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A Unique Evolution from Screen to Television to
Stage
What started as an idea by David De Silva to make
a statement about being young, urban and talented grew into one of
the most successful movie, television and theatrical stories in
entertainment history - the story of
FAME. A uniquely American saga, the
story of FAME follows the ups
and downs, trials and tribulations and laughter and tears of gifted
young high school students who learn that true "fame" must be
earned one song and one dance step at a time, but whose rewards
will allow you to "live forever."
The story of FAME is
based on the hard-working students who were hand-selected to attend
the Fiorella H. La Guardia High School for Music and the Performing
Arts in New York City, the first government-funded school for the
arts in the United States where the tuition is free and admission
is determined solely on talent
Native New Yorker De Silva saw an opportunity to
create a narrative that combined the ideals of democratic
opportunity and diversity with the spicy, raw and pent-up talents
of urban youth. He has been quoted as saying: "I always
believed that in an ideal democratic society, having the
opportunity to get out of your neighborhood or ghetto and to go to
a specialized school to study something that you are good at . . .
offers the greatest preparation for the competitive world we live
in." De Silva committed his thoughts and ideas to paper to
create the idea for FAME, and in the
progress developed one of the most unique contemporary American
classics to earn accolades on the screen, television and stage.
The movie version of
FAME, released in 1980 by MGM/United
Artist, was produced by David De Silva and Alan Parker, directed by
Alan Parker and written by Christopher Gore, with musical score by
Michael Gore and choreography by Louis Falco. Among its
remarkable cast were Irene Cara, Albert Hague (Broadway
songwriter), Barry Miller, Debbie Allen and Richard Belzer.
FAME was nominated for four Academy
Awards and took home an Oscar for Michael Gore's musical score.
In January 1982, the television series
FAME debuted in NBC-TV's coveted Thursday
night slot and aired weekly shows through August, 1983. The
Emmy Award-winning show was produced by Executive Producers William
Flynn and Gerald Isenberg and Producers Mel Swope, Stan Rogow and
Ken Ehrlich. David De Silva was Consulting Producer with
choreography by Debbie Allen and Otis Sallid. Debbie Allen,
Albert Hague, Lori Singer, Fran Drescher, Alan Weeks and Janet
Jackson were among the star-studded cast. The show went into
first-run syndication from 1983 through the fall of 1987, and has
been enjoyed by untold millions of viewers in more than 67
countries
FAME - The Musical was
originally produced in 1999, based on David De Silva's conception
and development, written by Jose Fernandez, lyrics by Jacques Levy
and music by Steve Margoshes. It incorporated more contemporary
urban music and dance, such as rock, rap and hip-hop to appeal to a
new generation of young theatre-goers.
Since then the show has played to sold out
crowds and great critical acclaim with Phoenix Entertainments tours
of North America and South Korea. Numerous countries around the
globe have had the same success with tours of Great Britain, a run
in Australia, performances in Italy, Japan, Hungary, South Africa,
Portugal and Poland, as well as arena shows in Norway and Sweden,
just to name a few. De Silva dreams
ofFAME being done in every language.
"Every time is different" says De Silva, "In the theatre once you
have created the blueprint, it continues to evolve. It's a living
breathing thing. When the graduating class sings the anthem 'Bring
on Tomorrow' audiences are truly stirred, leaving the theatre with
the message 'we can make a difference'."