I have seen between 150-250 theatrical productions in my life, ranging from community theater to National tours and I can say with full confidence that this was the best show I have ever experienced. THE GUY WHO DIDN’T LIKE MUSICALS started off as a 2018 horror musical-comedy written by Nick Lang, Matt Lang, and Jeff Blim. The film had massive success on YouTube. In April of 2025, it was announced that the majority of the original cast (with the addition of Will Branner) would be reuniting for a reimagined, month-long run at the El Portal Theater in California. The show follows Paul (Jon Matteson), an average Joe who has a strong dislike of musicals, who must fight to save his life when an apocalypse that turns everyone into singing, dancing zombies breaks out all over his town.
If you are unfamiliar with Starkid, I will give you a brief history of the group. Starkid started in 2009 at the University of Michigan, founded by Darren Criss (Emmy and Tony award winner), Brian Holden, Matt Lang, and Nick Lang. The first production ever written by Starkid was A VERY POTTER MUSICAL, a parody of the HARRY POTTER book/film series. The show ran for one weekend, and was published 3 months later in 23 parts on YouTube. The recording has since gone viral, sparking over 19 million views. This then launched the company of Starkid, and a majority of the group that still perform have stayed since that first production. Following A VERY POTTER MUSICAL, there have been 14 stage musicals, multiple tours, spin-off web comedy series, a homecoming concert, and endless love and support from the fandom created. All of the Starkid shows have been published to their official YouTube account, which are available to watch for free. Many of the members have gone on to do much bigger things, such as Mariah Rose Faith Casillas who was not only in this production of THE GUY WHO DIDN’T LIKE MUSICALS, but also played Regina George in the National tour of MEAN GIRLS. I have been a Starkid fan for 5+ years now, even running a semi successful fan account at one point. I was lucky enough that, during opening weekend, I was already going to be in California to tour colleges. So there I was, driving from Arizona to California, with no clue of what I was in for.
THE GUY WHO DIDN’T LIKE MUSICALS is my favorite Starkid show, even just reading its playbill is a delight. To see the show live, and done in such a brilliant way was a treat. I have zero qualms with the production. There is not a single thing I would have tweaked, a song I disliked, or a moment that dragged. The show has been kept under tight wrap, with zero production photos or videos shared. The cast is even stronger than they were in 2018. These were the most impressive vocals to ever bless my ears. The new choreography by James Tolbert is beyond fun and I desperately need to see clips from the show just to learn the choreography. The costumes are very similar to the original production, but with a complete refresh. I will keep any comments about the set to myself because that has been the big secret but, wow, it’s wonderful.
The answer to what makes this show so perfect, is the direction of Lauren Lopez. Lopez has been with the group since A VERY POTTER MUSICAL, playing Draco Malfoy in what is one of the most hysterical portrayals I have seen. Lauren Lopez has been in every Starkid production since then (excluding ANI, however she was in TRAIL TO OREGON which ran during the exact same time). She is without a doubt the number one fan favorite. She has performed in the majority of these shows with her husband, Joey Richter (I am actually writing this on their second anniversary!). This was Lauren’s first time directing, as well as playing the lead female ingenue.
The love she has for the show and crew shine through in every subtle moment. I didn’t think it was possible to make this show any better. Every joke is funnier and every emotional moment hits you harder. There is a layered dynamic between her and Matteson that I didn’t recognize in the original run. There are very little script changes, yet there feels like so much more substance behind the content. I have never had this much fun in a show before. There was a collective buzz going through the sold-out house, and you could tell during the endless applause after every entrance or every iconic line. I started tearing up during one of my favorite songs (SHOW STOPPING NUMBER) because I realized that I would never be in that theater again watching them perform live. It’s a very lucky feeling to experience, and it makes you live more in the moment – but this is the first time that it’s occurred to me during the performance and not as an afterthought as I’m leaving the theater.
If you are in the Los Angeles area and are able to go see the show, I would strongly encourage you to. If you can’t make it then I also suggest you go on YouTube and watch the original production recording. I deeply hope there will be a recording of this as well, because this must be immortalized in theater history.
THE GUY WHO DIDN’T LIKE MUSICALS is playing at the El Portal Theater in Los Angeles until August 10th.
