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A stage musical based on the 1980 musical film Fame has been staged under two titles. The first, Fame – The Musical conceived and developed by David De Silva, is a musical with a book by Jose Fernandez, music by Steve Margoshes and lyrics by Jacques Levy. The musical premiered in 1988 in Miami, Florida. as Fame on 42nd Street, it was performed Off-Broadway from 2003 to 2004.[1][2] De Silva had produced the 1980 film about students at New York City's High School of Performing Arts. The critically and commercially successful film was followed by a six-season television series, a reality television show,[3] and the musical. The musical is significantly rewritten from the previous adaptations, with an almost entirely new score. The film is referred to several times in the script and in two songs.[4] Since its first production, Fame – The Musical has had numerous professional and amateur productions.[5]
[edit] US ProductionsIn 1988, Fame – the Musical was first produced at the Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami, Florida. The original cast included Tom Acousti as Nick Piazza, Tener Brown as Iris Kelly, Monique Cintron as Carmen Diaz, Joel Malina as Schlomo Metzenbaum, Janet Metz as Serena Katz, and Harold Perrineau Jr. as Tyrone Jackson.[6] Following this, the show ran at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from March 25, through April 29, 1989; the show was termed "a hit".[6][7] The show ran Off-Broadway at the Little Shubert Theatre from October 7, 2003 (previews), November 11, 2003 (official), through June 27, 2004, for 264 performances and 40 previews. Directed by Drew Scott Harris, the cast included Shakiem Evans as Tyrone Jackson, Nicole Leach, Cheryl Freeman, and Christopher J. Hanke. Marque Lynche as Tyrone Jackson was a replacement. This version was titled Fame on 42nd Street (the Little Shubert Theatre is on 42 Street).[8] [9][10] A North American tour, produced by Phoenix Theatricals, ran from September 2003 through June 2004.[11][9] [edit] SequelDavid De Silva has conceived a sequel, Fame Forever, with a book by Ben H. Winters, and music by Steve Margoshes. It was first performed by Glasgow's Apollo Players at the Kings Theatre in 2007. The American debut of the sequel, titled Fame Forever: Reunion and Rebirth played September 21-30, 2007, at the Waterville Opera House, Waterville, Maine.[12][13] It also received a co-debut at The Players of Sarasota in Sarasota, Florida opening around the same time, but running to October 7, 2007. This show was directed by Thomas DeWyane Barrett.[14] [edit] Plot summaryNote: the plot outlined below is for the professional script. The amateur production has slight differences in the script.
A group of vibrant, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, energetic young people gather to audition to study at New York City's High School of Performing Arts. Miss Sherman the homeroom teacher, warns the freshman class that it takes a lot more than dreams to succeed at "P.A." The students acknowledge that it takes ("Hard Work"). In drama class, Nick and Serena rehearse a scene and discuss their life experiences. Nick, an ex-child actor with serious ambition, wants to move people emotionally ("I Want to Make Magic"). Mr. Myers, the drama teacher asks them to think about how a physical sensation can trigger an emotional response. Joe discusses the physical reactions that happen whenever he thinks of a beautiful girl (Carmen) in dance class ("Can't Keep it Down" or the alternative lyrics, "Can't Keep It Cool"). Meanwhile, in dance class, Tyrone, is partnered with Iris, a ballerina. Iris mocks Tyrone's lack of classical dance experience. Tyrone, enraged at her comments, begins a rap expressing his anger ("Tyrone's Rap"). Iris apologizes and kisses him. Nick and Serena are rehearsing another scene and Serena confesses that she wants to try something romantic and passionate. Serena is in love with Nick. Nick is mainly focused on acting. Trying to work out why he isn't interested in her, Serena blunderingly assumes that he is gay, says so and he becomes upset and leaves. Serena laments her unrequited love ("Let's Play a Love Scene"). Afterwards, Carmen interrupts Schlomo while he practices his violin, giving him lyrics that she wrote for the melody he always plays. Schlomo tries them out, and changes some of the lyrics with Carmen, which results in Carmen joining the band. Carmen kisses Schlomo and leaves. Goody (also in the band, along with Lambchops) makes fun of Schlomo afterwards. At lunch, Carmen and the other students daydream of seeing their names in lights ("There She Goes/Fame"). In the hallway, Miss Sherman talks to Tyrone about his care-free attitude towards education. She threatens to keep him out of the Fall Festival if his grades don't improve. Miss Bell overhears and argues that Tyrone's artistic endeavors are more important than his academic performance ("The Teachers' Argument"). Tyrone threatens to drop out of school.
The students begin their junior year with the P.A. Fall Festival ("I Want to Make Magic"). At a dance rehearsal, Mabel, an overweight dancer, complains about retaining water, and other problems she faces with the size of her body. She confesses that, although she tries many weight-loss schemes and diets, she always goes back to the "Seafood Diet: I see food, and then I eat it!" She prays aloud for God's help in keeping her from becoming "the world's fattest dancer" ("Mabel's Prayer"), eventually having an epiphany and deciding to switch her major to acting. Later, Nick congratulates Serena for getting the lead female role of Juliet in their junior show, Romeo and Juliet. Serena gets excited and assumes that Nick got the role of Romeo. However, she is surprised to learn that Joe Vegas has the role of Romeo and Nick got the part of Mercutio. Later, Nick is winding down with some Tai Chi with a fellow student when Carmen, enraged that Mr. Myers has yet again thwarted her plans to audition outside of school, kisses him passionately as an example of what she does to calm down. At that moment, Serena walks in on them, and refuses to hear Nick's protests that she didn't just see what she thinks she saw. Now believing that he is, indeed, straight but still unattainable, Serena tries to channel her emotions into her acting ("Think of Meryl Streep"). Carmen tells Schlomo of her plan to leave school and go to Los Angeles. She has met a Hollywood agent named Elliot Greene, who is sending her a plane ticket. Schlomo begs her not to go. He had seen her getting into Elliot’s limousine and accuses her of using cocaine with him. Schlomo tells Carmen he loves her, but is left alone with his violin/flute/keyboard (depending on what the actor can actually play). In English class, Tyrone is reading a Superman comic book. Miss Sherman catches him, and forces him to stand up in front of the class and read from the comic book. He accuses her of trying to make him look stupid. He then accuses her of racism, Miss Sherman slaps him in the face and walks off. Tyrone says to his classmates he doesn’t need her help, or the ability to read or write - he is a dancer, and that's all he needs (“Dancin’ on the Sidewalk.”). Confronting his pain and frustration, Tyrone goes to the blackboard, writes “I WILL READ,” and runs off. Miss Sherman enters, sees what he has written, and is deeply touched. (“These Are My Children.”) The students rehearse Romeo and Juliet. Joe, insecure playing Romeo, has been ad-libbing. Serena pleads with him to be serious in the part. Nick, while trying to explain to Joe how to play the part, hints that he and Serena are like Romeo and Juliet. They stage kiss and Serena is no longer mad at Nick - if now a bit confused. Tyrone asks Iris why she has been avoiding him all year. She says she doesn’t want to be tied to a loser. To show her that he is serious, he begins reading Leaves of Grass to her. A few of the teachers confront Miss Bell about influencing a summer school teacher to pass Tyrone. They insist he must repeat the year. The "Dance Theater of Harlem" is ready to take him, but he must repeat the year. Miss Bell finally admits she may be losing her perspective and decides to take a break. Carmen is standing in front of the school looking physically wasted and disoriented. She spots Schlomo and tells him the truth about her experiences in Hollywood (“In L.A.”). Carmen promises him that she will quit the drugs and get her GED. He gives her a couple of dollars and sadly departs. At the farewell party, everyone is dressed up and the celebration is loud and festive. Nick finally confesses his feelings to Serena and they decided to try to date although they are heading to different colleges (Let's Play a Love Scene (Reprise)). On the day of the graduation ceremony, Schlomo tells everyone that Carmen has passed away a short while ago from a drug overdose, and they sing "Bring On Tomorrow" in her memory. After the bows, Carmen comes back dancing on the roof of a taxi cab and sings "Fame" for the Finale. The students are all heading off in their respective directions excited about the future. [edit] Character list
[edit] Musical numbers
The music used in the Dance Class is based on Beethoven's Spring Sonata. Also, the Pas De Deux uses music from the ballet "This Is Forever" by Steve Margoshes. However, some productions use music for the Pas De Deux by Mark Berman. [15] Some productions such as Fame on 42nd Street use the song "There She Goes! (Reprise)" (also known as "The Fall Festival") as an alternative to "I Want to Make Magic (Reprise)". This version has a more Spanish theme to the song. However, it still contains elements of the "I Want to Make Magic (Reprise)" in it. [edit] Productions around the worldThe musical has had productions in nearly 25 countries, such as Australia, Denmark, Japan, Korea, Norway, Switzerland, South Africa, Germany, Italy, Finland, Estonia and the Czech Republic.[5] In January 1993, a large-scale production of the musical made its European debut in Stockholm, Sweden, running for four years. The show came to the attention of choreographer/director Runar Borge, who has subsequently staged the show in numerous productions worldwide. The musical has been seen by nearly 4 million people since its West End premiere in 1995.[16] The West End production was nominated for 2 Laurence Olivier Awards. The UK productions have had a total box office gross of £56 million through 2006. Since 1995, the musical has had six separate West End runs, including a long run at the Aldwych Theatre from 2002 to 2006, and a number of UK national and international tours. Well-known cast members in various productions have included Miguel Ayesa, Noel Sullivan, and Barbara Dickson.[citation needed] A Spanish production in Catalan opened at Teatro Tivoli in Barcelona on April 27, 2004, directed by Ramon Ribalta. It reopened in Madrid in Spanish at Teatro Calderon February 1, 2006, and toured Spain until January 11, 2009.[5] A Portuguese production was created in 2005 with portuguese dialogue and the original english musics.[17] In 2008 the musical was brought back with some famous portuguese names in the cast, like Patrícia Candoso as Serena and Fernando Fernandes as Nick.[18] In 2006, contestants from various seasons of the popular Puerto Rican telelvision singing contest "Objetivo Fama" did a Spanish language production of the musical, entitled "Fama - El Musical" in the Centro de Bellas Artes in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It was a three-night only engagement and was met with positive reviews by the press and fans alike.[citation needed] An Italian production directed by Marco Daverio opened in Milan in December 2006 and toured through February 2007. It reopened on February 2, 2008 in Savona and toured through the end of the month.[5] The musical opened on May 4, 2007, for a summer production at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London's West End.[19] The show is directed by Karen Bruce, and the cast includes Fem Belling as Mabel, Natalie Casey as Serena, Jacqui Dubois as Miss Sherman, and Ian Watkins as Nick.[20] In 2007, A Dutch talent search competition called De Weg Naar Fame auditioned a large number of people in order to give four winners the chance to play Mabel, Serena, Schlomo and Tyrone in the 2008 Dutch Tour of Fame. The show gave the finalists dance, vocal and acting training, and the three finalists for each character performed a piece from the musical in front of a panel of judges who made the final decision.[21] The Dutch version stars Jim Bakkum as Nick, William Spaay as Joe, Kim-Lian van der Meij as Carmen, Hein Gerrits as Schlomo, Doris Baaten as Miss Sherman, and Daphne Flint as Serena.[22] On April 4, 2008 Fame opened in Paris at the Teatre Comedia. [23] A new UK touring production started in January 2009.[24] Auditions are currently underway for the Australian Revival Tour, which is planned to open in Brisbane in April 2010, then travel to Sydney and Melbourne and possibly Perth. [edit] Recordings
Information taken from CastAlbums.org [edit] Award nominations
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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