by TISH MELTON and ALEXIS MARTIN
For months, the Upper School theater program has been diligently preparing for its rendition of the legendary musical Fame.
This widely known show explores the lives of students attending a performing arts high school in New York City.
Based on a movie with the same name, Fame made its broadway debut in 1980, and has been a staple in the world of theater ever since.
The cast has been fine-tuning its vocals, choreography and acting skills to make for a perfect opening night at Laverty Center–Thursday, Feb. 23, Feb. 24 and two shows on Feb. 25.
Musical theater, unlike straight plays, combines all three aforementioned skills. The addition of singing and dancing brings another layer to the performance, but also a greater challenge for the the cast and crew.
Originally directed and choreographed by Nick Winston, Fame has been known to be a difficult show to facilitate. Because of his vision of a fun, entertaining musical that simultaneously deals with heavy topics that teenagers deal with, there are multiple complex dance numbers that take hours of rehearsal to perfect.
“Fame is really an amalgamation of all three principles of musical theater, and all of those need to be at the highest stakes that they can be,” said junior Amalia Goshtigian, who plays the lead role of Serena Katz.
“Since this is the first dance-heavy show we’ve done in a while, we’re kind of learning again how to balance it all,” said junior ensemble member Adeline Smith.
Added sophomore Ace Saket, who plays Schlomo Metchenbalm, “There are a lot of memory challenges. We have’t had much time to practice things. We go over it in rehearsal and move on.”
The hard work that each cast member puts into the show, however, creates a special community within the theater program.
“We’re all a family. There isn’t one person in the cast that I’m not friends with,” Smith said.
Along with developing relationships among the cast and crew, the team has been working to find connections with each of the characters they play.
“I will never be a 17-year-old high school student studying musical theater playing a 17-year-old high school student studying musical theater again,” Goshtigian said. “I can’t believe I get to live in that world.”
The cast of the musical Fame has been working tirelessly to perfect their acting, singing and dancing for the show.
Theater teacher and director Kim Wood explained the value of spotlighting the high school experience in theater: “By seeing these issues portrayed on stage, students can relate to the characters and gain a better understanding of their own experiences.”
The months of preparation required for a show as high-caliber as Fame has become second nature for our Chadwick thespians, who thrive off a good challenge and a competitive environment.
“Even though everything is at the highest stakes possible, it’s fun to be at that intensity with a group of people who are feeling that,” Smith said.
These challenges, however, mean that the road to putting on the show has not been without a few potholes.
“The saying, ‘The show must go on,’ exists for a reason,” Wood said. “We’ve had cast members get ill, set and costume pieces running terribly late, and many more hiccups here and there.” Even through the struggles, the cast of Fame never backed down from an obstacle.
“We have a wonderful time being creative and figuring out how to make it work. It’s what makes live theater such an exciting adventure,” Wood said.
As opening night gets closer, anticipation is rising … and cast members feel ready to put on a great show.
Said Goshtigian: “When you’re all there, and you’re singing, dancing and acting your face off, it’s the best feeling in the world.”
The Mainsheet 