“Fame” is indeed about student life at the New York High School of Performing Arts. But the musical production now playing at the Bell Center for the Arts in Dover bears little resemblance to the movie or the TV series (in fact, one of the teachers in the play, Miss Sherman, points out, “ever since that movie came out, everyone refers to us as ‘that “Fame” school’”). But it gets your blood pumping just as well. After watching the show, you might go home and put on some torn stockings and crank up some Cyndi Lauper in your MP3 player. 

As a proud product of the ’80s, this was a dream assignment for me. Nothing is more tooth-grinding than when your childhood era is portrayed incorrectly, but this group of fine young Seacoast performers nailed it dead-on.

The first character to be introduced is funnyman Joe Vegas (Gordon Fenn), followed by Carmen Diaz (Annie Munch). From the worst of the bad side of town, Carmen is determined to become famous, and she doesn’t take the daily diet pill or occasional line of coke for pleasure—it’s just to stay thin for her career. Mabel Washington (Megan Little) has the opposite problem—she repeatedly tells us she’s on a “see food diet,” which isn’t exactly what her dance instructor has in mind. Then there’s Nick Piazza (Dan Kleinmann), whose mom drags him to commercial auditions even though he longs to perform classics. Serena Katz (Chelsea Hermann), on the other hand, wishes she had Nick’s problems. There’s wealthy Schlomo Metzenbaum (Randy Blake), the son of a world-famous violinist; the only thing that can drag him from practice is his attraction to Carmen. It appears to be a similar situation with the “best dancer in school,” Iris Kelly (Alana Thyng), who is dropped off each morning in a limo, and Jack Zakowski (Kevin Fonteyne), her male dancing counterpart. Iris and Jack grow so close that she gives him much needed help with his homework—maybe a little too much help—and he finds out her secret. 

The teachers are equally colorful. Mr. Sheinkopf (Greg Bell), is a music teacher who tries to get his students to worship Bach. Miss Shermann (Tami Burns), who knows that the students’ chances of achieving fame in the performance arts are slim, has the unenviable job of making sure that these kids with stars in their eyes also learn other subjects. Then there’s the ethereal dance teacher Miss Bell (Megan Karas) and, finally, the acting teacher, Mr. Myers (director Christopher Crossen-Sills). All the teachers truly care about their students, whether they are passionate, energetic, impoverished or spoiled children of superstars.

Act One’s opening/closing number, “Hard Work,” shows what the lives of these kids are really like (less glamorous than show biz is supposed to be—there’s a lot more sweat than Oscars). “There She Goes,” Carmen’s song about how people will react to seeing her in the future, is a powerful rock ballad; the sharp spunk in Annie Munch’s eyes and voice is breathtaking. In a cast full of standouts, you truly can’t take your eyes off her.

One of the most emotional numbers of the play comes when Burns and Karas square off in “Teacher’s Argument.” Miss Shermann is determined to insure that Jack’s ability to learn matches his ability to dance, in case he doesn’t “make it.” Miss Bell, however, has no doubt that Jack will make it and doesn’t want him held back by academics. Serena (Chelsea Hermann), the girl who’s loved Jack since she first laid eyes on him, adds a pure, strong and enchanting performance of “Think of Meryl Streep.”

The show takes place in the 1980s, and the costuming is perfect. The off-the-shoulder sweatshirts, the legwarmers, the side ponytails, the huge hair—I was there, and the cast nailed it. Choreographer Bridgette Doucette did an incredible job with a huge cast in a small space, tying the emotion to the movement.

Biggest kudos of all goes to director Christopher Crossen-Sills. He cast the show beautifully—even the kids in the ensemble demonstrated the excitement of pursuing their goals, no matter what they entail.

Sidenote: the show’s director actually contacted Meryl Streep’s agent, hoping for a quote to give the cast some inspiration. Ms. Streep personally responded in a letter that is copied into the program. She encourages the cast to look for the art in themselves, get an education, know as much as they can about everything and listen and look at the world around them. She then tells them to “break a leg!” Truly one of the most gracious acts I’ve seen—and from arguably the most respected living actress in the world.
 
“Fame” runs on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 8 and 9, at 7 p.m., and on Sunday, Feb. 10 at 3 p.m., 47 Fourth St., Dover. Call 603-742-2355 for reservations.