Read more: Batman, Darq Knight, student theater, U2, Yale
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October 21st, 2008 at 11:04 am
Yes. This was totally awesome. The last picture is of Alfred engaging is self-flagellation.
Also, Bruce and Batman end up together in the end. Clearly an epic for our time.
October 21st, 2008 at 11:33 am
the show was hilarious and fabulous. pollack and pailet were amazing.
October 21st, 2008 at 1:57 pm
you should credit these photos to charlie croom
October 21st, 2008 at 3:20 pm
I saw it. It was ridiculously awesome, and also very strange.
October 21st, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Batman’s actor is listed as Robert Downey Jr because the guy who played him is taking a year off, and technically you aren’t supposed to be in student shows unless you’re enrolled. But I assume they cast him anyway because he’s fucking awesome.
October 21st, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Hottest shit to hit Yale since Cole Porter!! YouTube video will be up soon. I’ll Post.
October 21st, 2008 at 5:25 pm
fantastic–joker was phenomenal.
October 21st, 2008 at 7:24 pm
meh
October 21st, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Photos are now credited to Charlie Croom.
Cool photos, Charlie.
October 21st, 2008 at 9:46 pm
meh? MEH? what have you ever done!!
i personally LOVED the joker’s performance. FABULOUS.
go listen to some JEWEL
lol.
ADAMA 4 PREZ
October 21st, 2008 at 10:02 pm
thanx evrybody 4 your insites. daRk kniGhT was a awesoem movie probably should have stayed that way. waht do i know tho i’m not a Theater Critic like everbody here seems 2 think they are. news FLASH Your not.!!
October 21st, 2008 at 10:33 pm
That was the best youtube comment imitation I have ever seen. I did not think such a thing replicable. Respect.
October 21st, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Don’t Hate.
We never claimed it was artistically valid, or even that it was good. Just that it was FUCKIN AWESOME. In the same way that styx is awesome. It was certainly a crowd pleaser and incessantly entertaining.
And i am a professional critic.
love,
Harold Bloom
October 22nd, 2008 at 4:22 am
I go to Dartmouth, and this makes me almost not hate Yale. Almost.
October 22nd, 2008 at 11:22 am
http://www.95thesesrap.com
October 22nd, 2008 at 11:23 am
http://www.95thesesrap.com
More awesome Yale kid stuff– great rap about the Reformation
October 22nd, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Wow, thanks for that 95theses vid. Pretty fantastic.
“I got 95 theses, but the Pope ain’t one”
October 22nd, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Man, I just sent a link to that vid and Dominitz’s website not 5 minutes before logging on here and seeing the last three comments. Surely now you must post.
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:12 am
honestly, I didn’t even see the play. All of this self-congratulatory cheer was just making me nauseous.
October 23rd, 2008 at 12:57 pm
oh god the copyright infringement.
and the real bonos $40 mil spiderman musical will be better, and hopefully have as much self-flagellation.
October 28th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Darq Knight is available on YouTube in segments. First one starts at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOlQz3VaWOk
Check it out!!!!!!!
October 30th, 2008 at 11:26 am
The YouTube video was mis-synched…see the new one!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klyAly_enJE
November 10th, 2008 at 5:20 am
Exactly what the Church of Scientology hates most…….. Epic lulz!!