Fame (musical)

US Productions

The publishing company had advertised the scripts as being available later that year, but JHS Director Patricia Miller convinced them to let Jeff High produce the first performance. ACT 1 was sent unbound and mostly unedited, and subsequent parts of the play were sent 10 pages at a time.

In 1988, Fame – the Musical was the first professional production at the Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami, Florida. It was written with a new score by Steve Margoshes except for the title Academy Award winning song, "Fame," The original cast included Monique Cintron as Carmen Diaz, Joel Malina as Schlomo Metzenbaum, Janet Metz as Serena Katz, Tener Brown as Iris Kelly, and Harold Perrineau Jr. as Tyrone Jackson. 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 musical had a US tour directed by Lars Bethke in 1999.

It 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, began in September 2003 and played in 100 cities.

As part of MTI's (Music Theatre International) Broadway Junior Series a 60-minute version of FAME was developed for Middle Schools (grades 6-9) and published in September 2011. Since 2012 over 200 productions of FAME JR were licensed in North America. It has become one of the most popular shows licensed in the MTI catalog.

Other countries

European musical debut came in 1993 in Stockholm, where remained for four seasons.

It premiered in London's West End in 1995. Since then there have been seven different assemblies in that city. Among the many performers who have participated include Noel Sullivan and Barbara Dickson.

The first Italian version was held in Pavia in 2003 by Gigi Saccomandi and Luigi Perego. A year later Bruno Fornasari assembled it and toured throughout the Alpine country until 2006 was released.

In 1998 it was performed at the Teatro de los Insurgentes, of Mexico City, under the general direction of Jaime Azpilicueta, choreography of Goyo Montero and musical direction of Jorge Aguilar, in a montage that then would tour of Latin America, including Venezuela, Argentina, Colombia and Republic Dominican. Interpreted among others by Marger Sealey, Karin Aguilar, Alejandro Cervantes, Gianni Costantini and Antonio Melenciano.

Catalan version premiered in 2004 at the Teatre Tivoli of Barcelona4 led by Coco Comin, Ramon Ribalta and Oleguer Alguersuari.5 and interpreted by Xénia García, Sergio Alcover, Ferran Gonzalez, Rolando Amauri Reinoso, Damaris Martinez, Lucy Lummis and Sonia Callizo. This same assembly, but Spanish, was mounted at the Calderon Theater in Madrid in 2006, where permaenció one year, starting after a tour of Spain that culminated again in Barcelona in 2008, this time at the Apollo Theatre .6 mounting Castilian had something new in the cast as in the case of Dafne Fernandez and Brown Cristina.

Other countries that are represented include Germany, Brazil, China, Korea, Denmark, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Switzerland and Thailand.

New Mystical Musical Play

David De Silva through his Father Fame Foundation has conceived and developed a new mystical musical play "Talent Springs Eternal-f a m e f o r e v e r" previously published asFame Forever -Talent Springs Eternal, with a book by Ben H. Winters, and music by Steve Margoshes. A new song, "Time Flyer- Fly Me Higher lyrics by David De Silva w Music by Rick Hip-Flores 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, Waterville, 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. The English premiere was produced at the Congress Theatre, Eastbourne by a local group called The Rattonians, also in 2007. Nashville's The Circle Players produced FAME FOREVER in 2011

The first professional cast recording of FAME FOREVER-Talent Springs Eternal was produced by the Father Fame Foundation in 2013. To listen or download this CD go to: http://www.famenetwork.com In 2014 MTI (Music Theatre International) is republishing the show with the title "Talent Springs Eternal, " fame forever" as the subtitle.

On June 7, 2016 the Talent Springs Eternal(fame forever) Audio Book was published by Blackstone (Audible). This Mystical Musical Play for All Ages was conceived, produced and directed by David DeSilva to benefit the Father Fame Foundation and promote Concert Theatre performances of it thru MTI. It was recorded at PPI Recording Studio in SoHo, NYC- Sound Engineer, Chip Fabrizi.

Plot summary

Note: the plot outlined below is for the professional script. The amateur production has many differences in the script. Also some of the songs are different in each version. This may not be what you see in a 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"). Before Algebra class, Serena meets Nick Piazza, he explains his passion for the performing arts and tells her he wants his acting 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"). Tyrone, feeling that Joe is childish, confronts him and they start to build a friendship. Tyrone talks to Joe about how they live in a not so different world. They compare and contrast their lives in a duet ("What About Me"). 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 see 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 confesses that she is not really rich, but scared and they share a kiss.

At lunch, Carmen, a self-assured, cocky Latina spitfire, asks Mr. Myers if she can skip class on Friday to audition for West Side Story. He tells her that it would just be another role for her to hide behind. Carmen, enraged, dreams of seeing her name in lights and people gasping as she walks down the street ("There She Goes/Fame"). The other students join in her fantasy and begin an exciting, electrifying dance. Joe leaning up against a wall, coke in hand, grabs a little kid and asks him who she is. He thinks he will get her.

Serena and Nick 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. Joe is watching and talks to Carmen. At first, she thinks he is annoying and mean, but charms her. She compares him to Marlon Brando ("Think of Brando"). At lunch, Carmen and the other students daydream of seeing their names in lights. Schlomo sings a song he wrote which excites the entire student body ("Bring on Tomorrow"). 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. Joe sees Tyrone and tries to cheer him up. They hug and Tyrone bumps Joe's arm and Joe yelps in pain. Tyrone lifts his sweater sleeve and sees a big gash on his arm. Tyrone asks him what that is ; Joe gets defensive and leaves.

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. Joe runs up and starts yelling. He sits down on the floor and starts to light a cigarette. She sees him and yells at him for being unprofessional. He gets up and sings a song about her being mad about not being with Nick ("Poor wittle' Serena"). Serena says that he is jealous that he doesn't have Carmen. Furious he punches a locker and breaks his hand. Lambchops suggests that Nick is gay, and when Serena confronts him about it, Nick angrily replies that he is straight. Serena is so angry she decides to channel it 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). Joe smoking a cigarette outside says hi to Carmen. Angry tells him he's a loser and to back off. Joe, unable to show his feelings grabs her and slaps her. She hits him, he grabs her, and kisses her. After a while of kissing she decides she can't be with him either. She pushes him, slaps him again, and leaves. He takes out another cigarette, light a match off his boot, lights the cigarette, and puts his hand over the match.

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. Joe starts to make fun of what he is saying, although is scared he'll mess up. Serena pleads with him to be serious in the part. Nick offers to show him how to play Romeo and winds up kissing Serena in their first romantic moment. Joe furious at Nick yells at him and throws classroom items. Mr. Myers takes Joe out to the hallway. They have a heart to heart moment about trying your best and not caring what other people think. Joe begins to sob and hugs Mr. Myers. 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 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 takes Joe to the locker rooms and breaks it to him that Carmen has overdosed. Joe finds out that Schlomo let her go to LA and they begin to fight. Then Joe admits that, in fact, he was in love with her. Schlomo, shocked, cheers him up and they sing a duet, ("Bring On Tomorrow") in her memory.

After the bows, Carmen comes back dancing on the roof of a taxi cab and sings "Fame" with Schlomo and Joe for the Finale. The students are all heading off in their respective directions, excited about the future.

Characters

Source: MTI

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.

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.

Instrumentation

The instrumentation calls for a rock combo of nine musicians. The instrumentation calls for two keyboards, guitar, bass, drums, percussion, a woodwind player, trumpet/flugelhorn player, and trombone. Either keyboard part can by played by the conductor. The woodwind player doubles on flute, clarinet, soprano, alto, and tenor saxophone.

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, the Czech Republic and Hungary.

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 three 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 as Schlomo, Noel Sullivan as Serena, and Barbara Dickson as Miss Sherman.

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.

The Estonian production opened in Tallinn in November 2006 to a good critical acclaim. The Estonian cast contained Nele-Liis Vaiksoo as Serena, Rolf Roosalu as Schlomo and Kaire Vilgats as Miss Esther Sherman.

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 Schlomo.

In 2006, contestants from various seasons of the popular Puerto Rican television 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 Ian Watkins as Schlomo, Natalie Casey as Serena, Fem Belling as Mabel, and Jacqui Dubois as Miss Sherman.

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 Schlomo, Serena, Mabel, 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 Hein Gerrits as Schlomo, Kim-Lian van der Meij as Carmen, William Spaay as Joe, Doris Baaten as Miss Sherman, and Daphne Flint as Serena. Jim Bakkum understudied Schlomo.

On April 4, 2008 Fame opened in Paris at the Teatre Comedia.

In December 2008 The Nederlander Co with the Central Academy of Drama in Beijing presented the first FAME The Musical Production in Mandarin. [2] Subsequently, a documentary, The Road to FAME, was filmed by Hao Wu following the students preparation of the musical and how it effects the students' lives. It was presented in 2013 at the IFC Center in NYC

A new UK touring production started in January 2009.

The Australian Revival Tour in Australia opened in Melbourne in April 2010, then traveled to Sydney and Brisbane. The show was choreographed by "So You Think You Can Dance"’s Kelley Abbey.

The show toured Italy and Sicily for 2009/10. This version included Benjamin Newsome as 'Schlomo Metzenbaum'.

The show had 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 were played by Ben Morris and Jessica Cervi winners of RTÉ's Fame: The Musical reality TV show. Other cast members included: Sheila Ferguson, Lisa Gorgin, Brittany Woodrow, Taofique Folarin, James Gibbs, Charlotte Watts, Yemie Sonuga, Fra Fee, Hollie Taylor, Tara Young, Chris Jeffers, Aaron Parker, Hannah Wilson, Jaye Elster, Sarah Wilkie and Nicholas Collier. The show was directed by Brian Flynn and choreographed by Gary Lloyd, who has previously worked on the hit show Thriller – Live. The tour ended in Wexford Opera House on 14th November 2010.

The show had 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" played at M Theatre in Bangkok Thailand, with the casts coming from True Academy Fantasia (AF) and KPN Awards. This version includes Nat Sakdatorn as 'Nick Piazza'. "Fame The Musical" in the Thai version produced by Dreambox.

From 25 November 2011 to 29 January 2012 the musical played Woori Financial Art Hall, Seoul South Korea, starring Eunhyuk of Super Junior, Tiffany of Girls' Generation, Son Ho Young, Go Eun Seong, Kim Chan Ho, Shin Ui Jeong, Lina of The Grace, Choi Ju Ri, KoN and Kim Jung Mo of TRAX.

On May 5, 2012 in Orebro, Sweden, FAME The Musical opened in Orebro, Sweden at the Tyst Theatr with a World Swedish Sign Language Premiere Production,"Visukal" for the Hearing Impaired | FAME VISUKALEN

Fame O Musical (in Portuguese) opened in São Paulo, Brazil 5/21/12 at Teatro Frei Caneca produced jointly by the Ministry of Culture and 4Act Productions under the general coordination of Ricardo Marques. It was directed by Billy Johnstone with choreography by Guto Muniz and musical direction by Paulo Nogueira. Assisting the director was Gustavo Torres and the vocal coach was Rafael Villar.

FAME in the Greek Language opened in Athens at the Theatron on12/17/12.

Fame-The Musical returned to the UK as the 25th Anniversary Tour directed & choreographed by Gary Lloyd opening Feb 20 in London at the New Wimbledon Theatre. It then traveled to Wolverhampton, Sunderland, York, Aylesbury, Sheffield, Leicester continuing on tour till Nov 2014

Recordings

Information taken from CastAlbums.org

Award nominations