Darren Criss Succeeding Daniel Radcliffe Without Really Trying
by Morgan Glennon
This will be a familiar sight: "Glee" star Darren Criss steping into a role once played by "Harry Potter" acting wiz Daniel Radcliffe. For three weeks in January, Criss will be filling the dancing shoes previously worn by Radcliffe in Broadway's hit musical "How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying."
This news doesn't fly in on a broomstick from out of nowhere; there has been speculation for weeks that Criss would assume the role once Radcliffe had finished his run.
Today the Al Hirschfeld Theatre put those rumors to rest when it confirmed Criss will be taking the stage from January 3rd through the 22nd, directly following Radcliffe's exit stage right.
This of course isn't the first time Criss has doubled for Radcliffe. Before he was famous for playing Kurt's adoring boyfriend Blaine on Fox's musical hit "Glee" he was starring in a different kind of musical. Criss became an internet celebrity for a series of youtube videos that went viral in which he starred as Harry Potter along with his college pals StarrKid Productions in 'A Very Potter Musical' and 'A Very Potter Sequel'. Seems like Criss majored in following in the footsteps of Daniel Radcliffe.
The casting appears to be an intelligent move on the part of show producers trying to ease audiences from missing Radcliffe by replacing him with an American counterpart. And Criss has already proved that he can give cash registers a workout when his "Glee" cover of Katy Perry's Teenage Dream became the show's most downloaded single. Will The Gleeks that made him a phenomenon come support him on the great white way? Seems as good as betting on Harry Potter to save the day. (Rhyme not intended!)
What do you think of the casting of Darren Criss? Good idea or bad idea? Will Criss be typecast as the American Daniel Radcliffe? And considering Radcliffe's intelligent career moves, would that even be a bad thing?