This Fame is The Musical based on the 1980 film which unfolds the story of select high schoolers chosen to attend THE arts school in New York which teaches ballet and acting and music.
At GALA Hispanic Theatre, they shook the building.
Blue lights and orange lights and spot lights and flashers.
Singers and dancers and hip hop were smashers.
One of the great things about going to GALA is the happy crew which makes the audience happy, too (most of the time).
Another reason to go to GALA!
Oh, there's a story here, or several of them, as boy meets girl who meets boy who meets girl and back again, do si do, a top star who can't make the grade, and you know the drill. Still, it's not the story that draws the public: It's Fame's music and dancing, and no one will be disappointed.
Voices soar with a large (22) crew who raise the roof. The girls seem to outshine the boys when it comes to vocals but with dancing, it's the guys who excel.
How about a split mid-air? Or a backward somersault? You hold your breath waiting for a mishap. There are none. For this is act! Act! Act! Dance! Dance! Dance!
Romainson Romain is Tyler, one of the stars who can do anything dance-wise, with the exception of what brought him to the show.
The villain is the mean, uptight English teacher, Ms. Sherman, severely dressed in a monochromatic strait jacket-buttoned suit, splendidly carried out by Susan Oliveras who, with her hair pulled taut, was an instant dislike.
Based on the audience's response, Alana Thomas' gospel, Mabel's Prayer, was probably the favorite song of the night which came in the second act, a lot livelier half than the first part of the show.
Some of the best performers were never seen: the nine-member band with students, led by Walter "Bobby" McCoy, with Jake Null, Mila Weiss, Brad Clements, Doug Elliott, Jaime Ibacache, Cyndy Elliott, Kendall Haywood, Manny Archiniega, Melody Flores, and Andrew Velez.
The set by Clifton Chadwick is chiefly steel school lockers which move and transition to become ladders, accompanied by effective and varied lighting by Christopher Annas-Lee to create shadows and mood.
Stylish, contemporary costuming by Robert Croghan fits the time which is anything recent.
Confusion reigned supreme, however, with bilingual versions on the stage and dual screens hanging from the ceiling at angles stage left and right with languages mixed. For those who need translation from Espanol to English or vice-versa, eyes move back and forth to the subtitles while trying to adjust and understand the language you know and hear, both languages spoken and sung by actors in rapid fire succession, often by the same actor. (How did they keep them straight? Translations were perfect.)
My seatmate almost gave me motion sickness, moving her head back and forth as she moved from stage to screen and back again, trying to read the language she knew, as if she were swimming laps.
Since music is the universal language, who needs translation anyway?
Applause to choreographer and director, Luis Salgado. the previous winner of Tony and Helen Hayes awards.
Other members of the cast are Carlos Salazar, Tanya De Leon, Rafael Beato, Paula Calvo, Amaya Perea, Juan Luis Espinal, Paloma de Vega, Jon Yepez, Teresa Quigley Danskey, Imanol Fuentes Garcia, and Brendon Schaefer.
In the Ensemble are Julia Klavans and Rodolfo Santamarina, dance captains; Kramer Kwalick, Bryan Ernesto Menjivar, Pranjaal Pizarro, Susan Ramirez, Megumi Shumoda, and Patrick Ward.
Other members of the creative team are Patrick Lord, projections; Jose Coca, Paso Nuevo instructor; Roc Lee, sound; Matt Carlin, properties; Brennan T. Jones, stage manager; Tony Koehler, production coordinator; Devin Mahoney, technical director; Valerie Cossu, associate director and choreographer; Heather Hogan, creative consultant; and Hugo Medrano, producer.
Book, music, and lyrics by David De Silva, Jose Fernandez (tribute is made in his memory), Steve Margoshes, and Jacques Lecy
What: Fame the Musical
When: Now through June 9, 2019, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m.
Where: GALA Theatre, 3333 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20010.
Tickets: $65, general admission; $40 for seniors age 65 and over, military, students, and those age 30 and under; $30 for each ticket in group sales of 10 or more. Rush tickets are $40 for all shows, sold between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. for the nightly shows, and between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. for Sunday matinees. Go online and order at GALA Tickets or buy at the box office.
Student Matinees: May 23 and May 24 at 10:30 a.m. For more information, email education@galatheatre.org.
Duration: About 2.5 two hours with one intermission
Refreshments: Available and may be taken to seats.
Metro stations: Columbia Heights or McPherson Square and take a bus from McPherson Square up 14th, or walk two miles and save money and expend calories! Lots of places to eat along the way.
Parking: Available on nearby streets or park in the Giant grocery store parking lot behind GALA for $4 validated ticket.
For more information: (202) 234-7174 and/or email info@galatheatre.org.
patricialesli@gmail.com
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