Conceived and developed by David De Silva,[1] it premiered in 1988 in Miami, Florida, and has spawned many stagings worldwide, including an Off-Broadway production at the Little Shubert Theatre from 2003 to 2004, under the title Fame on 42nd Street.
[1] 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.
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").
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.
Miss Bell overhears and argues that Tyrone's artistic endeavors are more important than his academic performance ("The Teachers' Argument").
Tyrone storms off, threatening to drop out of school, and Miss Sherman reminds the gathered crowd of students of their academic commitments ("Hard Work (Reprise)").
Later, at a dance rehearsal, Mabel, an overweight dancer, complains about retaining water, and other problems she faces with the size of her body.
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.
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)").
Schlomo reveals through monologue that Carmen has died of a drug overdose, and dedicates the classes' final senior song to her memory ("Bring On Tomorrow (Reprise)").
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.
The cast included: Jennifer George as Carmen Diaz, Yonah Kliger as Schlomo Metzenbaum, Farah Alvin as Serena Katz, Elkin Antoniou as Iris Kelly, Ron Kellum as Tyrone Jackson, Tony Spinosa as Joe Vegas, Steve Scott Springer as Nick Piazza, Denise Williams as Mabel Washington, Tracy Ray as Grace Lamb (Lambchops), Jim Vukovich as Goodman(Goody)King, Pamela Ross as Miss Sherman, Patty Tiffany as Miss Bell, Elliott Goldwag as Mr. Sheinkof, Gregg Perrie as Mr. Myers The musical had a US tour directed by Lars Bethke in 1998.
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.
[12][13] As part of MTI (Music Theatre International)'s Broadway Junior Series, a 60-minute adaptation was developed for middle schools (grades 6–9) and published in September 2011.
Among the many performers who have participated include Noel Sullivan as Nick Piazza and Barbara Dickson as Miss Ester Sherman.
[17] The show was directed by Karen Bruce and sound designed by Gareth Owen, and the cast included Ian Watkins as Schlomo, Natalie Casey as Serena, Fem Belling as Mabel, and Jacqui Dubois as Miss Sherman.
Fame returned to the UK as the 25th anniversary tour directed and choreographed by Gary Lloyd opening February 20, 2014, in London at the New Wimbledon Theatre.
This production starred Glen Jordan as Nick Piazza, Laura Ellis as Serena Katz, Yvette Shiel as Carmen Diaz, Charlie Houseago as Schlomo Metzenbaum, Chris Cahill as Joe Vegas, Nicole Seymour as Mabel Washington, Dean James as Tyrone Jackson, Sam Miller as Iris Kelly, Jon Haines as Goody, Emma Newman as Lambchops, Trish Butterfield as Miss Sherman, Claire Linney as Miss Bell, James Newall as Mr. Myers, and Stewart McGhee as Mr. Sheinkopf.
[23][24][22] Fame has been played in more than 30 countries, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, and Venezuela, and has been translated into every major language.
An Italian production premiered in Pavia, at Teatro Fraschini, directed by Gigi Saccomandi and Luigi Perego on September 20, 2003.
The cast included Marger Sealey, Karin Aguilar, Alejandro Cervantes, Gianni Costantini and Antonio Melenciano.
A Catalan language production ran at Teatro Tivoli in Barcelona from April 27 to September 26, 2004, directed by Ramón Ribalta with choreography by Coco Comin.
The Estonian cast included Nele-Liis Vaiksoo as Serena, Rolf Roosalu as Schlomo and Kaire Vilgats as Miss Esther Sherman.
[26] 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.
[30] 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.
The characters of Nick and Serena were played by Ben Morris and Jessica Cervi, winners of RTÉ's Fame: The Musical reality TV show.
[36] 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.
From November 25, 2011, to January 29, 2012, it played at the Woori Financial Art Hall in Seoul, South Korea, starring Eunhyuk of Super Junior; Tiffany of Girls' Generation; Son Ho Young, Go Eun Seong, Kim Chan Ho, Shin Ui Jeong, and Lina of The Grace; and Choi Ju Ri, KoN and Kim Jung Mo of TRAX.
[37] On May 5, 2012, it opened in Orebro, Sweden, at the Tyst Theatr with a world Swedish Sign Language premiere production, "Visukal", for the hearing impaired.
The instrumentation calls for two keyboards, two guitars, electric bass, drums, percussion, violin, a woodwind player, two trumpeters and trombone.