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!
