Happy Christmas

                                          Happy Christmas Everyone!

Wishing you all a peaceful holiday season and a Fame filled New Year! 

Kids From Fame returns with new posts on January 5th.

Christmas 2014 Message from Nia Peeples

I sooo want to wish everyone "Happy Holidays!"
But honestly, I feel like for some, that's a lot of pressure, like I'm demanding; "BE HAPPY NOW" regardless of your circumstance or losses. Let's face it, this time of year is so emotionally charged, and not necessarily in a good way for many. It's an annual reminder that life marches on, change happens, and so much of that change is out of our control. Set against the tradition of a ‪#‎Christmas‬ tree, ‪#‎Menorah‬ and gift givin...g, the changes are much more magnified, particularly when we've lost a loved one, our home, or the finances to provide the gifts we wish we could.

It made me reconsider the value of this season. I mean certainly the joy and power of an annual tradition of such a holiday can not exist solely for those who had a "good year", or a better paycheck, or for whom things are going swimmingly well. How do we capture the magic, the promise, the hope of this annual holiday season without relying on, finances, the fulfillment of old expectations, or even family and friends to bring it to us?

For me personally, I'm in a bit of a transition in my life, my career, and therefor my finances. Yes, this evolution is something I deeply desire but that doesn't make it easy. One day I'm infused with excitement and possibility. The next day I feel like I'm standing on the edge of a cliff in a strong wind. Amidst all the uncertainty I find myself hoping for an uneventful Christmas, one that passes without much hoopla so I can get back to stabilizing my evolution.

Then I read this Quote:
"There is nothing more amazing than the higher emotional vibrations of LOVE, AWE and CREATIVE PASSION, and there is a part of you that knows it."

And I did. I knew the truth of this immediately. Why? because LOVE, AWE and CREATIVE PASSION are not things to acquire. They are states of being. To live in ‪#‎LOVE‬ ‪#‎AWE‬ and ‪#‎CREATIVE‬ ‪#‎PASSION‬ is a choice. It doesn't require money. It doesn't require equipment, transportation or even other people. I can choose to experience LOVE, AWE and CREATIVE PASSION each and every day simply by being present to the beauty in the moment rather than having my head in the past or the future. And I am absolutely positive that my choice to live in this state of being this Holiday Season, regardless of what's happening around me; the loss of my uncle, the uncertainty of an evolving career, or the state of the Union for that matter, will bring me all the Magic, Promise and Hope of this Holiday Season.
 
Now I can say it with confidence:
 
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
 
and know that it is here for all of us.
xxoo
Nia

Wish Upon A Christmas Star Part 12

Part 12 of The Christmas Fan Fiction Story "Wish Upon A Christmas Star".

It's the final part!

Will there be a happy ending for Danny and his father?

Will Holly get Bruno back?

Exactly what has Miss Sherwood got planned for the show?

And what is the mysterious letter for Leroy?

Read Story


The Songs from the story:

Wish Upon A Christmas Star Part 11

Part 11 of The Christmas Fan Fiction Story "Wish Upon A Christmas Star".

What has happened to Danny? 

Has Sherwood bitten off more than she can chew?

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The Songs from the story:

Janet Jackson Xmas Video

Janet Jackson Happy Xmas Video from 2006.

Picture of the Week

Jesse Borrego

Wish Upon A Christmas Star Part 10

Part 10 of The Christmas Fan Fiction Story "Wish Upon A Christmas Star".

Is the Show Really Finished?

Read Story


The Songs from the story:

Carmine Caridi 2014 Interview Part 2

Carmine Caridi 2014 Interview Part 2

Wish Upon A Christmas Star Part 9

Part 9 of The Christmas Fan Fiction Story "Wish Upon A Christmas Star".

Can Doris help Sherwood learn to sing Elizabeth

Can Danny talk his father round?


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The Songs from the story:

Nia Peeples - Saving Spot Benefit 2014

 

Nia Peeples - Saving Spot Benefit 2014

Shaun Earl - Snack n Chat 13 No Strings Attached

Shaun Earl - Snack n Chat 13 No Strings Attached

Wish Upon A Christmas Star Part 8

Part 8 of The Christmas Fan Fiction Story "Wish Upon A Christmas Star".

Can Bruno talk Shorofsky into playing Santa Claus?

Will Leroy finally have the money he needs?

Will Danny be able to assume his father that things are really coming together?


Read Story


The Songs from the story:

The Waters - Time To Begin Again

The Waters: Luther, Oren, Julie and Maxine, who performed backing vocals on the Fame albums and during the concert tours have a Christmas song out titled "Time To Begin Again"  To listen and purchase the song go to:

CD Baby

Wish Upon A Christmas Star Part 7

 

Part 7 of The Christmas Fan Fiction Story "Wish Upon A Christmas Star".

How will Danny's father react no who knows the truth about the Christmas Show?

Will Bruno manage to get through to Doris?


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The Songs from the story

Kids From Fame Tops

 

There is  a great range of Kids From Fame T shirts and Tops available Redbubble.com

 

For More Information and To order Go to their Website

Wish Upon A Christmas Star Part 6

 

Part 6 of The Christmas Fan Fiction Story "Wish Upon A Christmas Star".

Who has stolen the money?

Why Was Danny phoning Coco for help?

Can Bruno Talk Doris Round?


Read Story


The Songs from the story

Wish Upon A Christmas Star Part 5

Part 5 of The Christmas Fan Fiction Story "Wish Upon A Christmas Star".

How will Leroy decide between Dancing and his Family?

Can Bruno let Holly down gently?


Read Story


The Songs from the story:

Erica Gimpel in "The Fence" Trailer

Erica Gimpel in "The Fence" Trailer from 1994

Eric Pierpoint Everything Geek Podcast 2014

Eric Pierpoint Everything Geek Podcast 2014

Wherever The Road Leads - Erica Gimpel

Erica Gimpel performs "Wherever The Road Leads from her album from her album "Spread Your Wings and Fly".

Wish Upon A Christmas Star Part 4

Part 4 of The Christmas Fan Fiction Story "Wish Upon A Christmas Star".

Leroy has to make a difficult decision.

Holly is happy but struggling to keep her relationship with Bruno a secret.


Read Story


The Songs from the story:

Carol Mayo Jenkins - The Daily Beacon Interview 2014

Carol Mayo Jenkins - The Daily Beacon Interview 2014

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The Stage & Television Today Article April 1983

The Stage & Television Today Article April 1983

Read article

Doris Schwartz Time and Again Season 2 Ep 12 Commentary

 

 

As "Scattered Pieces" Part two concludes Season 2 many of the pieces put in place in this season come together. It was inevitable that with the different time lines merging throughout the season, that at some point characters from different times would meet, start interacting and realise that something was very wrong.  The different hospital settings from the original series gave a perfect way to do this.

 

As with the end of season 1 I knew how I wanted season 2 to end with a group 0f main characters looking at Doris accusingly. I also had the end of season 3 in mind. At the last minute I decided to incorporate the end of season 3 as well with the hooded figure suffocating the Doris in the hospital bed. I just wrote that scene from a different angle so we didn't know who the hooded figure was.  It seemed like the best way to have the series as a whole have some connection. I included this aspect of the story to add to the drama so that season 1 and 2 didn't end in a similar way and with the reader just thinking that Doris would disappear and reappear somewhere else so the story would continue.

Also as Doris was suffocating at the end this was to explain where the idea came from to use that to kill Nicole although when she tried doing it her body was experiencing what we now see at the end of this episode and so that was my way of getting out of having her kill Nicole. Although that in itself doesn't stop her and she then thinks up something else where she gets the syringe and drug bottle. At the time of writing I was thinking this might become significant in a future episode  where Doris would find it in her pocket. However as things progressed I never really needed to use it but write until the end of season 4 I had it at the top of my notes as a possibility of a future plot line. 

As things had been very heavy in recent episodes I wanted things to be a lot lighter so had Mrs Berg  reveal that she was once an actress, something we don't discover until season 6 of the original series.   Also in the conversations between the characters at the end I added little light touches of humour like Danny not graduating and Coco wondering if she was a start in  the future.

 

It became a little complicated writing characters from different timelines meeting and having remember what each character would actually know  and who they would actually know in their particular timelines and it took quite awhile to construct that part but I was pretty pleased with the results.

 

I also knew what a key player that Leroy would be next season and had planted lots of scenes with him meeting Doris throughout this season. I thought it was important for him not to take part in the conversation with the others at then end until he points out that Doris is watching them. Most of the characters had previously experienced strange things happening and wanted Leroy to voice how people try to forget about strange things happening. I felt this was important  to explain to the reader how although people experienced strange things they didn't always talk about then for fear of people thinking they were going mad or something.    

 

So we end on the cliff hanger of Doris watching herself being suffocated and being confronted by her friends as to what is happening.

Wish Upon A Christmas Star Part 3

Part 3 of The Christmas Fan Fiction Story "Wish Upon A Christmas Star".

Danny is struggling to put his show together but will a phone call from an old friend be the answer to his problems? 

Will David be ready for his big Broadway audition?

Read Story


The Songs from the story:

Lori Singer - Grain of Sand

A Blake inspired fantasy.
Blakes world calls to their teacher.
The students join her
Thank you FSU and Paul Cohen,The Torchlight Program
Edited by Meredith Veach

Doris Schwartz Time and Again Season 2 Ep 11 Commentary

The Title "Scattered Piece" comes from the Season 1 song "It's Gonna Be A Long Night" and refers to The Different Time lines merging as we encounter more hospital scenes from the original series. 

As we enter the first part of the season finale the pressure on Doris really intensified. Even some of the events she witnessed from the past like Bruno's father dying and Holly's anorexia add to that pressure and the enormous guilt she feels about not being able to help her friends, either now or at the time the events actually happened. The reader doesn't know it and in fact at the time of writing I didn't know it but this guilt she feels is partly why she's in the past. She has issues to work through so that she can heal herself from the wounds and scars of the past.

Mrs Berg is very harsh and almost cruel here. She does know what is happening to Doris and really is trying to help her although perhaps it doesn't seem like that in this episode.

Doris expresses some of the questions and thoughts the reader may be having, like how does Mrs Berg know these things and how complicated things seem to be getting. However there are no real answers as to be honest I didn't quite have them myself at the time of writing. I knew where this season was ending and the ending of Season 3 but that was it at that point.

For me the main issues I had to get over here was how someone like Doris could even consider taking someone else's life. We she her struggling with the issues and repeatedly saying she can't do it and it's not in her personality but deep down she knows she has no choice. So slowly starts to think of ways she can go through with it.  

The we have the flash of memory where Doris sees the pillow and struggles to breath for a moment. Which gives her the inspiration to decide to suffocate Nicole. Doris doesn't realise it at this point but there is a reason why she had this vision.      

 

Read "Scattered Pieces Part 1"

Billy Hufsey - The Lover In Me - Full Song

Billy Hufsey - The Lover In Me - Full Song

Buy MP3 Amazon UK

Buy MP3 Amazon US

Doris Schwartz Time and Again Season 2 Ep 10 Commentary

The Title "All Gone But The Memories" comes from the Season 1 song "It's Gonna Be A Long Night" and refers to Doris losing Danny and only having her memories of him left. Also this episode has lots of references to episodes of the TV series which are all memories to us now as the show has been over for years. 

 

At the time of writing my creative juices were really flowing. I'd planned this second season to be 10 episodes but had already added one extra episode when I stretched "If Tomorrow Never Comes" to two parts. My original intention was to move Doris in time to end the season but ideas were flying around in my head and when I came up with the idea of Doris now having to kill Nicole to correct the time line and avoid lots of horrible things happening to other people I knew I had to do it and add another episode.

 

The original plan was that even though I'd killed Danny off in 1987 he would still be there for events prior to that so I would still be able to use him even though the reader might have thought that was the end of him. However as I worked out how to plot things to accommodate the new ideas I knew I wanted a scene to take place between Doris and Danny where she tried to apologise.  Danny's cancer story from season 3 of the original series seemed perfect and here's Doris trying to apologise to him and make him understand something that hadn't happened to him yet when she had been so instrumental in making him fight the cancer. It all seemed to add to her guilt perfectly, that and Gina Amatullo's reaction.

 

Personally I can't imagine how someone in real life could cope with that amount of guilt and I have to say I felt a little worried for Doris as a character that all this guilt would throw her over the edge.

 

Most of the episode is filled with placing the other Fame characters into hospital situations from the different time lines. It's amazing when you sit down and start to think about it how many times the show put the characters into hospital situations and these made it really easy for me to work in different people.

 

I have to say I loved the ending to this episode. I don't know how Mrs Berg knew all the things she was telling Doris about how Nicole living would affect peoples futures, but I did know I had no intention of trying to explain it. So just wallowed in cranking up the drama!

 

For a moment Doris has some hope that she has a way out of all the guilt she is feeling only for that hope to be dashed, once again, when she discovers what she has to do.

 

One thing I didn't realise at the time was how I ended the last few episodes with Doris saying "Oh my God...." as she learns the shocking events that are happening around her. Had I realised I might have changed at least one of them but hey it's too late now.

 

Read "All Gone But The Memories"

Wish Upon A Christmas Star Part 2

Part 2 of The Christmas Fan Fiction Story "Wish Upon A Christmas Star".

Bruno is back in town and Holly is really pleased to see him!

Meanwhile Danny has volunteered to organise the Knights of St Anthony Christmas show and is looking at his friends and teachers to help him out!

Read Story


The songs from the story:

Nia Peeples - Deadlock 2 Trailer 1995

 

Nia Peeples - Deadlock 2 Trailer 1995

 

Doris Schwartz Time and Again Season 2 Ep 9 Commentary

"At Least We've had today" is the next line in the song "Right Here, Right Now" from season 4 after "If Tomorrow Never Comes" and it seemed fitting to continue with the lyrics from that song as episode titles.  I was hoping that the reader would think it meant that Doris had been unsuccessful in her attempts to save Nicole and she would have to carry on knowing that at least she tried to save her friend.  So that would be a nice surprise when they discover that Nicole hasn't died. However, to me the title refers to her relationship with Danny as he will be the one that we discover died.

 

To me this is a complete emotional rollercoaster of an episode not only for the reader but for Doris. The subject of the episode is "Consequences". Doris saw in the first season that her actions could change things and her intentions, no matter how good, could still result in bad things happening. Despite that she still tries to change history and hasn't learnt from the past. In season the things that changed were minor compared to the epic changes in this episode.

 

 I think any of us in the situation of having knowledge that something bad is going to happen to a friend, would try to change things. So I think Doris' reaction is totally understandable. 

 

Firstly Doris has to contend with being the cause of the accident, which for the moment she wants to keep quiet about. She still blames Mickey for being drunk for causing the accident rather than her own involvement. 

 

To add a little bit of much needed relief we have some humour with Angelo Martelli both thinking Bruno is the father of younger Doris' baby and by asking older Doris out on a date.

 

We also revisit the mystery as the hospital announcements we've heard before. Now we have some context for them.  

 

Then we almost have some happiness when Doris realises that she did actually save Nicole's life but of course this is short lived when she realises that changing history has jeopardised the health of her own child and the chilling revelation at the end that Danny is dead.

 

I hope that was a shock to the reader. I can just imagine people saying "How Could He Kill Danny?!!!"

 

For me I knew as soon as I decided on Doris setting out to save Nicole would mean Danny had to die. He was the only other person in the car apart from Mickey, who we don't care about. So I guess Danny was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

 

Read "At Least We've Had Today"

Debbie Allen on The Emmanuel Lewis Show 1987

Debbie Allen's performance on the Emmanuel Lewis show from 1987. Debbie performs a medley of "Hey Big Spender", "The Twist", "What Have You Done For Me Lately" and "Dancing On The Ceiling".

Doris Schwartz Time and Again Season 2 Ep 8 Commentary

As we continue into "If Tomorrow Never Comes Part Two" I knew how the episode as to end but needed something to fill this episode before we got there. So we start by having Nicole sing again. This time another Lisa Hartman song from her 1987 album. It's not the best song in the World but the Song title of "Until My Heart Stops Beating" seemed so appropriate for this episodes as time is running out for Nicole and she's still expressing how she feels about Jesse. 

 

It was pure coincidence that I had Dusty in this episode. The TV series tells us that she was at the party and having used both Ian and Dusty before in my story it seem good to have Jesse be with them. At the time of writing Dusty's feelings for Jesse were just something to pad the episode with. Again I didn't realise how important that would be in season 3.

 

For my padding I wanted Bruno to confront Doris and want an explanation. Until the events of our Series One finale teenage Bruno and Doris' friendship was on the line. He then realised that teenage Doris wasn't the one telling him things and that there were in fact two Doris'. I knew at some point that Bruno needed to meet up with the older Doris again but knew it wouldn't be here and just wanted to play with that a little bit. 

 

We continue the padding with the Lisa scene, purely to cause Doris frustration and add tension as to whether Doris will be able to stop Nicole getting into the car.   I also wanted to reassure readers that Doris definitely wasn't dead so had Lisa be the bearer of that message. 

 

Back at the party there's a little more fun with Bruno  and Doris is finally in the right place to try and help Nicole. That is until the car drives off. The time merging arc meant I could have Angelo Martelli back. We can tell from what he says that this is season one of the TV series for him. Doris pretends Nicole is her daughter to get Angelo on side.

 

Anyway the chase is on but I have the car in which Nicole is in crash anyway. It seemed the perfect end to actually make Doris' actions be what was responsible for the actual crash.  Again I find the end very chilling.   

 

Read "If Tomorrow Never Comes Part 2"

Wish Upon A Christmas Star Part 1

Wish Upon A Christmas Star Part 1

It's Christmas 1984! While there's Famine in Ethiopia  the kids and faculty of New York's High School for the Performing Arts Prepare for the festive season. 

Danny tries to impress his Father once and for all by organizing the Knights of St Anthony Christmas Concert, but has he bitten off more than he can chew and will his friends come through for him?

 

Holly is looking for a way to escape how she has been feeling about her parents divorce and her anxieties over food. Will love be the answer for her? And just who has she set her sights on? 

 

Since his Father unexpected return at Thanksgiving, Leroy has been missing his family and dreaming of a one big happy family Christmas together. Could it happen or is he just fooling himself?

 

After spending Thanksgiving with Sherwood and her Family, Morloch is looking for a repeat performance for Christmas lunchr. Can Sherwood avoid inviting the vice principle to her festive celebrations?

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The music from the story:

Debbie Allen Rock Newman Interview 2014

Debbie Allen Rock Newman Interview 2014 

Doris Schwartz Time and Again Season 2 Ep 7 Commentary

As we move into the second part of Season 2 of my fan fiction story: "Doris Schwartz: Time and Again", we move into one huge story Arc that will run until the end of this season. This was quite a challenge that was continually changing as I wrote the episodes.

The Titles "If Tomorrow Never Comes" is a lyric from the season 4 song "Right Here, Right Now" and for me refers to Doris realising she has to try and stops the events that cause Nicole's death.

We start the episodes with Doris thinking she is dead. She isn't but we don't find that out for sure yet, but I wanted Doris to remember back to helping Lisa the ghost pass over, when she was in High School. It was important because she will need those skills to help Nicole in the future.

Doris starts to think that she may need to help Tracy pass over and at this point I was thinking we would return to this story. I knew it wouldn't be this season, as that already had an outline but I left it open for a possible season 3 storyline.  However, when I started writing season 3, that took me in other directions so Tracy was forgotten about. Presumably she is still a ghost haunting the school!

Instead I wanted to set up the party in which Mickey Garth would get drunk and consequently have a car accident that kills Nicole. In the actual episode we didn't see the party so I had free will to describe that. Also Doris had never been there so she like the reader, has no reason to suspect what maybe ahead.

I start to drop in clues like the date. January 5th 1987 was the actual U.S. air date of "Go Softly Into Morning" but the casual reader wouldn't necessarily know that. I give it a significance to Doris by her recalling it was the date she gave birth to her daughter Jenny, who we see in the last episode of the TV series. I wanted to establish a connection that Nicole died on the very night that Jenny was born.  This will become important later.

In terms of the TV series and reality Taylor McVay, Valerie's real daughter who we see as Jenny onscreen was a couple of months younger but I wanted to used artistic license. Also a difficult premature birth gave Doris an explanation for not coming back when Nicole died. Something Doris would admit to feeling guilty about.

As a red herring and because of the mergence of the different time periods, I threw Coco and Bruno in for good measure. I liked the idea of Coco feeling threatened by Nicole. For Coco and Bruno, the events of  are taking place in 1983 at the start of season 3 of the TV series so she hasn't met Nicole yet and Nicole has had 2 and a half years training at the school so is more confident than when Coco meets her for real. Bruno of course has just lost his father.

I always thought the TV show was wrong to split Nicole and Jesse up so I wanted to establish that at this point in time Nicole was having second thoughts about that decision and wanted Jesse back. At this point of writing I didn't realise how crucial that piece of information would be in season 3.

In an attempt to make my series more like the TV show I started to look for more situations that I could add songs to my episodes. The situation of a party seemed perfect to have some of the kids sing. It's always difficult to choose songs to fit the story as I want the reader to imagine that the character could have sang that song. So it's finding singers who are similar and songs that could fit the storyline.  The song here "Hole in My Heart" I first heard by Lisa Hartman, in another favourite show of mine "Knots Landing" and it seemed a good match to fit here.

Originally the events of Doris trying to save Nicole were only supposed to cover one episodes but as I'd taken time to set up the story it seemed better to make it a two parter with the cliff hanger being the revelation of what Doris had to do. 

 

 

Read "tomorrow Never Knows Part 1" 

Fame - Mixes - Loraine Velez

The Fame Theme was remixed for the single release to promote the first U.K. production of fame the Musical.

Download the Extended Mix MP3


Download The Live Forever Mix MP3

Fame Calendar December 2014

Fame Calendar December 2014

View Calendar

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving 2014 to our American Friends.

Fame The Musical - Full Production

Fame the Musical at the Regency Theatre on Grand Bahama Island.

I want To Make Magic Reprise - Original London Cast

"I Want To Make Magic Reprise" from the Original London Cast of the Musical featuring Richard Dempsey.


Download MP3

David De Silva Interview on Fame Forever Musical

David De Silva Interview on Fame Forever Musical

Bring On Tomorrow - Original London Cast

"Bring On Tomorrow" from the Original London Cast of the Musical.

Download MP3

Can't Keep It Down - Original London Cast

"Can't Keep It Down" from the Original London Cast of the Musical featuring Marcos D'Cruze.

Download MP3

Let's Play A Love Scene Reprise - Original London Cast

"Let's Play A Love Scene Reprise"  from the Original London Cast of the Musical featuring Richard Dempsey and Gemma Wardle.

Download MP3

Hard Work Reprise

"Hard Work Reprise" from the Original London Cast of the Musical.

Download MP3

Carmine Caridi Interview 2014 Part 1

Carmine Caridi Interview 2014 Part 1

Fame the Musical Information

      

Music by Steven Margoshes, lyrics by Jacques Levy, book by José Fernandez.
Based on a concept by David DeSilva.
Title song by Dean Pitchford & Michael Gore.

Synopsis

This new stage version of the film and TV series follows some students at New Yorks School of the Performing Arts through their four year course. We see them coming to terms with life and relationships; we see those who persevere, who are resilient - and those who are not. Above all, we see them perceiving the need to strive for excellence. The cast must be ethnically mixed and be able to perform classical to 'rap music and dance going from ballet through modem to hip-hop - as contemporary as MTV, but live and kicking!

Story

ACT ONE
A group of vibrant, energetic young people, African-American, white, Hispanic, rich and poor alike, converge on 46th Street to audition for the chance to study at the famous New York High School of Performing Arts. Praying they make "P.A.", the students tear open a letter from the school, learn of their acceptance and begin a joyous dance of celebration.
On the first day of school, the freshman meet Miss Sherman, their English teacher, who warns them that it takes a lot more than dreams to succeed at "P.A." The students, with a mixture of excitement, trepidation and raw energy, acknowledge that what it really takes to succeed is hard work.
Drama Class. Nick and Serena rehearse a scene and discuss their life experiences. Nick's goal in life is to move people emotionally. Mr. Myers, the drama teacher asks his students to recall how a physical sensation can trigger an emotional response. Joe, a funny, uninhibited young man, graphically recounts the very personal reactions that occur whenever he thinks of a certain beautiful girl in dance class.
Dance Class. Tyrone, a sexy, streetwise African-American, is partnered with Iris, a very wealthy, classically-trained dancer. Iris obnoxiously derides Tyrone's lack of classical dance experience. Tyrone, enraged at her comments, begins a rap which expresses his anger. Iris apologizes and, unexpectedly, kisses him passionately.
While Nick and Serena rehearse another scene, she tells him of her yearning to try something romantic and passionate. It becomes obvious Serena is in love with Nick. Nick, concerned only with acting, becomes upset and leaves. Heartbroken, Serena laments her unrequited love.
At lunch, Carmen, a self-assured, cocky Latina spitfire, dreams of seeing her name in lights and people gasping as she walks down the street. The other students join in her fantasy and begin an exciting, electrifying dance.
The hallway. Miss Sherman expresses concern over Tyrone's care-free attitude towards education and threatens to keep him out of the Fall Festival if his grades don't improve. Miss Bell overhears this and argues that Tyrone's artistic talent is more important than his academic ability. As Tyrone threatens to drop out of school, the other students try to focus on the reason why they are really there.

ACT TWO
After two arduous but rewarding years, the students now begin their junior year with the P.A. Fall Festival.
Dance rehearsal. Mabel, a bit overweight for a dancer but full of spunk and wit, complains about the water her body is retaining. In a hilarious yet touching turn, she prays aloud for God's help in keeping her from becoming "the world's fattest dancer".
The scene shifts. Serena enters to see Carmen and Nick kissing. Heartbroken once again, Serena tearfully remembers one of the first lessons she learned at P.A. and tries to channel her emotions into her acting.
Carmen confronts Schlomo with her plan to leave school and go to Los Angeles. She has met a Hollywood agent named Elliot Greene, who is sending her a plane ticket. Schlomo begs her not to go. He has seen her get into Elliot’s limousine outside of school before and accuses her of using cocaine with him. Schlomo tells Carmen he loves her, but when he realizes he is powerless to stop her, he turns his attention to his violin.
In Miss Sherman’s English class, Tyrone is spotted reading a Superman comic book. Miss Sherman confronts him by forcing him to stand up in front of the class and read from the comic book. Embarrassed, he accuses her of trying to make him look stupid: "Wanna fail me again? Go ahead. I’ll pass in summer school, bitch." Miss Sherman gives him a resounding slap in the face and walks off. Defensively, Tyrone says to his shocked classmates he doesn’t need her help. "I’m choreographin' my own life." This leads to his fantasy dance number, "Dancin’ on the Sidewalk." Confronting his pain and frustration, Tyrone goes to the blackboard, writes “I Will Read,” and runs off. Miss Sherman enters, sees what he has written, and is deeply touched.
A baroque trumpet-call sounds as the drama students rehearse Romeo and Juliet. Joe, insecure playing Romeo, has been ad-libbing. Serena pleads with him to be serious in the part. Nick offers to show him how to play Romeo and winds up kissing Serena in their first romantic moment. Tyrone asks Iris why she has been avoiding him all year. She says she doesn’t want to be tied to a loser. He takes out a copy of Leaves of Grass and reads to her, showing her he has a whole new attitude about learning. They dance a pas de deux.
Mr. Sheinkopf, Mr. Myer and Miss Sherman confront Miss Bell about influencing a summer school teacher to pass Tyrone even though he never showed up. They insist he must repeat the year. But the Dance Theatre of Harlem is ready to take him, says Miss Bell. “Let them wait!” says Mr. Sheinkopf. Miss Bell, left alone with Miss Sherman, finally admits she may be losing her perspective and suggests she take a sabbatical.
Carmen is standing in front of the school looking physically wasted and disoriented. She spots Schlomo and after a warm embrace, she tells him the truth about her experiences in Hollywood. Carmen promises him she is going to go for her equivalency diploma, but right now she needs money. He gives her a couple of dollars and sadly departs.
At the farewell party, everyone is dressed up and the celebration is loud and festive. Tyrone tells Miss Sherman he is going to repeat his senior year and give her another chance to whip him into shape. Joe announces not only is Lambchops finally wearing a dress, but he is going to be opening at a comedy club - and they’d all better be there. Serena is on her way to Brooklyn College and Nick is headed for Yale. They wonder about their future together.

Cast:

The Students - 5 men, 5 women, 8 chorus (expandable); The Teachers - 2 men, 2 woman

The Actors: Serena Katz Nick Piazza Joe (Jose) Vegas	The Musicians Schlomo Metzenbaum Grace Lamb (Lambchops) Goodman King (Goody)
The Dancers Carmen Diaz Tyrone Jackson Iris Kelly Mabel Washington	The Teachers Miss Sherman (English) Miss Bell (Dance) Mr Sheinkopf (Music) Mr Myuers (Drama)

Character breakdown

• Carmen Diaz - A sexy and confident, but cocky, dancer with a big ego. Carmen is determined to make it big and is obsessed with the idea of fame, nearly to a fault.           
• Goodman King - A musician who is in Schlomo's band. He is believed to be Schlomo's best friend.
• Grace Lamb (Lambchops) - loud, confrontational rock chick and tomboy who plays the drums for Schlomo's band. She often loses her temper and it is implied that she does not take school seriously.
• Iris Kelly - A very talented, graceful ballet dancer who often comes across as snobbish and mean because of her insecurities with herself. She shares a difficult relationship with Tyrone.
• Joe Vegas - An acting student. Loud, funny, and comical. He develops a crush on Carmen.
• Mabel Washington - A loud and overweight dancer and singer who is desperate to shed the pounds but can't resist food. Often speaks her mind and gives out advice to others in their times of trouble.
• Miss Esther Sherman - A strict, old-fashioned English teacher who loves her students despite the fact that she comes down hard on them.
• Miss Greta Bell - A dance teacher with a passion for different styles of dance. Believes that dance is a way of life and is very protective of her students.
• Mr. Myers - A laid back drama teacher with an obsession for human psychology.             
• Mr. Sheinkopf - European Music tutor with a love for classical music and dislike for all things rock and roll.
             
• Nick Piazza - Ambitious, enthusiastic, classical actor who is very serious about his craft. He holds a hidden romantic interest for Serena.
• Schlomo Metzenbaum - A classical violinist who starts a rock band. He is fed up from the strain of his famous violinist father's expectations. He is very wise and academically clever.
• Serena Katz - A shy and timid, yet keen and enthusiastic actress. She is attracted to Nick. - Female,
• Tyrone Jackson - A talented but dyslexic hip hop dancer who comes from a poor background. Shares a difficult relationship with Iris. -
           
  Musical Numbers:

1. Hard Work - Company
2. I Want To Make Magic - Nick
3. Can't Keep It Down - Joe and Students
4. Tyrone's Rap - Tyrone
5. There She Goes - Carmen & Students
6. Fame - Carmen & Students
7. Let's Play a Love Scene - Serena
8. The Teachers' Argument - Miss Bell & Miss Sherman
9. Hard Work (Reprise) - Students
10. I Want to Make Magic (Reprise) - Nick & Students
11. Mabel's Prayer - Mabel & Girls
12. Think of Meryl Streetp - Serena
13. Dancin' on the Sidewalk - Tyrone & Students
14. These Are My Children - Miss Sherman
15. In L.A. - Carmen
16. Let's Play a Love Scene (Reprise) - Nick & Serna
17. Bring On Tomorrow - Company
18. Fame (Dean Pitchford & Michael Gore)