Have 당신 guys read this?? Further proof that he's the most amaizng guy in the world.
Dearest friends-
Though my very first episode aired on TV in November of 2010, the end of this past September actually marked the two 년 anniversary of a phone call that really turned my life upside down: I was notified that I had been cast as a new character on the 인기 텔레비전 series, “Glee.”
Woah.
의해 that point, some of 당신 had maybe known me from silly 유튜브 videos, and for even less of you- from cafes, restaurants, and bars I used to play 음악 at. Regardless of the when 또는 the how 또는 the why, it’s been been a pretty incredible journey for all of us since that phone call.
Some highlights:
In April of 2010, I was getting ready to start working on what some of 당신 might now know as A Very Potter Musical. I was a senior at the 대학 of Michigan, and I had just read an 기사 about the cast members from the new hit TV series “Glee” 노래 at the White House. I thought, “Man, that’s insane.” Well, just this past June I took a song I wrote called “Not Alone” that I used in that very same musical I was working on in college, and sang it in person for the President himself... Shortly before I got to fist-bump him.
In July of 2011, I was asked to speak on a Harry Potter-based 팬 panel in San Diego. I thought I was a bit under-qualified for the job, but was nonetheless excited to be asked to speak on a panel at one of my 가장 좋아하는 summer events: Comic-Con! When I got there, I realized that we were given a rough time slot because it was the same exact time as the panel for that same hit TV show, “Glee.” I thought, “Man, this ‘Glee’ thing is really stealin’ my thunder...” Ok, well, the very 다음 year, I couldn’t do the HP 팬 panel again because I was on that 글리 panel.
The crazy stories go on and on, not to mention the little things like magazine covers 또는 hitting Billboard charts, 또는 doing a film with the likes of amazing people like Kristen Wiig, Annette Bening, Matt Dillon... Let’s see, what else, oh, getting to live my dream of doing a Broadway show, and then of course, there was getting to sing “Rainbow Connection” with Kermit the Frog... I mean, these things are unbelievable. Unbelievable. I have a pretty wild imagination, but I never thought any of that could actually happen, let alone in such a relative short period of time.
Here’s the deal- I work hard, I try to make the right decisions and do the best I can with everything I do and all that good stuff- but really, that can only go so far. There are so many contributing factors to what has happened for me that go far beyond my control... And that’s where 당신 come in. You, the fans, have been a huge part of the reason why I’ve been able to do half the things I’ve been able to do.
We live in an unprecedented age of social connectivity, and I am happy to say that 당신 none of 당신 have failed to take full advantage of that. Don’t think I’m not aware of how active the fandom is, 또는 how much impact is has. Remember: Not only am I 팬 myself, but I do have an internet connection. I see the gifs, I see the fanfics, I see the memes, and it’s all amazing stuff. Though I haven’t met the majority of you, it’s a real thrill to know that many of your lives have come together on behalf of mine. That’s an incredibly moving concept, and the fact that those connections have yielded so much positivity is something even 더 많이 amazing.
Let’s take my own stories out of the picture for a second- you, as a group, have all accomplished some pretty amazing things yourselves. 당신 done everything from raising money for great causes to organizing awesome flash mobs over the internet to show your support. 당신 have shown up at the crack of dawn and stayed until you’re the last one standing. 당신 have come together to create something far greater than any of us: a real sense of community and a genuine place of support- not just for me but for each other. And I can safely say that I wouldn’t be where I am now if it weren’t for that.
Oftentimes I meet people who challenge me, “You have no idea what you’ve done for me.” Well the truth is, it’s the other way around. I do have an idea, and a pretty good one at that. Because for whatever 당신 may think I may be giving you, 당신 are actually giving back to me, tenfold. And I am constantly wondering when and if it will fade, who will stick around, who will get bored- I often think about the 일 there won’t be anyone on the other side of the stage door... but despite myself, as time goes on, 당신 all have never ceased to amaze me with your enthusiasm, creativity, and seemingly endless joy that continues to inspire and encourage me.
Tonight is the premiere of the dreaded break-up episode. For many 글리 fans, I imagine there will 더 많이 than reason to be sad. But cheer up, think of it this way: much of your support has allowed me to be on this show long enough to reach a breakup in the first place; it has created a relationship that people cared enough about whereby it was even worth 글쓰기 an episode about its potential end. I never thought I would get to be around long enough for something like that. And I really have you, the 팬 to thank for it. It’s something to be proud of.
What’s more, I was even asked to play my own arrangement of teenage dream for this episode- an acoustic 피아노 version which so many of 당신 have supported since I sang it as my first song on my very first episode. I started playing this version at shows as a sort of “thank you” to the fans, for making it such a big song for both myself and the show. It was the song that started everything.
So before the episode airs tonight, I thought it was only appropriate to write a fully fledged note to all of 당신 that could express my deep appreciation for the past two years since that crazy phone call. I hope that this is just the beginning, and that I get to thank 당신 many 더 많이 times for many 더 많이 adventures as the years roll by. But for now, know that I am so very grateful for everything you’ve given me, and I am very proud of what we have accomplished together. From teenage dream to teenage dream, thank 당신 for allowing me to live mine.
your biggest fan,
Darren
Dearest friends-
Though my very first episode aired on TV in November of 2010, the end of this past September actually marked the two 년 anniversary of a phone call that really turned my life upside down: I was notified that I had been cast as a new character on the 인기 텔레비전 series, “Glee.”
Woah.
의해 that point, some of 당신 had maybe known me from silly 유튜브 videos, and for even less of you- from cafes, restaurants, and bars I used to play 음악 at. Regardless of the when 또는 the how 또는 the why, it’s been been a pretty incredible journey for all of us since that phone call.
Some highlights:
In April of 2010, I was getting ready to start working on what some of 당신 might now know as A Very Potter Musical. I was a senior at the 대학 of Michigan, and I had just read an 기사 about the cast members from the new hit TV series “Glee” 노래 at the White House. I thought, “Man, that’s insane.” Well, just this past June I took a song I wrote called “Not Alone” that I used in that very same musical I was working on in college, and sang it in person for the President himself... Shortly before I got to fist-bump him.
In July of 2011, I was asked to speak on a Harry Potter-based 팬 panel in San Diego. I thought I was a bit under-qualified for the job, but was nonetheless excited to be asked to speak on a panel at one of my 가장 좋아하는 summer events: Comic-Con! When I got there, I realized that we were given a rough time slot because it was the same exact time as the panel for that same hit TV show, “Glee.” I thought, “Man, this ‘Glee’ thing is really stealin’ my thunder...” Ok, well, the very 다음 year, I couldn’t do the HP 팬 panel again because I was on that 글리 panel.
The crazy stories go on and on, not to mention the little things like magazine covers 또는 hitting Billboard charts, 또는 doing a film with the likes of amazing people like Kristen Wiig, Annette Bening, Matt Dillon... Let’s see, what else, oh, getting to live my dream of doing a Broadway show, and then of course, there was getting to sing “Rainbow Connection” with Kermit the Frog... I mean, these things are unbelievable. Unbelievable. I have a pretty wild imagination, but I never thought any of that could actually happen, let alone in such a relative short period of time.
Here’s the deal- I work hard, I try to make the right decisions and do the best I can with everything I do and all that good stuff- but really, that can only go so far. There are so many contributing factors to what has happened for me that go far beyond my control... And that’s where 당신 come in. You, the fans, have been a huge part of the reason why I’ve been able to do half the things I’ve been able to do.
We live in an unprecedented age of social connectivity, and I am happy to say that 당신 none of 당신 have failed to take full advantage of that. Don’t think I’m not aware of how active the fandom is, 또는 how much impact is has. Remember: Not only am I 팬 myself, but I do have an internet connection. I see the gifs, I see the fanfics, I see the memes, and it’s all amazing stuff. Though I haven’t met the majority of you, it’s a real thrill to know that many of your lives have come together on behalf of mine. That’s an incredibly moving concept, and the fact that those connections have yielded so much positivity is something even 더 많이 amazing.
Let’s take my own stories out of the picture for a second- you, as a group, have all accomplished some pretty amazing things yourselves. 당신 done everything from raising money for great causes to organizing awesome flash mobs over the internet to show your support. 당신 have shown up at the crack of dawn and stayed until you’re the last one standing. 당신 have come together to create something far greater than any of us: a real sense of community and a genuine place of support- not just for me but for each other. And I can safely say that I wouldn’t be where I am now if it weren’t for that.
Oftentimes I meet people who challenge me, “You have no idea what you’ve done for me.” Well the truth is, it’s the other way around. I do have an idea, and a pretty good one at that. Because for whatever 당신 may think I may be giving you, 당신 are actually giving back to me, tenfold. And I am constantly wondering when and if it will fade, who will stick around, who will get bored- I often think about the 일 there won’t be anyone on the other side of the stage door... but despite myself, as time goes on, 당신 all have never ceased to amaze me with your enthusiasm, creativity, and seemingly endless joy that continues to inspire and encourage me.
Tonight is the premiere of the dreaded break-up episode. For many 글리 fans, I imagine there will 더 많이 than reason to be sad. But cheer up, think of it this way: much of your support has allowed me to be on this show long enough to reach a breakup in the first place; it has created a relationship that people cared enough about whereby it was even worth 글쓰기 an episode about its potential end. I never thought I would get to be around long enough for something like that. And I really have you, the 팬 to thank for it. It’s something to be proud of.
What’s more, I was even asked to play my own arrangement of teenage dream for this episode- an acoustic 피아노 version which so many of 당신 have supported since I sang it as my first song on my very first episode. I started playing this version at shows as a sort of “thank you” to the fans, for making it such a big song for both myself and the show. It was the song that started everything.
So before the episode airs tonight, I thought it was only appropriate to write a fully fledged note to all of 당신 that could express my deep appreciation for the past two years since that crazy phone call. I hope that this is just the beginning, and that I get to thank 당신 many 더 많이 times for many 더 많이 adventures as the years roll by. But for now, know that I am so very grateful for everything you’ve given me, and I am very proud of what we have accomplished together. From teenage dream to teenage dream, thank 당신 for allowing me to live mine.
your biggest fan,
Darren