Fil-Irish Darren Criss is Daniel Radcliffe's replacement in Broadway show

source: mb.com.ph

MANILA, Philippines – Gaining success through “Glee” is one thing; succeeding “Harry Potter” star Daniel Radcliffe in an acclaimed musical is another.


Filipino-Irish singer-actor Darren Criss is set to fill Radcliffe’s shoes in the comedic musical “How To Succeed In Business Without Trying,” via a three-week stint from January 3 to 22, 2012, according to a release posted on the New York Theater Guide website on Aug. 1.

“How To Succeed” will mark Criss’ Broadway debut.

Radcliffe’s will bow out as window washer J. Pierrepont Finch on New Year’s Day. Radcliffe, who made his theater debut via “Equus,” had been playing the Finch character since the show opened last March.

Amid incessant rumors of him replacing Radcliffe, Criss intimated in his interview with MTV News last week that the project was still hanging in the balance.

“Right now, honestly, I'm just trying to get my head screwed back on. I've been traveling around a lot, and who knows what the future holds? But if that's something, who knows, that'd be great,” said the 24-year-old singer-songwriter, who plays charming Warbler Blaine Anderson on "Glee."

“How To Succeed” director and choreographer Rob Ashford admitted in the same website release that he and his team initially thought that it would be “nearly impossible” to find Radcliffe’s replacement given his “extraordinary performance eight times a week.”

Criss has apparently changed their minds.

“When we learned of Darren's dream of performing on Broadway we knew we had found our Finch but presumed his ‘Glee’ schedule would eliminate any chance to work with him. We are ecstatic and grateful to Ryan Murphy (show creator) and his 'Glee’ team at 20th Century Fox TV for helping to make both Darren's and our dream come true," Ashford said.

Interestingly, Criss and Radcliffe shared some sort of connection prior to “How To Succeed...” The former was one of the brains behind the hit YouTube parodies “A Very Potter Musical” and “A Very Potter Sequel” where he played Radcliffe’s iconic role.

Criss admitted to MTV News though that “the fake Harry Potter has not met the real Harry Potter. Only in my dreams, and that's probably as close as I'll ever get."

But if that dream becomes a reality, and if the fans would see “Dan and I do a number, I think ears would bleed,” MTV News quoted Criss as saying in an earlier interview.

source: mb.com.ph