FAME: THE MUSICAL
Conceived and Developed by David De Silva
Book by Jose Fernandez
Music by Steve Margoshes (with additional music by Mark Berman)
Lyrics by Jacques Levy.
Directed by: Jon Baptiste
Theatrical Review by: Paul Adam Smeltz
The Shawnee Playhouse* in Shawnee on the Delaware, PA presented their production of “FAME: The Musical” which was Conceived and Developed by David De Silva. The play was inspired by the film and television series, “FAME” and features an ensemble cast consisting of the students who attended the school presented in the film and series after it achieved its fame.
A new cast of student characters arrive at the school with similar traits of their predecessors but each contains enough individuality to enable their personalities (and the play itself) to stand alone to embrace their own experiences with unique integrity. The students are met by teachers who dedicated their lives to sharing their knowledge of life and the arts prior to the release of the film and television series and will remain to do so long after they’re forgotten. “FAME: The Musical” allows its audience to reflect fondly on both the film and television series without experiencing the pitfall of a production’s reliance on the previous forms which often leads the audience to make unfair comparisons of the present and earlier cast members.
The play is a delight to watch with its high energy dance performances coinciding with a realistic depth found in the interaction between characters. The songs were also pleasant as the moved the story forward and allowed more elements of the character to be exposed to the audience. The acting was of a high quality except for some instances when some actors seemed to drop their character when they blended into the background and became part of the ensemble performing the musical numbers. There were also the usual Opening Night jitters and some technical glitches in the performance I attended, but such defects are often diminished as subsequent performances provides the cast with an energy from the audience transcending that found in rehearsals.
The ensemble cast of students consisted of Caitlin Boyle as Serena whose initial shyness makes her desire to become an actress a daunting adventure but her explorations of love makes her heroic, Evie Korovecsis* (who also served as Costuming Assistant) as (on Opening Night) Lambchops (which is also played by Molly Gallagher) the drummer of a student created band whose wise words often leads the rhythm of its other members, David B. Johnson as Nick the child star of commercials who desires to pursue his talents and to be taken seriously as an actor, Rachel Hettinger* as Iris the perceived child of a well to do and cultured life who is discovered to be as ordinary as anyone else, Brian Krinsky (who also served as Props Master) as Goody the trumpeter of the student created band whose often sour notes heralds in a new understanding of the situations his classmates encounter, Ashley Nieves (who also served as Props Mistress) as Mabel the dance student who learns more about herself as her studies in the art takes her to new ground, Zack Powell as Joe Vegas the cocky actor whose exhibitionist antics serves as comic relief not only to his classmates but the audience as well, Eileen Schmitt as Carmen whose high creative and sexual energies are discovered to have a a dark and self destructive source, Leo Christopher Sheridan as Tyrone whose talent and self assuredness seems to overshadow his lack of academic abilities until a light illuminates a hope for a brighter future filled with the ability to understand more than who he presently is, and Andrew Young as Schlomo who seeks to overcome his musical legacies by establishing one of his own while discovering love and the sense of lost it sometimes accompanies.
The ensemble cast of the Faculty consisted of Edward Joseph as Mr. Myers the theatrical teacher whose deeper understanding of his students allows them to see themselves with new eyes, Scott E. McIntosh as Mr. Sheinkopf whose slightly jaded approach to musical education allows his students to base their talents in reality, Pittershawn Palmer* as Mrs. Bell whose love for the form of dance inspires her students as they inspire her to live her dreams through their talents which sometimes causes her to lose sight of their academic needs, and Adia William as Miss. Sherman (not Mrs. Boyles as depicted in the program) whose desire for the students to have an educational background if their dreams fail to provide for them financially sometimes causes her to lose sight of their creative needs.
The ensemble cast of students who rounded out the company with their talents in the form of dance and song were Jessica Brooks, Kevin Dwyer*, Chani Forde, Megan Griffith, Peter Korovesis, Kyle Mahoney, Scotland Newton*, Dominique Perez, Travis Southard*, and Carrie Strunk. While these actors and actresses had few lines and were not an intricate part of the production as their cast members, they served the production well with their imperative skills which enhanced the show and would had made it a very dull evening if they were not there.
“FAME: The Musical” which was Conceived and Developed by David De Silva was Directed by Jon Baptiste and Choreographed by Christine O’ Brian-Mase while Ben Krauss served as Music Director. The Stage Manager was Rob DelColle and the Assistant Stage Manager was Tucker Haworth. The Technical Director and Lighting Designer was Jessica Sentack with Jenavene Hester. The Set Designer was Sean Warner while the Costumers were Jane Summer and Kathy Staneski. The Executive Director of The Shawnee Playhouse* is Midge McClosky* while the producers are Ginny and Charlie Kirkwood. Group Sales of their productions are handled by Mary horn while The Shawnee Playhouse publicity is handled by Amy Cramer*.
This production of “FAME: The Musical” which was Conceived and Developed by David De Silva will continue its run at The Shawnee Playhouse* in Shawnee on the Delaware, PA until August 9th and is recommended for those who would like to enjoy a wonderful and exhilarating night at the theatre. The next Shawnee Playhouse* in Shawnee on the Delaware, PA presentations will be their Children Theatre production of “Peter Pan” to be performed July 5th - August 23rd, “The Dining Room” to be performed Jully 11th - August 3rd, and “Nunsense” to be performed July 19th -.August 31st. Those who enjoy the Passionate Art Lover level of membership in The Forwardian Arts Society are offered a $2.00 discount off the admission fee of The Shawnee Playhouse* Productions (excluding Children Theatrical Production). Please contact The Shawnee Playhouse* at 570-421-5093 for more information and to reserve your ticket.
(*) denotes members of The Forwardian Arts Society in good standing and are considered Our Good Friends.
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