30 Rock's Keith Powell 'Directs a Play'… For Real!

There’s no doubt a huge part of the web involves self-promotion, and 30 Rock actor Keith Powell is not ashamed to self-promote. Powell, who satirically describes himself as an “unqualified genius” on his website, has just launched a web series to coincide with the debut of a new musical he is directing. Keith Powell Directs a Play is a fictional six part web series chronicling Powell’s foray into directing Uncle Vanya at a repertory theatre group, ripe with a whole lot of self-mockery on Powell’s part.

Powell actually majored in directing at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, and on summer hiatus from 30 Rock decided to make a show about getting back into the medium.

Subscribe for daily Tubefilter Top Stories

Subscribe

Powell created the show with childhood friend, Patrick Flynn. Of his collaboration, Powell says, “Patrick has known me since I was 14 years old, so he knows a lot of stuff that directly makes fun of me in real life. A lot of the stuff in the show is very accurate to who I am. We put it in there and made it more obnoxious, and annoying. We took all of my annoying and real personality traits and turned up the volume.”

We couldn’t help but ask, if there are any parallels between Powell as a director on Uncle Vanya, and as a director in his real career. “I hope not,” says Powell. “I really screw up on Uncle Vanya… I do love to hear myself talk though, so that’s a parallel. Let’s see–I don’t want to ruin any surprises but, you know, there are times when you question am I a mad genius, or just mad, you know? I pretty much abuse the actors in the production, but I definitely dance that line… Is what I am doing effective, or is what I am doing just destructive?”

Powell joins the growing crop of web series from up-and-coming stars poking fun at their newfound fame – Michael Stahl-David: Behind the Star and Clark and Michael. As expected he called upon a number of actor friends to drop in on the self-financed production. “I just thought it would be really, really funny to make fun of me, with a group of people I really enjoy and care about, ” he adds.

New episodes of Keith Powell Directs a Play will be posted monthly, at the beginning of each month, on iTunes, YouTube, Funny or Die, and CollegeHumor. The actual Powell-directed stage production of Whisper House will debut in March with the Delaware Theatre Company, featuring what we’re told is a rockin score by musician Duncan Sheik.

Share
Published by
Lindsay Stidham

Recent Posts

Creators on the Rise: Celestial Sylvia reads the danger all around us

Welcome to Creators on the Rise, where we find and profile breakout creators who are…

14 hours ago

TikTok, UMG re-up licensing agreement, bringing artists like Bad Bunny back to the app

TikTok and Universal Music Group (UMG) have settled their dispute. The two parties have agreed on a…

15 hours ago

TikTok is bringing “tentpole moments” to its premium ad product Pulse Premiere

Amidst political turmoil in the U.S. and abroad, TikTok addressed brand and agency representatives at the 2024 NewFronts.…

16 hours ago

With 500,000 sellers in the U.S. alone, TikTok touts the safety features of its Shop

Amidst a chaotic week at TikTok, the app took some time to acknowledge its growing community…

2 days ago

Wesley Wang’s viral short film got 4.4 million views. A feature adaptation is in the works.

Nothing, Except Everything is getting a big-screen treatment. That's the name of a short film that…

2 days ago

Creators on the Rise: Giulia Amato on faith, finding her niche, and getting up at 4 a.m.

Welcome to Creators on the Rise, where we find and profile breakout creators who are…

2 days ago