FAME: The Musical

Comedy, drama, and a bit of romance, are on the menu in this theatrical showcase, featuring many first time performers of the Freeport Player’s Guild. Making their stage debuts as students of The High School of the Performing Arts in New York City, this performance tells the story of the last class to graduate from the 46th Street school before moving uptown to Lincoln Center in 1984. A school of the performing arts, teaching acting, music, and dance, FAME is a paramount story of the painstaking pursuit of passion. Have you any idea what it takes to make it? The production team of Gloria McGlone, director/producer Ivy Eldon, choreographer Lois Seiler, and musical director Sheena Moree, have together been responsible for preparing this showcase that aspires to inspire you. 

No theatre worth visiting exists without a body of actors well suited to take on the various roles available to them. FAME stands out due to its well cast performers, trained by director Gloria McGlone, and provided with everything else they could possibly need by producer, Ivy Eldon. The mentorship of such ladies has provided for these pupils of the theatre, a groundbreaking platform that they can only now grow from, extending upward into greatness. So much talent is exhibited here, principally, the role of Tyrone, played by Luke Ignace and Deltin Sejour. This character will sweep you off your feet with his upbeat hip-hop super-style in dance and phrasing. His collective vibe of electric energy and on stage chemistry will entice you.

A dynamic choreography by Lois Seiler mixes Jazz and Ballet with a modern twist in a series of combinations that are amusing, uplifting, and electrifying. Although there are only a few obviously highly trained dancers in this cast, particularly in the role of Iris, played by ballerina alternates, Katie Hindley and Alexis DeGregory, many of the dancers cast in this show are only able to execute basic classical dance moves, which makes Seiler’s choice of choreography ideal for this group. Her focus is more about the dramatization of grand and exciting movement that helps the stage play to come alive with vibrant synchronized feelings of expression. Frankly, the cast of this show, in motion, do give the impression that they were highly trained, perhaps due to the quality of excellence in choreography and expert instruction by Lois Seiler.

The body of singers, many possessing a great deal of natural talent, have found their voices. Under the tutelage of Gloria McGlone the altos, sopranos, tenors, and basses of this group have all learned to harmonize well together. The music is enjoyably stirring and brings the entire show together in a riveting wave of vibrations. One particular character to watch is Carmen, played by Marlena Leonard and Eden Gaitor, with understudy Jade Barnett. All three of these young ladies are immensely talented, not only as singers, but as overall performers, bringing life and strength of character to the multi-dimensional Carmen. 

Sheena Moree has also done an amazing job honing the young players into virtuosos. This show boasts a live body of musicians who are able to synchronize their individual instruments as though a noble orchestra, bouncing the tones of keys and strings and percussion instruments, ringing spectacularly through the air. A harmonic symphony of live music at a theatrical performance about a body of super talented kids who are able to dance and sing and act and play musical instruments is the final touch… the glue that holds it all together. The fusing variation of talent is contagious at the house of FAME. You don’t want to miss this highly stylized off-broadway musical treat, presented right here in Freeport Bahamas. 

“FAME” reminds you of the struggles in life during the dynamics of adolescence. It is about the journey of trying to find yourself, and aspiring to become everything that you believe you were born to be. True to life, the kids at this school believe that they were made for FAME, and the teachers at this school will do everything that they can to help that dream to come true. FAME is definitely a performance worth seeing. It is a show that you will be sure to enjoy. This dynamic supports our youth and their eagerness to embrace the arts and its culture, and is a move in the right direction toward keeping the theatrical arts “a la vie” in Freeport. 

A dynamic summer spent ‘camping out’ at the Regency Theatre, since the onset of productions. From auditions and casting, choir practice, dance rehearsals, drilling lines and discovering how to bring characters to life, the kids in this production have assembled the pieces and are ready to take to the stage in order to tell the story of their quest for FAME.

(Photos Courtesy of Ana-Alicia Carroll)