The Catskill Chronicle

Review by Carol Montana, photos provided

FORESTBURGH, NY – Continuing their outstanding summer season, Forestburgh Playhouse is presenting an exceptional production of Fame: The Musical – conceived and developed by David De Silva, and directed and choreographed by the talented Dann Dunn.

Based on the 1980 film, Fame chronicles the trials and tribulations of students at New York City’s High School of Performing Arts beginning with their first year and ending with graduation.

Along the way, four teachers guide them: dance teacher Ms. Bell, played regally by Jessica Wagner; Mr. Myers played for laughs and stuffiness by Steve Davis; English teacher Miss Sherman portrayed as the taskmaster with a heart of gold by the wonderful Lumiri Tubo; and music teacher Mr. Sheinkopf played by the irrepressibly comic Norman Duttweiler.

The students are energetic, multi-cultural and multi-talented. From Kristopher Ward who plays the moody, but wonderful dancer Tyrone Jackson; Diany Rodriquez who plays Carmen Diaz, a talented, tortured songwriter with a tragic secret; Jake Boyd as Nick Piazza, the former child actor who just wants to be left alone to practice his craft; Mabel Washington, the loud and overweight dancer who is desperate to lose weight but can’t resist food, played to the hilt by Phoenix Toliver; to Madison Turner who pirouettes her way into our hearts as the classically trained ballerina, Iris, every cast member aces their role.

Outstanding songs provide moments for each featured performer to shine. The opening number Pray, Pray, Pray is full of excellent harmonies. And There She Goes/Fame sung by Diany Rodriquez (Carmen) and the ensemble is familiar to everyone who watched the TV series of the same name, which ran from 1982 to 1987. This song, along with Bring on Tomorrow, which is performed in both in Act I and Act II, as well as several other numbers, provide wonderful opportunities to show off the fine dancing skills of the cast and the finely tuned choreography talents of Mr. Dunn.

Additional standout numbers include: The Teacher’s Argument performed convincingly by Lumiri Tubo and Jessica Wagner; Dancin’ on the Sidewalk sung and danced by Kristopher Ward and ensemble; the soulful and powerful These are My Children sung with gut-wrenching truth by Lumiri Tubo; and the show-stopper of the evening Mabel’s Prayer sung by the little lady with the incredibly powerful voice Phoenix Toliver.

Chris DeStefano provides marvelous music direction, David Withrow does magic with a multitude of costumes, Michael O’Connor sets the perfect mood with his lighting design, and Darcy Engel amazes with the flawless scene design, utilizing every square inch of the tiny stage to its fullest. Sound design by Michael Bert is adequate, but sometimes gets a little screechy, and at other times, the orchestra drowns out the singers, as in the song Hard Work where the teachers can’t be heard over the music.

At one point during the show, one of the teachers says, “It’s all about the kids.” In Fame, it’s all about the kids, and the music, and the singing, and especially the dancing. Forestburgh Playhouse has another hit on its hands with Fame.