Auditions introduce the School of the Arts main characters; oddball Julie Miller, funny Garcy, haughty diva Coco Hernandez, awkward misfit Montgomery McNeil, naïve loudmouth Doris Schwartz, reclusive Bruno Martelli and street smart Leroy Johnson.
Songs: "Be My Music", "Ballet for Kathy" (instrumental) Coco's authoritative teaching methods while instructing the dance class choreography mid-term upsets her peers.
Songs: "It's Sonata Mozart" (instrumental), "Could We Be Magic Like You", "Hi-Fidelity" Montgomery is stage manager for the school production of "Othello," but a pending union strike makes faculty involvement questionable.
Songs: "Desdemona", "Starmaker" When Mr. Crandall's assignment requires an improv scene portraying a character far removed from themselves, Doris pretends to be a teenage prostitute to "research" her role.
Songs: "Life is a Celebration" Danny's attitude and performance have dwindled and the staff discover he's been working early mornings as the stage manager at a late night comedy club.
Miss Sherwood's graduate student, Jeff Harris, has a hidden agenda and becomes romantically involved with Julie, claiming he's only writing an article about her move from Grand Rapids to New York City.
Songs: "A Very Special Place", "Starmaker", "Hot Lunch Jam" When Bruno's script is chosen for the school production, he finds he may have bitten off more than he can chew when he can't decide whom to cast.
Note: This was the final episode that Erica Gimpel (as Coco Hernandez), appeared in as a series regular, however her name remained in the opening credits until the end of the season.
Mr. Morloch tries to get Miss Grant to give his friend and former baseball star, "Lefty" Rogers (played by famed R&B Singer Peabo Bryson) in pursuit of a career in recording jingles for television commercials, singing and dancing lessons.
When Doris' ex-boyfriend, Sandy Gordon, who was expelled for his drinking problem, is allowed readmission into the School of the Arts, she's overjoyed until she learns that he was hiding his continuing battle with alcoholism from her.
A former night club performer, and close friend to Leroy's uncle, Eddie Macon (played by guest star, George Kirby), is discovered by Ms. Sherwood hiding out in a closet in her classroom.
With the added problem with heat conservation due to a broken furnace, Doris fights with her mother for independence, a new relationship between Nicole and Jesse is challenged while the two are trapped in a classroom, and Leroy goes out into the blizzard to make an audition.
After a morning news program airs an interview with Nicole, she receives a letter from a young man, Ray Claxton, who is serving time in a juvenile detention hall.
Holly's professional dancer mom, Suzi, pays her a visit and serves as a temporary teacher for Miss Grant who is out to audition for a role in an out-of-school production.
Filmed at the Jones Beach Amphitheater on Long Island, New York, this episode included a tribute to Stevie Wonder featuring covers of his hits ranging from "Fingertips (Part 2)" to "Ribbon in the Sky."
Janet performs her brothers' hit "I Want You Back," Nia Peeples covers Pat Benatar's "Fire and Ice," and Jesse Borrego takes on Prince's "When Doves Cry."
Nicole's parents put pressure on her when she enters the New York Science Fair while Morloch encourages Christopher to hang out with Cassidy in an attempt to make him "normal."
Similarly, veteran and recent graduate Leroy Johnson - who has just been asked to be Miss Grant's assistance - feels he doesn't belong as he's no longer a student and not quite a teacher.
While in Central Park, Danny encounters his favourite old western actor Bronco Bob and his partner in the classic films, Prince the Miracle Horse and is star struck.
Things get worse when an old acting rival, Myron "Black Bart" Leach, spitefully tries to repossess Prince with the pretext that Bronco has ceased payment on the horse.
Mr. Shorofsky struggles with "selling out" as well when he auditions a mediocre violin enthusiast and former football jock Bradley Elliot, Jr., whose father is willing to make a generous donation that could reform many budget-related deficiencies at the school.
Prince Frederic "Freddy" (Played by Billy Hufsey in addition to his regular role as Christopher) of Vatonia has arrived in New York City to make a speech for an important United Nations' event.
(This episode marks Cynthia Gibb's final series regular appearance as Holly Laird while Carrie Hamilton, Page Hannah, and Graham Jarvis officially join the cast as Reggie Higgins, Kate Riley, and Mr. Bob Dyrenforth).
As preparations are being made for the school's production of Huck (leberry) Finn, Bobby cast as Jim, expresses an uneasiness with the content of the play and leaves the show after dealing with his suppressed frustration.
Mr. Shorosky, who has been throwing his table tennis matches with his younger girlfriend, Liu Chin, tries to win her over by beating her while Miss Sherwood struggles to get her book, four years in the making, published.
Following a night out with the girls at Lou's, Nicole is forced to walk home alone and upon presuming that she's being followed, only to learn that her soon-to-be attacker was an innocuous basketball-bouncing passerby, loses her confidence – that is until she and Dwight meet the vandals.
With his girlfriend Shelley leaving him, losing out on his audition, and being locked out of his apartment because of a "no-babies" policy, Chris learns the ups and downs of parenting especially when saddened by his sister's return.
Dusty's dad, Reverend Tyler who is running a benefit for the homeless in New York City, comes to visit her from Denver, Colorado and is put off by the risqué behaviour and surroundings of the school.
As a disk jockey for the school's radio show and a big fan of 60s rock diva Frannie Fortune, Nicole makes it a priority to play her idol's records frequently.
Mrs. Berg decides to go through with the act and manages to concoct a convincing history for Lewis during dinner but when he comes to visit her at school; their plan to keep Mr. Dyrenforth away may blow up in their faces.