This is a fan forum to discuss Darren Criss\'s career and his public activities, including his theater, film, and TV projects, his music and musical performances, charitable work, interaction with fans, and interviews.
csacasting: Ryan Murphy (GLEE, AMERICAN HORROR STORY) and Carol Mendelsohn (CSI, CSI MIAMI, CSI NY) presented The Hoyt Bowers Award to UDK. Accepting the award was Carol Kritzer, @rj.ulrich, and Eric Dawson! Photo By: Lisa Kelley Remerowski (@LKRPhoto) #ArtiosAwards2019#CSA#castingsocietyofamerica#castingdirectors#hollywood
Darren Criss & Amber Riley perform “Lean On Me” at the Artios Awards via ABC Casting’s IG Livestream (Janiary 31st, 2019)
haha! Love this! That is definitely my face too, although I admit sometimes I was so scared I left the room.
Spoiler:
Lin wrote:I'm so proud and impressed and SO creeped out. I never would have thought Darren could creep me out like this, but he very thoroughly succeeded. He sends actual shivers down my spine every week and I can't wait for the next episode.
I'm glad you're proud and impressed, Lin. Ditto that for me too. It's a new sensation to be creeped out by Darren. He's such a adorable sweetie pie in real life. And the previous characters he played never had that effect on us, of course! (I loved Blaine and Hedwig!! His character from Eastwick was adorkable, and his Harry from AVPM and its sequels is much beloved. Lee in Girl Most Likely was nice, a good guy. I guess folks had mixed feelings about J. Pierpont Finch, but he was not scary and creepy! Justin from American Horror Story was a jerk, but no killer, and the Music Meister from The Flash turned out to be a good guy.)
Darren sure is hitting the perfect notes in Versace. (But cross fingers the next character he plays is a different kind of character. )
Premiere of The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (1/8/2018, Los Angeles)
Wow, so much material to cover.
From Darren Criss Army:
haha. Darren charming Penelope.
Penelope Cruz & Darren Criss at the ACS Versace LA premiere, Jan 8, 2018.
Photos by Kevin Winter, Getty Images.
Team DC!
Darren with his team (Ashley Weston, Ricky Rollins, Eleni Gianulis and Michael Ormacky) celebrating the Los Angeles premiere of American Crime Story, January 8, 2018, via Ricky Rollins’ Instagram Story
via Darren Criss Army
He's cute. Edouard Holdener & Darren Criss at the ACS Versace LA premiere
Jan 8, 2018
Photos by Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Darren Criss & “Vulgar Favors” author Maureen Orth at the LA premiere of ACS Versace.
Jan 8, 2018
Photo by Kevin Winter, Getty Images
ETOnline wrote: 'American Crime Story' Cast Reacts to Versace Family Calling Mini-Series a 'Work of Fiction (Exclusive)
January 9, 2018
Edgar Ramirez and Penelope Cruz are standing behind their work on The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story following the Versace family telling ET that the mini-series should be “considered a work of fiction.”
ET’s Keltie Knight spoke with the ACS stars and the show’s creator, Ryan Murphy, at the FX premiere on Monday night in Los Angeles, California, and they were all adamant about holding Gianni’s relatives in high regard.
“We all feel the utmost respect for the Versace family,” Ramirez, who portrays the slain fashion designer, said. “We all tried to be as respectful and compassionate as possible walking into the show.”
“I really feel a lot of love for them,” added Cruz, who takes on the role of Gianni’s sister, Donatella Versace.
The mini-series is based on Maureen Orth’s book, Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace, and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U. S. History, which details the late designer’s murder in 1997. Murphy stands behind the story.
“Vulgar Favors was acclaimed and embedded for almost 20 years now so we stand behind Marren and we stand behind the book,” he insisted.
Murphy added, “Penelope never would have taken on this role if in any way if Donatella or anyone in the family was sort of portrayed in a negative light.”
“The Versace family has neither authorized nor had any involvement whatsoever in the forthcoming TV series about the death of Mr. Gianni Versace,” the family said in a statement on Monday. “Since Versace did not authorize the book on which it is partly based nor has it taken part in the writing of the screenplay, this TV series should only be considered as a work of fiction.”
At Sunday’s 75th Annual Golden Globe Awards, Cruz shared with ET’s Nancy O'Dell that she spoke with Donatella before accepting the part.
“When [ACS creator] Ryan [Murphy] told me, I said to him, ‘This sounds really interesting, but I have to make this call and I have to talk to Donatella,’” she recalled. “I called her and we spoke, like, for an hour. I needed that conversation to say yes.”
The 43-year-old actress further noted that she and Donatella have no bad blood between them. “It was a conversation where, I cannot share everything we talked about, but we have a good relationship,” she disclosed. “She just sent me flowers before I came here.”
Doting on the 62-year-old fashion icon, Cruz continued, “She’s such a loving person, so I wanted to put out there the love and respect I have for her. It’s in my performance for sure, and I hope that when she sees, she will be happy about it.”
The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story premieres Jan. 17 on FX.
WWD wrote: ‘The Assassination of Gianni Versace’ Premiere Draws Ricky Martin, Penelope Cruz
January 9, 2018
Ricky Martin, Penelope Cruz, Edgar Ramirez and Darren Criss, stepped out at the premiere of their new series, “The Assassination of Gianni Versace,” the second installment of Ryan Murphy’s “American Crime Story” franchise. While the Versace family recently released a statement denouncing the project as “a work of fiction,” Murphy was quick to mention that Cruz had received a kind gesture from her onscreen alter ego. “Donatella Versace sent Penelope Cruz a huge arrangement of flowers yesterday,” he shared.
“It was very nice,” said Cruz, who stars as Donatella in the nine-episode series, which debuts Jan. 17 on FX. “I don’t know if she has seen [any episodes yet], but it’s a personal thing. For me, it really made me smile. It made me happy.” The actress said she admires Donatella’s passion and success in running an empire. “She had to do that in a moment when she was devastated and she proved to be strong. That was a very generous thing to do because I’m sure she did it also for him.”
“Look, maybe it will be too painful for her to [watch], but I think we treat her with a lot of respect and dignity,” added Murphy. “I really admire Donatella — like I really admire Marcia Clark. I think Donatella Versace was a woman who, out of the blue, was asked to carry on a billion-dollar company and keep her family business going and intact and was up against a board of directors and lawyers who were all men and were trying to tell her something contrary to what she wanted to do. I really admire what she was able to do and continues to do.”
Cruz said she spoke with Donatella in advance of filming. “We had a long conversation when Ryan offered me the part,” said Cruz. “I needed to talk to her about it before I moved forward.” Once she accepted the role, Cruz prepared by combing through interviews with Donatella on YouTube in order “to capture the essence of this wonderful woman.”
Ramirez plays the role of Gianni Versace. “It’s such a great opportunity and such a great privilege to step into the shoes of one of the most creative minds of the 20th century,” said Ramirez, who wore prosthetics as part of his physical transformation. “He’s a genius that affected culture and changed it. Gianni was a disruptor. Gianni did things that no one else had done before….He was the designer of his time and for me that’s incredible to play.”
[. . . ]
Criss was tasked with tackling the role of serial killer Cunanan. “I feel like I made varsity,” Criss said of being cast on the show. “I get to be on an FX show, another Ryan Murphy show. The fact that it’s a second season for a show whose stripes are already proven in quality and content. Then I get to be in a project that has a character that is extremely compelling and is an actor’s dream to work on — not because of it’s darkness or the violence that it involves but because of the colors of emotional arcs that he carries with him. And on top of that let’s not forget the bonus that I get to hang out with a bunch of movie stars which is certainly a thrill. My head explodes a little bit [when I talk about it] and it did every day going to work. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Murphy said that the project features his dream cast. “They were all my first choices,” he shared, adding that, despite rumors, Lady Gaga was never in the running for the role. “She was never available. She was doing ‘A Star Is Born’ when we were casting it.” Murphy added, “I always wanted to work with Penelope. I liked that she was friendly with and knew Donatella very well. I’ve been friends with Penelope for almost 10 years and I’ve always wanted to work with her, but we could never find the right piece or the right timing. Finally this worked.”
[. . . ]
Beyond the headlines, Murphy said the project is, at its core, “about something I lived through which was homophobia in the Nineties and the trickle-down effect of ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ in our country. I also think it’s about great beauty and great destruction and it answers the question, ‘How does one person become a murderer?’ And how does another person become a creative genius? Both things don’t just happen, so we examine that.”
acsversace-news: [UHQ] The cast and crew of FX’s ‘The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story’ attend the premiere at ArcLight Hollywood on January 8, 2018 in Hollywood, California. | Source
hollywoodreporter: It was a killer good time with the #ACSVersace crew! The next installment of Ryan Murphy’s anthology series premieres Jan. 17 on FX. @gettyentertainment
via dcriss-archive
bharrisk: The Cast #acsversace The Assassination Of Gianni Versace
via dcriss-archive
This is Maureen Orth's son. lukerussert: Quite the evening in #LaLaLand celebrating the premiere of “The Assassination of Gianni Versace” airing January 17th on FX @americancrimestoryfx based on @maureen_orth book “Vulgar Favors.” Production team and all-star cast did a helluva job bringing my mom’s book to life. Watch it early and often, tell your friends, set your DVR and buy the book which is always better than the show/movie
via dcriss-archive
Actors Darren Criss, Edgar Ramirez, Penelope Cruz, Ricky Martin, Cody Fern, executive producers Ryan Murphy, Nina Jacobson, Brad Simpson, writer Tom Rob Smith and John Landgraf, CEO, FX Network pose at the after party for the premiere of FX’s ‘The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story’ at the Hollywood Palladium on January 8, 2018 in Los Angeles, California.
via dcriss-archive
Nice to see Edgar and Darren goofing around and having fun at the premiere.
Actors Darren Criss and Edgar Ramirez pose at the after party for the premiere of FX’s ‘The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story’ at the Hollywood Palladium on January 8, 2018 in Los Angeles, California.
[HQ] Actors Darren Criss, Edgar Ramirez and Penelope Cruz pose at the after party for the premiere of FX’s ‘The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story’ at the Hollywood Palladium on January 8, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. | Source
via dcriss-archive
[HQ] Darren Criss, Penelope Cruz, Edgar Ramirez and Ricky Martin, cast members in “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story,” pose together at a special screening of the television series at the ArcLight Hollywood on Monday, Jan. 8, 2018, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) | Source
Actors Darren Criss, Penelope Cruz, Edgar Ramirez, and Ricky Martin attend the premiere of FX’s ‘The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story’ at ArcLight Hollywood on January 8, 2018 in Hollywood, California.
This is a nice pic. No watermark and the colors in the background add vitality to the pic. Again, love Mia's outfit; she looks lovely. And am a fan of Darren's jacket; he looks handsome. Via Mia Swier’s Snapchat (January 9th, 2018)
via dcriss-archive
Actor Darren Criss and Mia Swier attend the premiere of FX’s ‘The Assassination Of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story’ at ArcLight Hollywood on January 8, 2018 in Hollywood, California
Darren is really perfecting his interview skills. Nicely done, Darren.
“American Crime Story” Cast Talks “Versace” Show Accuracy | Source
via dcriss-archive
acsversace-news:
via ‘American Crime Story’ Cast Reacts to Versace Family Calling Mini-Series a ‘Work of Fiction (Exclusive) | 9 January 2018
via dcriss-archive
The Stars of “The Assassination of Gianni Versace” Speak out (January 8th, 2018) | Source
The Stars of “The Assassination of Gianni Versace” Speak out (January 8th, 2018) | Source
via dcriss-archive
Aw, many of Darren's friends attended the Versace premiere. Caitlin Brody (with Glamour), Benj Pasek, Eleni Gianulis (part of Darren's team and a friend), and Jeff Jernigan (who I think also at one time was Darren's room mate in the house, but I could be wrong about that). Did all these folks go to U of Michigan?
cbroday: So many things have changed, but still so much is exactly the same. Love nothing more than being in a room with this dream team (including several not photographed!). We’re all in for an ACS Versace treat.
Duane Mieliwocki was a camera operator with Glee.
dcriss-archive:
kristindossantos: So good reuniting with this sweet soul last night and seeing how incredible he is in #AmericanCrimeStory#Versace. Chills on chilllllsss – this is NOT the Darren Criss you know and I think you will be blown away! (P.S. @leamichele also was there and it was a sweet #Glee reunion.) #NeverStopBelievin ###
@americancrimestoryfx starts Jan 17! KristinDSantos: BLAINE NO MORE! Was completely blown away by this guy in @ACSFX #Versace. Creepy and compelling af. Penelope Cruz is also [100] as Donatella. Get ready. 1/17. #latertweet#VersacePremiere
I like the parallelism between this message and a previous promo photo with Cunanan's face, with the message "He killed more than an icon." @ACSFX: Silence killed more than an icon. The Assassination of Gianni Versace premieres 1/17 on FX. #ACSVersace
dcriss-archive: ACSFX: Envy. Obsession. Tragedy. FOLLOW to preview #ACSVersace.
@ACSFX: Edgar Ramirez is Gianni Versace. FOLLOW to preview The Assassination of Gianni Versace.
@ACSFX: Truth cannot be buried. FOLLOW to preview #ACSVersace.
@ACSFX: FX’s Emmy-award winning limited series returns. For a preview, FOLLOW #ACSVersace now.
@ACSFX: From creator Ryan Murphy. FOLLOW to preview The Assassination of Gianni Versace.
@ACSFX: Uncover the crime. FOLLOW to preview The Assassination of Gianni Versace
@ACSFX: From award-winning creator Ryan Murphy comes #ACSVersace. FOLLOW now.
acsversace-news taged Chris Clark (hair stylist). wigorama Happy wrap to my American Crime Story : Versace family!
@ACSFX: Through tragedy, family remains. The Assassination of Gianni Versace, the next installment of FX’s award winning series, premieres 1/17. #ACSVersace
americancrimestoryfx Through tragedy, family remains. #ACSVersace, the next installment of FX’s award winning series, premieres 1/17.
Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) 75th Anniversary panel at the Paley Center: TV Game Changers Panel. October 26, 2017.
From dcriss-archive:
Nice comments by this fan of Darren. He is so kind to his fans. I love that about him. krystalhelena Just singin in Hollywood like usual. Except usually @darrencriss isn’t there . . . #HeComplimentedMeTooManyTimes#Hollywood
krystalhelena @randy_tizon yea he was really dope lol super cool to talk to
eatgregeat #aboutlastnight with@darrencriss fresh off his super hold on @nbchairspraylive & @kevinmchale about to film the important When We Rise.#hollywood out to support live #theater at @thewallisbh #beverlyhills for @breelear
Note: it looks like the Cooking with Gas show this Thursday with Darren as a special guest is sold out. http://purchase.groundlings.com/single/EventListing.aspx?k=4 Here is their policy for shows that are sold out:
Cooking with Gas wrote:
If a show is SOLD OUT online, that means ALL tickets have been issued. You may try your luck at the door. All shows have a first come first serve cancellation line outside. No prior waitlist will be kept.
16 and over only. Management reserves the right to refuse admittance to anyone who appears younger than 16 years of age with no ticket refund or exchange.
-Cooking with Gas: Thursdays at 8 pm
From dailydarrennews:
Orlando Sentinel wrote:
CD, DVD and Blu-ray of 'From Broadway With Love' Pulse benefit in Orlando to be released December 16
Back in July, a galaxy's worth of Broadway stars descended on Orlando to help the community heal and raise funds in the aftermath of the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub.
"From Broadway With Love: A Benefit Concert for Orlando," which took place at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, sold out in record time — leaving many disappointed.
Good news for them: Broadway Records this month is releasing a CD, DVD and Blu-ray of the event.
. . . Other performers include Chita Rivera, Lillias White, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Darren Criss and Jesse Mueller. Our own VarieTease, Orlando Philharmonic and Orlando Gay Chorus's Menage ensemble also participated.
Broadway Records president Van Dean says the release is planned for Dec. 16. But you can pre-order at broadwayrecords.com/cds, and the items should be shipped in time for Christmas.
You can feel good knowing that not only will "From Broadway With Love" be a present for whoever unwraps it, but it's also a gift to the community. Net proceeds will be donated to the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida, the Hope and Help Center of Central Florida and Zebra Coalition.
casting.amanda: While the world was fighting on my Facebook wall about politics - I was watching @darrencriss and @lenarockerhall sing their hearts out in #hedwigandtheangryinch - it was incredible.
Note: Henry Wanjala is production manager at the Kenyan Boys Choir and a talent manager.
Cute pic: fallenjunkie: bethanybarton: “Do we take a picture? No, right? No, yes? Okay, somebody take one.“ #Hedwig
Hedwig is INTENSE From abusive relationships had to come a deep scream for acceptance and empowerment... and @DarrenCriss was its voice. pic.twitter.com/5ms7a7JMkz
@DarrenCriss Thank you for making my night UNFORGETTABLE!!! I HAD A BLAST WATCHING ONE OF MY FAVORITE MUSICALS AND SEEING YOU STAR IN IT pic.twitter.com/SJj2SiqnFH
roseapodaca Did @DarrenCriss as #Hedwig tonight in #LA rock me like @NeilPatrickHarris did in #NY? Let's just say my LA friends, you'd be fools to miss this run! Fools! Get thy tix now. The amazing music and staging aside, too, there are the wigs--the WIGS!--and #makeup by @MikePotter/ costumes by the one and only @AriannePhillips (thank you, again, my friend). @josephbrooksjewelry, you were a handsome date. #Opening Night #Preview#hedwigandtheangryinch#pantages#hollywood#lavieenrose#luckygal with #talented friends
More comments:
@DarrenCriss Thank you for today. Unforgettable experience. A moment for life. Thank. You.
Greg Hernandez is a member of the media (editor of GregInHollywood.com, US correspondent for GayStarNews.com. Former LA Times, Hollywood Reporter, LA Daily News.
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That is definitely my face too, although I admit sometimes I was so scared I left the room.
It's a new sensation to be creeped out by Darren. He's such a adorable sweetie pie in real life. And the previous characters he played never had that effect on us, of course! (I loved Blaine and Hedwig!! His character from Eastwick was adorkable, and his Harry from AVPM and its sequels is much beloved. Lee in Girl Most Likely was nice, a good guy. I guess folks had mixed feelings about J. Pierpont Finch, but he was not scary and creepy! 
)
incredible 
!” 
Oh, that Darren 
