Michael Cerveris on Ann Nelson and Albert Hague - Trivia of the Week

 

"I felt like this dynamic duo deserved their own post.

Another aspect of Fame's diversity and inclusion was giving the adults and elders their humanity and dignity and occasional moments to shine.

Ann Nelson as Mrs Berg was the dear little front office woman who you always secretly knew ran the entire enterprise. Sweet, steely, sly and strong, she was everyone's favorite aunt or grandma. Ann was every bit the funny and wise tv veteran you'd hope her to be, and at 70, she seemed younger and more energetic than we felt half the time.

Arriving so late in the game, I was lucky to step into the big shoes left by

Lee Curreri

as the show's resident wunderkind self taught classical musician who REALLY JUST WANTS TO ROCK. Lee and Albert Hague had lovingly built that cross generational dynamic starting in the original film. When he arrived, Ian and Professor Shorofsky butted heads, but it was likewise always clear how much respect and admiration there was between the Professor and his students. Albert was the eminence grise of the set, but never took any of it, or himself, too seriously. When asked once about his childhood, he said, " well I grew up in a tough neighborhood-Nazi Germany." And it was true. Also true, was that he was a two time Tony award winning composer who, even more significantly to me, wrote the score for the original Grinch animated movie. I think of Albert every Christmas, and thank my lucky stars that I got to frustrate him weekly...and hopefully made him proud."