StarKid's Riskiest Show: The Trail to Oregon

[@WaitintheWings]

Huge thanks to all the StarKid's who helped me piece together this story! Use code WITW50 to get 50% off your first Factor box at bit.ly/3QtW7E8

[@ndaynan]

2:17

[@god-rj5wf]

i'm obsessed with there being _backstory_ to Jeff looking like his life's sole quest was fulfilled when someone named father "Jack Bauer"

[@CowgirlandFriend]

Yeahhhh I genuinely told myself that there was no way 'twas not just a person who was already barreling down college age when 24 became a thing that existed for the first time, being understandably psyched at a reference that I, a person the (count 'em) EXACT age of 24's first ep, would never get. "Surely that shit has a fandom" I thought, "surely." I agree though and as an over 10-year dikrat am properly excited to watch the video and learn what (not a roast) basically everybody in the comments are saying the same thing about, including you (again not a roast, I will probably be doing the same, just probably to my sister maybe kinda was also in the 2010s into Starkid).

[@raven93295]

I'm so pumped to finally know why Jeff was so excited that someone suggested Jack Bauer for the Father 😂

[@JuniperJadePR]

That was my first thought when I heard that tidbit. XD

[@jonascommero6361]

It’s great to finally know!

[@DogNamedWatson]

I really thought for all this time that it was just because he got a cool name

[@HekatieSquires]

full circle baby

[@lumae8216]

I haven’t watched the video just yet but I saw this comment.. isn’t it because of that show called 24??

[@HERO_DREAMER]

The Jack Bauer thing coming back years later is so good

[@WaitintheWings]

Literal poetry

[@djwilson1993]

@@WaitintheWingsit’s like poetry, it rhymes.

[@canadiankazz]

I understand now why he was so excited by that name in the version that made it to KZbin! lol

[@JuniperJadePR]

I did not expect Joey's crash course on fart noises to be one of the highlights of this video.

[@witchesandwillow]

Hello! I named Grandpa on the KZbin recording. (Titty Mitty) One of the proudest moments from my teen years. It was a blast watching this video. Thanks for reminding me of some of my favorite memories.

[@ravenpotter3]

You are a hero to generations!

[@RobertJW]

Congratulations! 😂 It was really funny

[@aaronsarchive82]

You are a legend!

[@lgl9823]

Thank you for your service

[@liriodendronlasianthus]

Hello... Titty Mitty

[@ashleylabaki2872]

100% my favorite Starkid musical. Jeff’s presence is truly a gift and I will never get tired of seeing his eyes light up pure chaotic glee when he hears “Jack Bauer.”

[@Redstomp]

"Pure chaotic glee" honestly summarizes Jeff so well.

[@Just_Leo_kingofgods]

Shoutout Joey for that completely unnecessary arm fart crash course thank you king👑

[@j_0anna]

i think you mean completely necessary

[@theodoreandrewveremis9849]

When we did it at our high school (Jeff's alma mater, he'd come back to help us direct the first incarnation of the show for it's HS version), we had the luxury of using a flatulence soundboard with a myriad of different anal vocalizations. As the show continued, including an extended run at a theatre festival at UIUC (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign), the farts became more eclectic, repetitive, obscene, and outright wet. Teachers and students and KZbin Thespians alike, we were all bowing ourselves or stifling laughter/cringing. What a time.

[@hanonondricek411]

_"Your wagon is on FI-YAAAAAAAHHHH! Your wagon is a-blaaaaaaayze!"_

[@WitchLunaEstrella]

I'm so glad Jeff and everyone else toughed it out and made it work with Trail to Oregon. It's honestly one of my favourite Starkid shows.

[@sophiebas6154]

Same! I love it so much!

[@yuju1195]

Same!

[@Jack_Ss]

Yeah so interesting that the 6 person show ended up being so much better than the Star Wars one which seemed like a home run

[@GraceThomas-fv5ky]

its the first one i watched and it made me fall in love with Starkid

[@josephdavies3091]

@@Jack_SsI think part of that is that cast-wise, TTO had the upper hand with the more “well-known” actors in StarKid so more people gravitated towards it. Though I do think even despite that, TTO is a better show

[@LynnHermione]

One smart thing starkid did was post on twitter the character names that night. That's how most of us learned the interactive part, and I imagine people went in with punny names prepared

[@ezelfrancisco1349]

I even saw one high school on KZbin where the daughter was named after an audience member and the dad character made the audience aware of that in a improvised monologue. This really is a show where no two shows are alike

[@TheAntiDisneyGod]

Wait so the audience didn’t pick the names they were already there?

[@londongirl2768]

@@TheAntiDisneyGodno they did but they told the audience ahead of time to come prepared

[@eleanorneath530]

Hence the recorded version having someone really pushing for “gay lord” as a name for the son 😂

[@kaysea04]

knowing the reason behind jeff’s happy smile at the jack bauer pitch makes watching it x100 better

[@aliciaz6224]

I'm a big ANI defender, I knew it wasn't the most liked Starkid show, but I didn't know it had received so much criticism. I'm so so glad that The Trail to Oregon gained the success it deserved! but I hope Nick Lang knows people did and still do love ANI, my friends and I quote it to each other all the time

[@lawrencefosterjenkins8216]

ANI is seriously so funny, it just didn't fit the traditional SK mold and that's why a lot of folks couldn't vibe with it. it definitely has its audience, and I'm part of it.

[@BuzzardPlanet97]

It’s not up there with my favourite of their shows but I do still enjoy it. Nick Lang as Palpatine and especially Obi Wan steals the show

[@dddglobe36]

Love Ani! It’s heartwarming.

[@tessawidenhofer]

Yay I’m so glad I found my people; Ani is definitely a weird one in the Starkid catalogue, but it’s very near and dear to my heart (partially cuz my parents surprised me with tickets and my dad and I drove to Chicago to see it!) It’s seriously a shame how so much of the fandom treats it when it’s really funny and has some seriously catchy music!

[@kain1799]

For me i love ani so much. But it's cringey opening is just so so hard to force my way through each time even tho it is so good.

[@torijeri]

and to think we were so close to not having Jeff Blim for Hatchetfield. Risks are always better than redundancy in my opinion. it can totally fail but it could also totally succeed.

[@Redstomp]

Safe to say Hatchetfield succeeded beyond anyone's expectations. And I have loved everything StarKid has done since the Potter days, but Hatchetfield is just them at their best!

[@RonHeartsMe]

@@Redstomp100% agree with this comment!

[@dianaquick8883]

To me, there could be no other General John MacNamera.

[@missybarbour6885]

Crazy that because KZbin got rid of annotations in 2018, you can't just click the screen for your preferred character death anymore

[@natehaken2686]

I’m just starting to direct The Trail To Oregon for a local community theatre, this video is a godsend and super informative!

[@WaitintheWings]

Break legs with your production!!!

[@jjam1025]

​@@WaitintheWingsNot literally though! Trust me... I know.

[@mouseboy420]

PLS UPLOAD THE PERFORMANCE!! :)

[@darkmanstudios3828]

Can I suggest Blair Mountain for the dad's name?

[@natehaken2686]

@@darkmanstudios3828 we haven’t even held auditions yet, I’m just prepping with set design and whatnot. I think we’ll have names in a hat for rehearsals, I’ll make sure that is in there!

[@NoLifeButTheater]

That manic gleam in Jeff’s eyes at hearing Jack Bauer makes so much more sense now. ❤

[@aliceisaperson]

ANI definitely isn’t close to my favorite starkid musical, but god there’s some really funny moments in there. Hearing Nick’s response to the comments really broke my heart.

[@BuzzardPlanet97]

Yeah that was sad. He really stole the show as Obi Wan

[@aliceisaperson]

@@BuzzardPlanet97 I think about the line delivery of “I’m better now, I’m drunk” like at least once a week

[@EmiaRaine]

Same here. I discovered Starkid roughly around 2014/2015 with Twisted and proceeded to binge all their other shows. ANI didn't blow me away, but I liked it fine. It has a lot of good elements, with Brian & Nick being the absolute standouts. When I heard that people were tearing the show to shreds, I was shocked and then heartbroken when I discovered how much this impacted Nick. "Don't come back as a damn robit" is still something I quote often to myself.

[@dez6529]

My sister shares that scene with people all the time- I don't even think she's watched the whole musical. But she was utterly charmed by Nick's drunk Obi Wan.

[@Jack_Ss]

I like the more original stuff but wish the parody hadn’t died with Ani. There were a lot of things that ended up working against it but the fact that they never followed up Twisted because Ani wasn’t great is a shame. That one may be their masterpiece

[@anobservatory4227]

One of my personal favorite Starkid shows next to Twisted and Nerdy Prudes Must Die. Just seeing Jeff be as chaotic as he wants and Joey play half the characters, this show will always make me laugh. Plus the improv and bloopers like the bucket falling down the "rige" off stage or General Store Guy talking about his roll in West Side Story make it so much better, still one of my favorite Starkid moments.(edit grammar)

[@missybarbour6885]

Joey deserves a Tony for "Just shoot me you son of a b- *gunshot*"

[@lunaraydue1340]

Hahahahaha, hohohoho, ha. OX LIKE ME

[@xhappyponyxwasmyoldname1395]

@@lunaraydue1340CACKLING JUST THINKING ABOUT IT

[@raeosunshine24]

hearing how everyone felt about Ani VS TTTO originally compared to their actual audience reception and legacies reminds me of how Disney's animatiom team felt about Pocahontas VS The Lion King! everyone had a good feeling about one, but the underdog turned out to be much more beloved! not to dismiss any movie or musical mentioned, but i definitely hear more people talk about TTTO these days, and likewise with The Lion King!

[@kateorgera5907]

It helps that they were actually able to license Trail to Oregon to amateur groups, something they can't do with their parody musicals like Ani for licensing and rights reasons, I imagine.

[@xhappyponyxwasmyoldname1395]

I thought of the exact same thing

[@nickkurtz512]

To think if Trail to Oregon failed, We wouldn’t get The Hatchetfield Saga.

[@mellowthebear]

Glad Starkid took a chance on Jeff Blim 😃

[@NotSoRealEllis20]

Without it we wouldn't have the Hatchfield trilogy

[@marrowbrown]

and i wouldn't be obsessed with the Lords in Black

[@NotSoRealEllis20]

@@marrowbrown the demon teletubbies

[@haileykramer8017]

That Jack Bauer but coming back in a full circle is incredible

[@luckyystrikerr]

Only Starkid could make me emotional seeing the mention of Jack Bauer in the original Basement Arts production 😂Seeing how much of the original student theater version's unhinged, goofy DNA made it into the final show is heartwarming as a (frequently frustrated) writer. The fact that one of my favorite musicals has such a rocky past that eventually ended in success is the kind of success story I love about independent theater.

[@jenncorbett1655]

Joey describing how he made each fart sound was so funny to me.

[@dumblebee9167]

I’ve always been really sad that ANI wasn’t appreciated so much. As someone who isn’t a Star Wars fan I think I probably didn’t get a lot of the jokes but I’ve still always really liked it. I think it’s really funny & the music is FANTASTIC. Makes me sad to see that the criticism was taken so much to heart.

[@JuliaDelbel]

That's the thing though, a lot of their audience wasn't Star Wars fans so it didn't really cater to them. Having seemingly run out of properties to parody that the StarKid fans and creators were both into, the choice was either keep doing them but keep them fairly generic (Holy Musical B@man was kind of like this, even though it was before Ani) or pivot to original content.

[@livvyg5081]

This!! The music in Ani was so awesome

[@kandyappleview]

Yeah Ani a so much fun! I came into the Fandom late (TGWDLM was my first one) so I didn't know ANI got criticism. I sure liked it! In general though, it always warms my heart when their older shows (pre hatchetfield) get some love cause those are my favorites.

[@bobjim4566]

I very much am a SW fan, and yeah, it's mainly that a lot of the jokes just aren't that great......

[@tUVsproAll]

@@JuliaDelbeli always thought the reason it didn’t do as well is because a large part of the fan base expected the main characters to sing

[@TheHedgehogGiraffe]

Two weeks out from rehearsals and they hadn’t finished the script?? Fucking insane, and incredibly nerve wracking. It’s a testament to Starkid’s perseverance that they managed it.

[@LilyGrace95]

I wasn't a fan on Ani, but I feel so sorry for Nick that he took everyone's comments SO to heart. He doesn't deserve that, he's a fantastic writer. At least he can see with the Hatchetfield series that people still love him, and it was just a one time flop....

[@punkrocksandsoda]

I know we won’t get another Starkid video from WITW for a bit after this…but I can’t wait to see him cover Hatchetfield 😍

[@Redstomp]

THIS. This is my heart's desire as well.

[@lil-WolfyWolf]

He needs to cover the Hatchetfield stories!! TGWDLM, Black Friday, Nightmare Time 1 & 2 & Nerdy Prudes Must Die all must be covered!!

[@Redstomp]

@@lil-WolfyWolf As much as I love Nightmare Time, and think they warrant a mention in such a video, this channel really is about musical stage shows, which they are not.

[@TheActualCathal]

Jeff Blim is one of the most underrated performers in the world, genuinely stunned that he hasn't gotten picked up by Hollywood.

[@TheMoggFREE]

He has a few roles here and there on TV. Nowadays you gotta be a nepo to be in Hollywood.

[@cameronsharples2544]

He was on broadway during the filming of NPMD

[@TheMoggFREE]

no, that's not true at all. Proof? He was in an LA production of Rent by Cupcake Studios, one of the reasons why he wasn't in NPMD. Another reason is just he wasn't casted in NPMD, just did the music@@cameronsharples2544

[@IcarusRuthven]

So *that's* why he was only cast as "Man in a Hurry"? Holy cow.

[@sarahkinsey5434]

I think about that about all of the cast members. Jeff has such an expressive face and personality that he could do pretty well

[@cheddarssalad1230]

Trail to Oregon is the Starkid musical I revisit the most. In hindsight it makes sense why it has seen the most success outside of its initial production. Being about a family road trip is instantly relatable. How it’s parodying the game isn’t alienating if you don’t know the references. It’s small cast and bare set makes it cheap to run. Above all that the interactivity encourages repeat viewing. Also, Blim has an all ages edited script and I really want to see my local high school do a production. If only because I live in Oregon and they would actually pronounce Willamette correctly. It’s will-LAMB-it.

[@ezelfrancisco1349]

It also has the most underrated joke/easter egg: Joey Richter playing every other character. I know it's because TTO has the less amount of cast compared to Ani, but it unintentionally became a reference of how animators would become lazy in designing side characters in video games/computer games. IDK if they intended that or not, but it is hilarious when you think about it

[@coyotix]

I always wondered if Jeff was just acting when he almost teared up at "Jack Bauer". It's incredible that he wasn't.

[@snederatorreads2367]

I love Trail to Oregon, when I saw it I remember grandpa’s name was Beyoncé! It is always the starkid play I introduce people with, people who don’t like musicals like it!

[@lawrencefosterjenkins8216]

i love the image of joey coming out in that lobster costume saying "hello...beyonce."

[@talkandteach24]

Corey must have loved that considering he's a Beyoncé fan

[@KyrieFortune]

"Paul, you've got to see this, it's a parody of the Oregon Trail, the computer game we played as kids!" "Yeah... I don't want to, you know I hate musicals"

[@kandyappleview]

Twisted is usually my gateway drug to show people musicals aren't just Disney animated movies. But I have used TTO sometimes too

[@quinnforthewinn]

I saw a production on tik tok where the son was named “coat hanger” so you can imagine the line “craphole, the baby killer” did really well

[@stellasdoesstuff]

28:52 "Oregon is the first starkid show that is 95% original" Is it? Starship is clearly inspired by Star Trek and The Little Mermaid, but I wouldn't consider it a parody of either. And correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think Me and My Dick had any outside sources it was directly referencing. Both of those were before Trail to Oregon, werent they?

[@Sher18929]

Starship is a Starship Troopers Parody, but you’re totally right about MAMD

[@Michelle-mf3se]

I will say I’m kind of sad that they don’t make parodies anymore. There are so many fandoms that they would’ve made amazing lol but I do love their new original direction too. All in all, a big fan of the whole cast❤

[@ThirrinDiamond]

Same, i genuinely wonder where they'll be 20 years from now. Maybe itll go full circle

[@rinina]

Fr!! As much as i love the original work and think its super creative, the parody angle just shines every time, they completely understand what they're parodying and elevate it by adding more angles. Kinda makes me wish they had another shot at star wars, ani is cool, but sw is so big and nowadays is such a shit show that a show based on the sequels or smth like that would be ridiculously funny

[@butterflyslinky]

I actually went to see Ani! during its run. I was in Chicago for the weekend while it was playing, so I went with my girlfriend at the time. She's a huge Star Wars nerd and loved it. The cast of Trail to Oregon was in the audience that night, and Jeff Blim is a great actor but the worst person to see a show with--his laugh is very loud.

[@louisaou20]

Still reeling over the fact you got to interview Jeff, Nick, Jaime and Joey 🥲Amazing video, as always!

[@WaitintheWings]

I actually didn’t interview Nick! That was from a summer hangout they did on Brian Holdens channel :)

[@theodoreandrewveremis9849]

I had the pleasure of attending performing in the first High School version of "the Trail To Oregon!" under the direction of Jeff Blim himself. I was a student at his alma mater (in the same NW Chicagoland suburb as the Bluesmobile cop car) during the run of Firebringer in 2016. We were both Alto saxophonists who went with the PMK to the Macy's Parade (2002 & 2016 respectively, the band also went in the 90's as well), and he went to school with my Kindergarten teacher's kids before going to UM-Ann Arbor to meet the rest of the StarKid gang. (Keep reading for the story, this is just context for now) I was a jaded senior, back then, having transferred from a bigoted school district to this more inclusive one, albeit it was still a somewhat socially narcissistic environment where people had pride in themselves over others, as well as most students having established their cliques freshman year, if not in middle school. Auditions were the first day after Labor Day, and I had just broken up with my high school sweetheart that weekend. With the adage of the late Robin Williams, "Comedy is cheaper than therapy," fresh in my mind, I walked into the choir room, shaking hands with the directing faculty (including an Honorary Grammy Winner), and Jeff himself. In addition to riffing the entire way between monologue readings & script dialogue, we were told in advance to not curse in our audition songs of choice. So, while I wish that I instead went with "Wagon On Fire" in hindsight, I proudly said during "Independence:" "Fuck It, Go West!". Later on, Jeff would go on to say something a long the lines of "We should give this guy a stand up routine." Unbeknownst to us, he was rewriting parts of the show for the H.S.-friendly version of the Trail To Oregon! for later distribution, experimenting with his alma mater's current student body by allowing us to improvise (as one would expect with such a show as TTO). Unable to promptly say no to the more talented half of students that auditioned, Joey's roles were expanded to a variety of classmates & I; leading me to be cast as Cornwallis and a guy dressed in all brown, running on stage with a giant inflatable poop emoji at the end of "Dysentery World." I took some of the neon-yellow tape and strapped it around one of my claws, taping note cards to the claw that would not have my lines, but my response to a prompt that Jeff gave me in an email with the original script in PDF form: "Come up with some 1840's stand-up jokes, or jokes that would be relevant in 1848." Suffice to say, the original "tight five" that Cornwallis says in that version was a lot more absurd, experimental, and linguistically, more colorful than the normal audience for your common high school musical is accustomed to hearing. Nevertheless, it is this incarnation of TTO that got us to perform at the Illinois High School Theatre Festival that following Winter, in 2017. In addition to hosting workshops on play writing, and offering other young thespians the chance to meet a KZbin Celebrity, Jeff told me, an aspiring playwright, to "Never be afraid to leave anything on the fucking table." My entrance, as Cornwallis, can still be seen on Blim's X/Twitter account if you scroll far enough back (January 2017; "the lobster gets all the laughs"). I will be forever grateful to Jeff, JMo, et al. who gave me, an ambitious, then-lonely, autistic actor a chance to shine under bright white lights, albeit in red.

[@jeffolson4803]

Is this an entire Starkid series? Are we gonna talk about the legit masterpiece that is Nerdy Prudes Must Die??

[@TribuGalactica]

And the risk paid off because The Trail to Oregon is my favorite Starkid musical!

[@adminaccess9586]

I think Jeff Blim is great! As that one commenter said, he’s in my top three Starkid performers and I love his roles and his work with the Hatchetfield series. Now that he’s joined, I can hardly imagine Starkid without him, same as I feel with Lauren Lopez and Joey Richter

[@JamesSmith-pp5vp]

Starkid took me, a guy who didn't like musicals, and pulled me into a deep love for independent theatre. I had done musical theatre when I was younger and I felt like it was stuffy and boring. Starkid showed me that there was something more. Now I put on my Tickle Me Wiggly jumper every Christmas and watch long deep dives about shows I've seen a thousand times.

[@jessicav2311]

This is so awesome! Jack Bauer would be proud if he wasn't dead of dysentery. Love your Starkid content and everything else you do! Would love to see you cover all of their Hatchetfield productions including their web series. I think what they are doing with all of that is truly groundbreaking. Thanks for another great vid!

[@marsexplosion]

7:03 oh THATS why he was so happy someone said jack bauer! thats so fun i never knew that!

[@grandlordSpencer]

This was such a cool doc! I love Starkid and it really shows how much Jeff really brought Starkid into another golden age.

[@Plexxis_SugarPom]

He's truly mastered both dignity and the devotion, the 2Ds

[@QuikVidGuy]

@@Plexxis_SugarPom Oh no. Oh no. You've added a third D!

[@melmacianmage]

I got to see both Trail to Oregon and Ani live on a trip to Chicago with my uncle, and it was a surprise hit! I went the night where the son was named Ghengis Khan and the grandpa was named Jeff Blim. Amazing experience!

[@BrianaMichelleMeyer]

As someone who went to see Starship live, it’s always been interesting seeing the different eras of Starkid, especially since I’ve been there since 2009. But Jeff? Love the guy. Love him.

[@katofphats3689]

I have my first script read through tonight for Trail to Oregon. It's actually unbelievable how well timed this all was. Now I have some new info for the cast tonight! This is gonna be fun.

[@jaredinocovers9968]

I hope you have/had a great script read!!

[@DotDotDott]

I love how Ani and Trail to Oregan is basically Starkids Pocahontas and Lion King where internally everyone thought one was gonna succeed and the other do ok but upon release it was reversed

[@michaelmascolo3161]

I'm every Oregon trail game, I never made it to the end. My oxen would croak mid way in the trail.

[@WaitintheWings]

You gotta cheat and play as the banker!

[@mayagoelman9005]

The interactive nature of TOH is so unique and wonderful and makes me wish so much I could’ve been in the audience

[@april3698]

i cant with joey explaining his arm fart performance in detail 😭

[@zandermetrakos2637]

Oregon trail is one of my favorite starkid shows. The father's redemption arc is one of my favorite moments to come back to

[@anville_6063]

It is so cool that the starkids were interviewed for this! Oregon Trail was the first one that came out while I was actively waiting for shows so it has a special place in my heart. Great Video!

[@angelsquid9756]

Perfect timing for a Starkid video, I’ve become obsessed with the hatchetfield series

[@junjunagbayani4792]

Wait in the Wings should totally make a video how Starkid transitioned from one-off shows to building the Hatchetfield universe with all its lore. Although I doubt that will be any time soon considering how much stuff Starkid is still probably planning for it.

[@CedeSilva]

9:51 I understand that Eric Kahn Gale, without consulting the Langs, added "StarKid" to Twisted's Kickstarter page, and this was how StarKid remained as a brand at the time. Brendon - this video was amazing, as your work is always. Really great to see the exclusive interviews with StarKids. Also, you do a really great job in matching the footage to your narration, a work that's clearly very carefully crafted. Rock on.

[@dordbird]

I just watched this musical for the first time 3 days ago and stumbling on this video one hour after it comes out was such serendipity

[@rachaellarson842]

I'm so glad you are covering Starkid again. I have been the biggest fan right since 2009. Fun to learn new stuff about them. TinCan Bros is also amazing and was started by several Starkid members. Their show "Spies are forever" is wonderful. I never imagines so many other people loved Starkid too!❤

[@AFruityPhrog]

I think one of the reasons why Trail to Oregon went down better than ANI was because it had the starkid cast we know and love. Joey, Lauren, Corey, Jamie - they are all well known Starkid actors, and one of the things that make Starkid so amazing is the reoccuring actors

[@bernacarangan]

wagon is on fire lives rent free in my brain -- jeff blim writing that absolute banger is a blessing

[@axelotlee_]

I love everything about the Trail to Oregon. The songs. The 5 person cast. The history behind its making. The goofiness mixed with real raw emotions. The fart jokes.

[@julesgold_]

i saved all my money somehow as a teenager and convinced my mom to fly from connecticut to chicago to see trail to oregon and ani. still one of my greatest memories.

[@TheBabblingBabs]

Love Blim's contributions to Starkid. The Hatchetfield Universe being a part of that. Would you ever cover the Hatchetfield series?

[@elizabethlmcrae]

I saw the original run where the father was named "John Stamos' Thong" and it was the funniest thing I've ever seen on stage

[@Nokkos]

So sad that Ani isn't more popular. It's one of my favourites! The music is great, the jokes and actors are super funny and it always makes me want to dance with the cast! I'm not even that much of a star wars fan but it didn't hinder my joy watching it! My absolute favourite songs are Ani and The Force (You got it). I really love all of the Starkid shows and I just wish I could see them live but living in another continent is a bit too far. This was a really great video! It was cool to get to see what led to this musical and I'm glad that I get the father's name's significance now :D

[@faithdame3513]

Starkid is the reason I got my Theatre Design degree they are the future of musical theatre I love them

[@ChloeTheePayne]

WOW i've only made it through the intro and i'm already thrilled. interviews with jeff and joey??? such perfect timing too, i've been deep back in my starkid fandom joy ever since nerdy prudes 🥰 so excited to keep watching thank yooooou!!!

[@estelles7420]

thank you so much for pronouncing Oregon correctly. You have no idea the sense of dread I felt when you said oreg-on.

[@max-attack01]

it’s really cool to see how starkid and the writers came together and grew so much from trail to oregon to today, where jeff blim is writing a lot of original stuff for hatchetfield, and the cast and crew are doing new and interesting things every day

[@mangajag]

I love seeing the starkid ppl outside the stage :)

[@nanasisilala]

star kid is just so endearing and creative. i got into it with the guy who hates musical and never stopped

[@NewtsAhoy]

I still listen to this soundtrack often, it’s one of my favorite shows and I’m so glad Jeff got to see it through.

[@scifigeek14]

Hold up. Name drop at time 12:13. Drew Defour was my next-door neighbor growing up. I had NO IDEA he worked on this with Jeff. Huh. Small world. 😅

[@aarkproductions]

This musical is almost ten years old, the respect you give to all the cast and the effort behind the show is just awsome man

[@graces9158]

Love that this came out during my Team Starkid obsession Revival after the release of NPMD

[@LooLooChoo]

i’ve recently been watching Starkid again after getting curious about the Hatchetfield saga, the last time i had ever watched it was back in high school when i watched AVPM/Starship/HMB, and watching TTTO was such a surprisingly fun watch and getting to know the background of it was delightful! i really hope you do more Starkid videos, especially about the Hatchetfield universe they’ve built up over all these years!

[@jimmymeisterich8564]

I only just started following StarKid earlier this year after i heard about and watched Twisted. That was probably the most ive ever laughed in my life. But The Trail to Oregon! has quickly become my favorite StarKid show (that I have seen so far). I am so surprised to learn how the show was so unfinished so close to it's opening, because to me, the show was written so well, and totally captured the spirit of the computer game. I also think that when Jeff writes the music, thats when the music in StarKid is at it's best. I am so excited to watch all the other StarKid shows I still need to check out

[@jvdewww]

thank you so much for doing a video on starkid! they are such an underrated theatre group and have been for years. The new plays/musicals with the Hatchetfield universe have been so amazing, curated, and such an enriching theatre experience.

[@Redstomp]

This was excellent. I hope you'll do a video on the Hatchetfield musical universe as well! StarKid going fully original and having auch success with it proves they more than have what it takes to move beyond just parody musicals!

[@blueskyredmarsie]

Oh my god, I literally rewatched Trail to Oregon for the millionth time last night ON A WHIM! Imagine my delight seeing this in my notifications today! I was especially excited to see interviews with some of the Starkid crew! And I very much enjoyed Joey's educational segment of mouth farts.

[@mattneff]

Alt Video Title: HOW JEFF BLIM SAVED STARKID

[@noplace3571]

I genuinely couldn't imagine Starkid without Jeff Blim. The Hachetfield trilogy is a masterstroke of genius

[@cupcake5114]

This video makes me so happy! Trail To Oregon is my number one favorite Starkid show, for all the reasons mentioned here. The pacing is great, the energy is always on point, the cast has wonderful chemistry, it’s chaotic and unexpected and all the songs are bangers. I actually think that having a smaller cast helps a lot because it means everyone gets a chance to shine. It was wonderful to hear so much about the behind the scenes of this crazy project and to hear from the cast members and the man Jeff Blim himself. I knew that the origins of the show were chaotic but I had never realized how much was at stake. It only makes appreciate Jeff and the team even more. I’m glad the Lang brothers took this chance because you can feel SO MUCH of TTO in the dna of their current Hatchetverse.

[@KimonoSuki]

It's so interesting to hear that they really believed that ANI would be popular and Trail to Oregon wouldn't, when I love Trail to Oregon and remember so much of it despite only watching it once or twice, but even though I'm like 99% sure I've seen ANI, I couldn't tell you a single song, joke, or character from the entire thing. Also interesting that they were so stuck on parodies in the beginning! Don't get me wrong, their early parody musicals will always hold a special place in my heart (it's been over 10 years and the opening notes to AVPM will get me out of my sealt belting the opening number any day, and Twisted is my Roman Empire) but my most of favorite Team Starkid productions are the original ones! Like Firebringer and TGWDLM :D

[@TinyTink006]

As a SK fan from way back, and being the "ground floor" OG Jeff Blim fan girls (it's true, look up Shit Candy Girls Say! On YT) My friend group learned anything and EVERYTHING about Jeff Blim in the few years between HMB and OTTM (Oregon Trail The Muscal) We found the original cast soundtrack, we learned about how much he had worked on it, etc etc. When Starkid announced that they would be making TTO we all rejoiced in the fact that Jeff was FINALLY getting this made. In the end it didn't use half the original songs from the show, including my favorite The Prettiest, but they did sing a few at one of the late night shows of the Summer Season. I saw TTO six times that summer, including opening night and filming night. Even not really knowing Jeff Blim personally at the time, it was still so...emotional, seeing his vision being brought to life on stage. Team Starkid may have taken the biggest gamble, but it was on the best person they ever could have. He's an amazing actor, writer, singer and person.

[@charlydorina9033]

I love this video the Interviews with the cast are a great addition!

[@savannaherickson6895]

i’m so glad starkid is getting this recognition for their amazing art they given us over the years :) i’ve been a fan since 2011 when I discovered avps on youtube and now i’ve shared this group with everyone I love and they love them too

[@floranuko2854]

I watched this musical for the first time and had NO IDEA what that game even was. I KNEW they were making references but for the love of god I did not get them. I still liked the musical but was also like: Well that was random. UNTIL I found out about the game. Played it a few times and suddenly understood EVERYTHING. And OMFG it was genius.

[@Phoenix-sb6hl]

I absolutely adore this show, it's so experimental and weird, I love everything about it. It's so silly and goofy but the songs, story, cast chemistry.. I just love it so much. I never knew about it going to New York, that's so cool. They've come such a long way and I appreciate the deep dives as a casual fan

[@mckennaforster7015]

The theater Starkid started out in is actually not a basement theater! The organization they started out with is called Basement Arts, but the theater Basement Arts (and subsequently Starkid) performs in is a studio space called the Newman Studio in the Walgreen Drama Center. We actually recently did a production of Trail to Oregon through Basement Arts (and in the Newman Studio) back in February (I was the Grandpa)! It was the first Starkid production at Michigan since the Starkid members graduated and it was honestly the coolest opportunity I ever had at college.

[@DPObseser]

I never knew the story of Jeff’s quest of making Trail to Oregon, and when I heard about the making of the play and musical and about Jack Bower as a character. It was like everything in that one moment of naming the dad became clear

[@libby5004]

I watched ANI this year and wondered why so many of the favourite cast members like Lauren Lopez & Joey Richter weren’t there. I think that, very niche references and the fact it wasn’t the cast singing it didn’t have the charm. Especially compared to Potter but parodies can only get you so far. I think Guy who didn’t like musicals & Nerdy Prudes Must Die are my top shows

[@mapleleaf65]

Starkid has taught me to never judge any of their musicals by the synopsis. Twisted I thought I wouldn't like, Batman, Trail to Oregon, Guy who didn't like musicals. I didn't like Ani the first time I watched it, then I dated a star wars nerd, and now I truly understand it and love it again

[@rhiannonkitchener]

So crazy that I was literally watching TTO for the first time in years earlier today and then this video gets released! It was so cool to learn all this new stuff, especially hearing it from Jeff, Joey and Jaime. TTO is one of my fave musicals EVER! (also it must be said that Ani is also AMAZING and sooo underrated)

[@dez6529]

While TTO isn't my favorite Starkid creation, it's a lot of good silly fun and I'm glad it exists! I fell off my Starkid wagon after AVPS came out and didn't rediscover them until 2015. I have been an avid fan ever since, buying digital tickets when possible, and even buying my kids (myself really) a Wiggly. This group has brought so much joy to so many people! Thanks for this deep dive. It was totally awesome!

[@elswhite7229]

I really love seeing y'all cover Starkid musicals! Seeing Joey was so nostalgic...He was one of my biases in the AVPM days.

[@SophieEvax]

Trail to Oregon is probably my most rewatched starkid

[@caroldevaney7630]

OOh, delighted to stumble across this live!

[@naviafromfontaine]

jeff blim is one of the best things that happened to starkid