FAME FATALE

It simply started with a 1980 motion picture and a television series. Today, it’s a huge musical phenomenon with productions around the world, including Spain, United Kingdom, Mexico, Japan, Finland, Sweden, Canada, Italy, Hungary, Germany, Poland, Philippines, The Netherlands, Denmark, Korea and Australia. As you may have guessed, I’m talking about the famous Fame.

Conveying the universal significance of hard work, Fame has won hearts (and minds?) wherever it is performed and whatever the language it uses. Let’s take a look at the UK production.

Due in part to its eight-shows-a week-performance schedule, the UK company is said to devote a minimum of 30 hours per week to rehearsals and workouts. Quite a punishing and dehydrating schedule for the cast and crew, who are said to consume 200 liters of water per week. They also work up quite a humongous appetite as the company spends 5,000 pounds per week in the various West End food outlets. Indeed, preparation for the Fame musical performances is no joke as performers are said to go through five trainers each year. As for necessities, the performers use 250 plasters, 100 joint supports and 100 bottles of deodorant each month.

The show uses over 200 costumes with 100 costume changes in every performance. The girls use up 20 lipsticks and eye shadows every week. They also finish 30 cans of hair spray every month. They need 500 pairs of tights and 100 jockstraps every year. It is no wonder that the wardrobe department uses 50 big boxes of detergent powder each month.

Fame opens its story with the voice of young hopefuls, praying that they make it to P.A., one of New York City’s finest high schools for performing arts. It is known as the Fame school because it is said to produce some of the most famous talents in the entertainment industry. You then see the incoming students jumping for joy as they learn that they have been accepted by the school. Upon admission though, they realize how demanding their chosen profession could be, whether it be dance, drama or music. Their professors – dance teacher and assistant principal Ms. Greta Bell, English and homeroom teacher Ms. Esther Sherman, drama teacher Mr. Myers and music teacher Mr. Sheinkopf – keep them on their feet throughout high school. For four gruelling years, the teachers work with the students in order to mold them into the best artists they can possibly be. At the same time, the students learn to deal with their personal problems. Like Carmen who gets hooked on drugs, thinking it would help her tackle the demands of school. Or Mabel who’s asked to lose weight. Despite the odds, the students share four memorable high school years, forging friendships that would last long after their graduation in 1984.

The real Fame school the musical is based on is no different.

LaGuardia Performing Arts High School is an institution most notably known for producing a number of the entertainment industry’s best talents. Founded in 1936 by New York City Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia, it aimed to provide a facility that could house the most promisingly gifted and talented New York City public school students, enabling them to pursue their gifts in art or music while receiving a complete academic program at the same time. In 1948, the School of Performing Arts was also established to hone students’ performance skills in preparation for professional careers in music, dance or drama. The schools merged into one organization in 1961.

Today, LaGuardia High School stands proud as one of the four specialized high schools in New York City. It is known as the first school to provide a free, publicly funded program for students gifted with unique talents in the arts. The school has produced some of the most impressive talents the world has ever seen. LaGuardia alumni include Al Pacino, Liza Minelli, Jennifer Aniston, Alicia Keys, Jerome Robbins and Eartha Kitt. With the way things are going for this school, we can keep expecting a lot of greater things in the coming years.

For now, however, we can always enjoy Fame: The Musical, being staged by Repertory Philippines (originally scheduled to run until March 7, it’s been extended until March 13) at Rep’s Globe Theater, Onstage, Greenbelt 1. Directed by Baby Barredo and choreographed by Jaime del Prado, Repertory’s rendition of Fame will leave you dazzled. I especially enjoyed the vocals of Liesl Batucan (as Ms. Greta Bell), Aireen Antonio (as Mabel Washington) and Myrene Hernandez (as Carmen Diaz); the moves of Cathee Lee-Roslovtsev (as Iris Kelly) and Ralion Alonso (as Tyrone Jackson); as well as the comedic talent of Arnel Carrion (as Jose "Joe" Vegas). Watching Fame is a delightful way to unwind and have a good laugh. At the same time, it’s also a good way to be reminded about what it takes to get to where you want to be. It can only be summed up in two words: HARD WORK, which will come in handy as you live out your dream on the bigger stage called life.

For more information on LaGuardia, visit: www.laguardiahs.org.

* * *

E-mail me at: ice_wave_42@yahoo.com.