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Darren Criss Talks Potter Memories, London Premiere, and Team Starkid

By Rae Votta (Subscribe to Rae Votta's posts), Posted Aug 3rd 2011 4:50PM

Darren Criss may be one of the most famous fans of Harry Potter, but he started out just like any other fan -- a kid reading along.

"It was in a section at a book fair at my school in 4th grade," he told us. "I bought every book as they came out."

We caught up with the "Glee" star at LeakyCon, which he attended with his Team Starkid production company, famous for their Harry Potter themed musicals. Criss made his name playing the boy wizard in the parodies, before making the transition for viral fame to mainstream TV success.

After the jump, check out our interview with Criss where he discusses his first Potter memories, attending the London Harry Potter premiere and the response of Team Starkid fans.
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LeakyCon 2011 Wrap-Up: Harry Potter Fans Sing, Argue and Get All Dressed Up (VIDEO)

By Rae Votta (Subscribe to Rae Votta's posts), Posted Jul 27th 2011 4:00PM
Filed under: Video, Harry Potter
While the Harry Potter franchise may have come to an end with the release of 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2,' for the Potterheads who gathered in Orlando around the release weekend, the magic of Potter lives on.

Fans converged for LeakyCon, a celebration of all things wizarding, to celebrate the end of the movies and the ever-growing world of Potter fandom, and Moviefone was there to catch all the action. In between panels on Harry as an academic pursuit and discussions of fan interpretations of the text, attendees were treated to performances by a variety of viral Potter stars: Potter Puppet Pals performed to a packed crowd (the group has the 18th-most-viewed video on YouTube), wizard rock bands sang songs inspired by the books, and Team Starkid (creators of A Very Potter Musical) performed selections from their works for the first time in over a year.

The fans were also treated to an early screening of the final film and a sneak peek at Pottermore, J.K. Rowling's new site for all things Potter, that doesn't officially launch until October.

After the jump, watch our recap of LeakyCon and check out photos from the events.
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Evanna Lynch Reveals Who Else She'd Want to Play in the Potter-verse (VIDEO)

By Rae Votta (Subscribe to Rae Votta's posts), Posted Jul 25th 2011 1:30PM
Filed under: Harry Potter

She may be Luna Lovegood in the 'Harry Potter' films, but Evanna Lynch told Moviefone if she could play any other part she'd want to be ... Severus Snape -- if only she had the life experience.

"I think you really need a lot of life experience to play that role, and Alan Rickman does it so well ," Lynch told Moviefone. "I don't think anyone could play it as well. I just find him so intriguing. There's so many layers to him."

Lynch spent last weekend as a special guest at LeakyCon, a fan convention in Orlando, Fla., celebrating all things Potter. Along with her own panels and signing events, Lynch made the rounds, even joining wizard rock band Harry and the Potters on bass guitar at an evening performance. Lynch, who famously went from a fan of the series to a cast member, was definitely in her element.

After the jump check out our interview with Evanna, where she reveals what scene she wishes made the final film cut and plays Potter word association.
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Watch Team Starkid 'Get Back to Hogwarts' at LeakyCon (VIDEO)

By Rae Votta (Subscribe to Rae Votta's posts), Posted Jul 20th 2011 12:45PM
Filed under: Features, Video, Summer Movies, Harry Potter
What do you get when you take more than 80 million YouTube views, add the fanaticism of Harry Potter fans, sprinkle it with catchy music and serve it up to an audience of Potterheads? The Team Starkid live experience, where the stars of the viral Harry Potter parody musicals brought the magic of their productions live to Orlando last weekend as part of LeakyCon, a four-day celebration of the Boy Who Lived.

The group first found success in 2009 with A Very Potter Musical, which went viral almost instantly, thanks to rabid Potter fans. They followed up with A Very Potter Sequel and the original production Starship, developing their own die-hard fanbase, many of whom made the journey to Orlando and waited for hours for autograph signings and lined up to be front row to see the Starkids perform selections from their musicals to a sold-out crowd Saturday morning, including songs like 'Goin' Back to Hogwarts,' 'Not Alone' and 'Harry Freakin' Potter.'

While the most well-known Starkid is Darren Criss, who had a breakout role on 'Glee' last season and played Harry Potter in the musicals, fans of the group were equally enthusiastic to see all the performers, who haven't performed Potter songs live together in more than a year. One fan asked Joey Richter, who plays Ron Weasley in the fan musical, if he would be her date to that night's charity ball. He refused only because he was already escorting Evanna Lynch, who plays Luna Lovegood in the actual 'Potter' films and was also attending the convention.

After the jump, check out our video recap of the Team Starkid performance, signing, fan reaction and general madness in Orlando.
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Exclusive Photos: Harry Potter Fans Invade Orlando for LeakyCon 2011

By Rae Votta (Subscribe to Rae Votta's posts), Posted Jul 19th 2011 4:00PM
Filed under: Harry Potter
Harry Potter excitement was especially amplified in Orlando this weekend as fans converged on the city to attend LeakyCon, a gathering focused on all things Potter. While 'Deathly Hallows, Part 2' dominated at the box office, more than 3,000 superfans assembled to discuss the finer points of Harry's world, don their finest robes, and celebrate all types of wizarding fan culture -- from musicals to rock and roll to opera and puppetry.

After the jump, check out our exclusive gallery of shots from the weekend.
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Exclusive Gallery: Team Starkid Performs at Harry Potter Convention

By Rae Votta (Subscribe to Rae Votta's posts), Posted Jul 18th 2011 4:45PM
Filed under: Harry Potter

Moviefone spent the weekend at LeakyCon, a convention for all things Harry Potter, and amid all the witchcraft and wizardry, one group and their fans stood out as especially fanatical: Starkids. The group, which was co-founded by Darren Criss (now of 'Glee' fame), produced A Very Potter Musical, a must-see for all Potterheads. The group performed hits from their viral sensation to a sold-out crowd Saturday morning, after signing autographs for hundreds of fans the night before.

We already posted a teaser clip and some photos from the event, but now we have a full gallery of Starkids from both their Friday signing and Saturday performance, after the jump.
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Team Starkid Performs Harry Potter Hits at Weekend Convention

By Rae Votta (Subscribe to Rae Votta's posts), Posted Jul 16th 2011 5:30PM
Filed under: Harry Potter
This weekend, Harry Potter fans invaded Orlando for LeakyCon, a four-day convention celebrating the world and fandom around everyone's favorite wizard. We've got tons of coverage coming at you from the event -- Potter costumes, tattoos and wizard rock bands -- but today's biggest ticket gathering was the performance by Team Starkid, creators of the YouTube hit A Very Potter Musical.

After the jump, watch a teaser clip with Darren Criss, who played Harry Potter in the viral video and also plays Blaine Anderson on 'Glee,' singing 'Not Alone' for the wizarding crowd. We've also got a few preview photos from their panel.
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