Darren Criss Sets 'Glee' Musical Milestone (Exclusive) 

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Darren Criss Sets 'Glee' Musical Milestone (Exclusive)

The singer/actor and Broadway star becomes the first cast member to write original songs for the Fox musical.

Darren Criss Sets Broadway Return With \'Hedwig and the Angry Inch\'

Star Darren Criss has become the first cast member to write (and co-write) original songs specifically for the Fox musical,

Criss, who stars as fan favorite Blaine Anderson, wrote original song "This Time," which is set to be one of the last songs Lea Michele's Rachel Berry performs during

Criss, who recently signed on to return to Broadway and star in

, also co-wrote "Rise," set to be performed by members of the dramedy's central glee club, the New Directions. Criss teamed with friends Theo Katzman, Sam Hollander, Andrew Thielk, Eddie Montilla and Korey Richmond to write the track — set to be included in the March 6 episode. "Rise" was a song that Criss and company initially created with the goal of having it featured on

— they just weren't sure when or where the song would fit in.

That changed when Criss read "The Rise & Fall of Sue Sylvester," when he realized the lyrics and tone of the song fit in not only with the storyline but also with an actual line of dialogue earlier in the episode about "rising from the ashes."

's sixth and final season has already concluded. The series has four more weeks — and five hours — left in its story of the proverbial underdogs. Last week, Criss' Blaine wed on-again, off-again boyfriend Kurt (Chris Colfer) in a dual wedding with fellow fan-favorite couple Santana (Naya Rivera) and Brittany (Heather Morris).

airs Fridays at 9 p.m. on Fox; the two-hour series finale airs March 20 at 8 p.m.

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