Fame (musical)
Encyclopedia
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.
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, 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.
Since its first production, Fame – The Musical has had numerous professional and amateur productions.
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.
It went back to its roots in 2010 with sold-out productions in Kendall. The Miami Childrens Theater worked with the esteemed Christine Vega, Ana Flavia, and Cherilyn Marrocco.
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".
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, conducted by Eric Knight Barnes, 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).
A North American tour, produced by Phoenix Theatricals, ran from September 2003 through June 2004.
, Maine. 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.
Act I
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 can't get to grips with Ballet and states that he can do better, resulting in the whole class doing a hip hop dance. This makes Miss Bell sees Tyrone's potential as a choreographer, so she partners him with Iris, a ballerina. Iris mocks Tyrone's lack of classical dance experience. Enraged at her comments, he 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, but Nick is mainly focused on acting. 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.
Act II
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. Lambchops suggests that Nick is gay, and when Serena confronts him about it, Nick angrily replies that he is straight
. Frustrated with him, Serena realizes that this is what acting is all about: channeling her emotions ("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, shocked by what she has done, runs 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 tells her he is repeating his senior year and reads a passage of Leaves of Grass
to her. They dance a pas de deux and walk off together, hand in hand.
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 died 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.
Act 2
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
.
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.
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 West End production was nominated for two Laurence Olivier Awards
. The UK productions have had a total box office gross of £56 million through 2006. Since 1995, the musical has had seven separate West End runs, including a long run at the Aldwych Theatre
from 2002 to 2006, the Cambridge, the Prince of Wales, the Shaftesbury Theatre, Victoria Palace, 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
. }
An Italian production opened in Pavia, at Teatro Fraschini, directed by Gigi Saccomandi and Luigi Perego on September 20, 2003.
A new version of the musical opened in Pavia directed by Bruno Fornasari on June 23, 2004, and toured Italy until march 2006.
A Spanish production in Catalan
ran at Teatro Tivoli in Barcelona
from April 27, 2004 to September 26, 2004, directed by Ramon Ribalta. It reopened in Madrid
in Spanish
at Teatro Calderon February 1, 2006, and toured Spain until January 11, 2009.
A Portuguese production was created in 2005 with Portuguese dialogue and the original English musics. 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.
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.
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.
The musical opened on May 4, 2007, for a summer production at the Shaftesbury Theatre
in London
's West End
. 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.
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. The Dutch version includes 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.
On April 4, 2008 Fame opened in Paris at the Teatre Comedia.
A new UK touring production started in January 2009.
Auditions are currently underway for the Australian Revival Tour in Australia, which is planned to open in Melbourne in April 2010, then travel to Sydney and Brisbane. The show is to be choreographed by "So You Think You Can Dance"’s Kelley Abbey
.
The show is currently touring Italy and Sicily for 2009/10. This version will include Benjamin Newsome as 'Nick Piazza'.
The show will have its first Irish tour starting in the Grand Canal Theatre Dublin from 19 August 2010 to 12 September 2010. The characters of Nick and Serena will be played by Ben Morris and Jessica Cervi winners of RTÉ
's Fame: The Musical
reality TV show .
The show will have a brief run at the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith, London, between the 18th and the 20th of August, 2011, with a cast of youths from the Hammersmith and Fulham community.
In September 2011, "Fame The Musical" is currently showing at M Theatre in Bangkok Thailand, with the casts who come from True Academy Fantasia (AF) and KPN Awards. This version includes Nat Sakdatorn
as 'Nick Piazza'. "Fame The Musical" in Thai version produced by Dreambox.
Information taken from CastAlbums.org
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
with a book by Jose Fernandez, music by Steve Margoshes and lyrics by Jacques Levy
Jacques Levy
Jacques Levy was an American songwriter, theatre director, and clinical psychologist.Levy was born in New York City in 1935, and attended its City College. He received a doctorate in psychology from Michigan State University. Levy was a trained psychoanalyst, certified by the Menninger Institute...
. The musical premiered in 1988 in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
. as 'Fame on 42nd Street', it was performed Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
from 2003 to 2004.
De Silva had produced the 1980 film about students at New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
's High School of Performing Arts
High School of Performing Arts
The High School of Performing Arts, more formally known as The School of Performing Arts: A Division of the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, informally known as "PA", was a public alternative high school in New York, New York, USA that existed from 1948 through...
. The critically and commercially successful film was followed by a six-season television series
Fame (1982 TV series)
Fame is an American television series originally produced between 1982 and 1987. The show was based on the 1980 motion picture of the same name. Using a mixture of drama and music, it followed the lives of the students and faculty at the New York City High School for the Performing Arts. Although...
, a reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
show, 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.
Since its first production, Fame – The Musical has had numerous professional and amateur productions.
US Productions
In 1988, Fame – the Musical was first produced at the Coconut Grove PlayhouseCoconut Grove Playhouse
The Coconut Grove Playhouse was a legitimate theater in the Coconut Grove neighborhood of Miami, Florida, United States.The building was originally constructed as a movie theater called the Player's State Theater. It first opened on January 3, 1927 as a part of the Paramount chain. The movie house...
in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
. The original cast included Tom Acousti as Nick Piazza, Tener Brown
Tener Brown
Tener Brown is an American ballet coach of New Jersey Ballet, a former ballet dancer of American Ballet Theatre, and a former actress.-Biography:...
as Iris Kelly, Monique Cintron as Carmen Diaz, Joel Malina as Schlomo Metzenbaum, Janet Metz as Serena Katz, and Harold Perrineau Jr.
Harold Perrineau Jr.
Harold Perrineau is an American actor known for the roles of Michael Dawson in the U.S. television series Lost, Link in The Matrix films and games, Augustus Hill in the American television series Oz, and Mercutio in Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet...
as Tyrone Jackson.
It went back to its roots in 2010 with sold-out productions in Kendall. The Miami Childrens Theater worked with the esteemed Christine Vega, Ana Flavia, and Cherilyn Marrocco.
Following this, the show ran at the Walnut Street Theatre
Walnut Street Theatre
The Walnut Street Theatre , located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at 825 Walnut Street, is the oldest continuously operating theatre in the English-speaking world and the oldest in the United States...
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
from March 25, through April 29, 1989; the show was termed "a hit".
The show ran Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
at the Little Shubert Theatre
Little Shubert Theatre
The Little Shubert Theatre is located in New York City, near Broadway. Its address is 422 West 42nd Street between 9th Avenue and Dwyer Street. It was built in 2002 and has a seating capacity of 499....
from October 7, 2003 (previews), November 11, 2003 (official), through June 27, 2004, for 264 performances and 40 previews. Directed by Drew Scott Harris, conducted by Eric Knight Barnes, the cast included Shakiem Evans as Tyrone Jackson, Nicole Leach
Nicole Leach
Nicole Leach is an American actress and singer. She attended Montclair High School. Leach attended Brown University, where she studied anthropology....
, Cheryl Freeman, and Christopher J. Hanke
Christopher Hanke
Christopher Jason Hanke , often credited as Christopher J. Hanke, is an American actor known for his roles on Broadway and television.- Early life :...
. Marque Lynche as Tyrone Jackson was a replacement. This version was titled Fame on 42nd Street (the Little Shubert Theatre is on 42 Street).
A North American tour, produced by Phoenix Theatricals, ran from September 2003 through June 2004.
Sequel
David De Silva has conceived a sequel, Fame Forever -Talent Springs Eternal, 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 - Talent Springs Eternal (formerly Reunion and Rebirth) played September 21–30, 2007, at the Waterville Opera House, WatervilleWaterville
Waterville is the name of several places.In Russia* Waterville, St.-Petersburg, a water park attached to the Park Inn Pribaltiyskaya HotelIn the United States:* Waterville, Iowa* Waterville, Kansas* Waterville, Maine* Waterville, Minnesota...
, Maine. It also received a co-debut at The Players of Sarasota in Sarasota, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
opening around the same time, but running to October 7, 2007. This show was directed by Thomas DeWyane Barrett.
Plot summary
Note: the plot outlined below is for the professional script. The amateur production has slight differences in the script.Act I
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
High School of Performing Arts
The High School of Performing Arts, more formally known as The School of Performing Arts: A Division of the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, informally known as "PA", was a public alternative high school in New York, New York, USA that existed from 1948 through...
.
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 can't get to grips with Ballet and states that he can do better, resulting in the whole class doing a hip hop dance. This makes Miss Bell sees Tyrone's potential as a choreographer, so she partners him with Iris, a ballerina. Iris mocks Tyrone's lack of classical dance experience. Enraged at her comments, he 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, but Nick is mainly focused on acting. 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
Fame (Irene Cara song)
"Fame" is a pop song, written by Michael Gore and Dean Pitchford that was released in 1980, and achieved chart success as the theme song to the Fame film and TV series. The song was performed by Irene Cara, who played the role of Coco Hernandez in the original movie...
"). 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.
Act II
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
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers.Romeo and Juliet belongs to a...
. 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. Lambchops suggests that Nick is gay, and when Serena confronts him about it, Nick angrily replies that he is straight
Heterosexuality
Heterosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the opposite sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, heterosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, physical or romantic attractions to persons of the opposite sex";...
. Frustrated with him, Serena realizes that this is what acting is all about: channeling her emotions ("Think of Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep
Mary Louise "Meryl" Streep is an American actress who has worked in theatre, television and film.Streep made her professional stage debut in 1971's The Playboy of Seville, before her screen debut in the television movie The Deadliest Season in 1977. In that same year, she made her film debut with...
"). Carmen tells Schlomo of her plan to leave school and go to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. 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
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
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
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
, Miss Sherman slaps him in the face and, shocked by what she has done, runs 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 tells her he is repeating his senior year and reads a passage of Leaves of Grass
Leaves of Grass
Leaves of Grass is a poetry collection by the American poet Walt Whitman . Though the first edition was published in 1855, Whitman spent his entire life writing Leaves of Grass, revising it in several editions until his death...
to her. They dance a pas de deux and walk off together, hand in hand.
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 died 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.
Character list
- Nick Piazza - Ambitious, enthusiastic, classical actor who is very serious about acting. Has hidden romantic interest for Serena.
- Serena Katz - A shy, timid yet keen and enthusiastic actress. Develops returned romantic feelings for Nick.
- Jose 'Joe' Vegas - Spanish acting student. Loud, funny and the comic of the show. Develops an unreturned crush on Carmen.
- Carmen Diaz - A sexy, confident but cocky dancer with a big ego. Carmen is determined to make it big and is obsessed with fame, she believes she has what it takes to achieve this. Initially has a casual relationship with Tyrone, but develops returned romantic feelings for Schlomo. She later dies after being hooked on drugs.
- Tyrone Jackson - A talented but dyslexic hip hop dancer who comes from a poor background. Shares a love-hate relationship with Iris.
- Mabel Washington- A loud and overweight dancer who is desperate to lose weight but can't resist food. Often speaks her mind and gives out advice to other characters in their times of trouble.
- Iris Kelly - A very talented, graceful ballet dancer who is believed to be extremely wealthy although it is later revealed (in the amateur and schools edition of the script) that she is not. She often comes across as stuck up or even bitchy. Iris is insecure with herself and afraid people do not like her. She shares a love-hate relationship with Tyrone.
- Schlomo Metzenbaum - Shy classical violinist(or flautist, depending on the actor), who sets up a rock band. Schlomo comes from a musical background, with a father who is a famous violinist. Schlomo is fed up from the strain of being expected to do well and wishes to rebel. He is rather a geek and is very insecure, but he is also very wise and academically clever. Has a returned romantic interest in Carmen.
- Grace 'Lambchops' Lamb - A loud, confrontational rock chick and tomboy who plays the drums for Schlomo's band. She often loses her temper and it is implied that she does not take school seriously.
- Goodman 'Goody' King - A trumpet/saxophone musician who is in Schlomo's band. Is believed to be Schlomo's best friend.
- Miss Esther Sherman - A strict, old-fashioned and academic English teacher who loves her students despite the fact that she comes down hard on them.
- Ms. Greta Bell - Dance teacher with a big passion for different styles of dance. Believes that dance is a way of life. Is very protective and believes in her students.
- Mr. Myers - A laid back drama teacher with an obsession for human psychology.
- Mr. Sheinkopf - European Music tutor with a love for classical music and dislike for all things rock and roll.
Musical numbers
Act I- Pray I Make P.A (Prologue) - Company
- Hard Work - Company
- I Want to Make Magic - Nick
- Can't Keep It Down - Joe, Students
- Tyrone's Rap - Tyrone
- There She Goes! /Fame - Carmen, Students
- Let's Play a Love Scene -Serena
- Bring on Tomorrow - Schlomo, Carmen
- Teacher's Argument - Miss Bell, Miss Sherman
- Hard Work (Reprise) - Company
Act 2
- I Want to Make Magic (Reprise) - Nick and Company or Junior Festival - Nick, Serena, Joe and Company
- Mabel's Prayer - Mabel, Students
- Think of Meryl StreepMeryl StreepMary Louise "Meryl" Streep is an American actress who has worked in theatre, television and film.Streep made her professional stage debut in 1971's The Playboy of Seville, before her screen debut in the television movie The Deadliest Season in 1977. In that same year, she made her film debut with...
- Serena - Dancin' on the Sidewalk - Tyrone, Students
- These Are My Children - Miss Sherman
- Pas de DeuxPas de deuxIn ballet, a pas de deux is a duet in which ballet dancers perform the dance together. It usually consists of an entrée, adagio, two variations , and a coda.-Notable Pas de deux:...
- Tyrone and Iris - In L.A. - Carmen
- Let's Play a Love Scene (Reprise) - Nick and Serena
- Bring on Tomorrow (Reprise) - Principal Roles, Students
- Finale: Hard Work/Fame (Reprise) - Company
The music used in the Dance Class is based on Beethoven's
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
Spring Sonata
Violin Sonata No. 5 (Beethoven)
The Violin Sonata No. 5 in F major, Opus 24, is a violin sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven. It is often known as the "Spring" sonata , and was published in 1801...
. Also, the Pas De Deux
Pas de deux
In ballet, a pas de deux is a duet in which ballet dancers perform the dance together. It usually consists of an entrée, adagio, two variations , and a coda.-Notable 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
Mark Berman
Mark Berman is a New York City pianist, composer, producer, conductor, music director and arranger.-Music career:Berman has performed with Aretha Franklin, Blood Sweat & Tears, Carole King, Gladys Knight, Hugh Jackman, Illinois Jacquet, Ben E King, Jackie McLean, Cornelius Bumpus, Buster...
.
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.
Productions around the world
The musical has had productions in nearly 25 countries, such as Ireland, Australia, Denmark, Japan, Korea, Norway, Switzerland, South Africa, Germany, Italy, Finland, Estonia and the Czech Republic.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 West End production was nominated for two Laurence Olivier Awards
Laurence Olivier Awards
The Laurence Olivier Award is presented annually by the Society of London Theatre to recognise excellence in professional theatre. Named after the renowned British actor Laurence Olivier, they are given for West End shows and other productions staged in London...
. The UK productions have had a total box office gross of £56 million through 2006. Since 1995, the musical has had seven separate West End runs, including a long run at the Aldwych Theatre
Aldwych Theatre
The Aldwych Theatre is a West End theatre, located on Aldwych in the City of Westminster. The theatre was listed Grade II on 20 July 1971. Its seating capacity is 1,200.-Origins:...
from 2002 to 2006, the Cambridge, the Prince of Wales, the Shaftesbury Theatre, Victoria Palace, and a number of UK national and international tours. Well-known cast members in various productions have included Miguel Ayesa, Noel Sullivan
Noel Sullivan
Noel Sullivan , is a Welsh singer and actor. He was a member of the British pop group Hear'Say. Like the other members of the group, he won his part through the talent show Popstars.-Early life and career:...
, and Barbara Dickson
Barbara Dickson
Barbara Ruth Dickson, OBE is a Scottish singer whose hits include "I Know Him So Well" and "January February"...
. }
An Italian production opened in Pavia, at Teatro Fraschini, directed by Gigi Saccomandi and Luigi Perego on September 20, 2003.
A new version of the musical opened in Pavia directed by Bruno Fornasari on June 23, 2004, and toured Italy until march 2006.
A Spanish production in Catalan
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
ran at Teatro Tivoli in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
from April 27, 2004 to September 26, 2004, directed by Ramon Ribalta. It reopened in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
at Teatro Calderon February 1, 2006, and toured Spain until January 11, 2009.
A Portuguese production was created in 2005 with Portuguese dialogue and the original English musics. In 2008 the musical was brought back with some famous Portuguese names in the cast, like Patrícia Candoso
Patrícia Candoso
Patrícia Candoso is a Portuguese singer and actress. Candoso started singing while playing the role of "Sara" in Morangos Com Açúcar , a Portuguese soap opera. She presented her first album, O Outro Lado in 2004...
as Serena and Fernando Fernandes as Nick.
In 2006, contestants from various seasons of the popular Puerto Rican telelvision singing contest "Objetivo Fama
Objetivo Fama
Objetivo Fama is a Puerto Rican singing talent contest that has been on air for over five years on WLII, the Univision outlet in Puerto Rico; and on Telefutura in the mainland United States...
" 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.
An Italian production directed by Marco Daverio opened in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
in December 2006 and toured through February 2007. It reopened on February 2, 2008 in Savona
Savona
Savona is a seaport and comune in the northern Italian region of Liguria, capital of the Province of Savona, in the Riviera di Ponente on the Mediterranean Sea....
and toured through the end of the month.
The musical opened on May 4, 2007, for a summer production at the Shaftesbury Theatre
Shaftesbury Theatre
The Shaftesbury Theatre is a West End Theatre, located on Shaftesbury Avenue, in the London Borough of Camden.-History:The theatre was designed for the brothers Walter and Frederick Melville by Bertie Crewe and opened on 26 December 1911 with a production of The Three Musketeers, as the New...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
. The show is directed by Karen Bruce
Karen Bruce
Karen Bruce is an actor, dancer, director and choreographer.Karen is currently working on STRICTLY COME DANCING 2011, having choreographed on the second series of SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE for the BBC. Karen won an Olivier Award for her Choreography of Pacific Overtures at the Donmar Warehouse...
, and the cast includes Fem Belling as Mabel, Natalie Casey
Natalie Casey
Natalie Casey is an English actress, television presenter and singer. She is best known for her long running roles playing Carol Groves in the TV series Hollyoaks from 1995 to 2000 and playing Donna Henshaw in Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps from 2001 to 2011...
as Serena, Jacqui Dubois as Miss Sherman, and Ian Watkins as Nick.
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. The Dutch version includes Jim Bakkum
Jim Bakkum
Jimmy "Jim" Johannes Bakkum is a Dutch singer, actor, stage actor and television personality. Rising to nationwide fame after becoming runner-up in the first season of Dutch singing competition series Idols, he has released five albums and made a career in musicals and film...
as Nick, William Spaay as Joe, Kim-Lian van der Meij as Carmen, Hein Gerrits as Schlomo, Doris Baaten
Doris Baaten
Doris Baaten is a Dutch voice actor.Baaten performed various female voices on Sesamstraat, the Dutch co-production of Sesame Street. She also provided the voice for female roles, such as Countess Dahling Von Dahling and Deena, and was featured in musical numbers during the 1980s...
as Miss Sherman, and Daphne Flint as Serena.
On April 4, 2008 Fame opened in Paris at the Teatre Comedia.
A new UK touring production started in January 2009.
Auditions are currently underway for the Australian Revival Tour in Australia, which is planned to open in Melbourne in April 2010, then travel to Sydney and Brisbane. The show is to be choreographed by "So You Think You Can Dance"’s Kelley Abbey
Kelley Abbey
Kelley Abbey is an Australian actress, choreographer, singer and dancer. She has been a leading performer and choreographer in TV, film and musical theatre for more than 20 years....
.
The show is currently touring Italy and Sicily for 2009/10. This version will include Benjamin Newsome as 'Nick Piazza'.
The show will have its first Irish tour starting in the Grand Canal Theatre Dublin from 19 August 2010 to 12 September 2010. The characters of Nick and Serena will be played by Ben Morris and Jessica Cervi winners of RTÉ
RTE
RTÉ is the abbreviation for Raidió Teilifís Éireann, the public broadcasting service of the Republic of Ireland.RTE may also refer to:* Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 25th Prime Minister of Turkey...
's Fame: The Musical
Fame: The Musical
Fame: The Musical is a singing and dance contest in Ireland, produced by Screentime ShinAwiL for RTÉ. The audition and Fame Bootcamp stages were filmed around Ireland and in London....
reality TV show .
The show will have a brief run at the Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith, London, between the 18th and the 20th of August, 2011, with a cast of youths from the Hammersmith and Fulham community.
In September 2011, "Fame The Musical" is currently showing at M Theatre in Bangkok Thailand, with the casts who come from True Academy Fantasia (AF) and KPN Awards. This version includes Nat Sakdatorn
Nat Sakdatorn
Nat Sakdatorn is a Thai singer-songwriter, actor, writer and the winner of the 4th season of reality talent show True Visions' Academy Fantasia.-Biography:...
as 'Nick Piazza'. "Fame The Musical" in Thai version produced by Dreambox.
Recordings
- 1993: Fame The Musical: Swedish Cast Recording
- 1993: Fama El Musical: Original Hispanoamericano Recording
- 1995: Fame The Musical: Original London Cast Recording
- 1997: Fame Das Tanzmusical: European Touring Cast Recording
- 1997: Fame The Musical: Polish Cast Recording
- 1999: Fame The Musical: Original American Cast Recording
- 2000: Songs from Fame The Musical: Australian Touring Cast Recording
- 2000: Fame De Musical: Original Dutch Cast Recording
- 2001: Fame A Musical: Original Hungarian Cast Recording
- 2003: Fame on 42nd Street: Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording
- 2004: Fama El Musical: Original Barcelona Cast Recording
- 2004: Fame: Icelandic Cast Recording
- 2005: Fame - O Musical: Original Portuguese Cast Recording
- 2006: Fama El Musical: Original Madrid Cast Recording
- 2007: Fame A Musical: Remake of the Hungarian Fame not with the original cast
- 2008: De Nederlandse Fame: Dutch Revival Cast Recording
- 2011: Fame The Musical: Original Thai Cast Recording
- 2011: Fame The Musical: Original Korean Cast Recording
Information taken from CastAlbums.org
Award nominations
- Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Choreographer
- Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical