When Willa Kunkel was looking for a script for this year’s Muskie Theatre production, one of her main concerns was finding something suitable for their first show in the new Townshend Theatre.
She settled on “Fame” because she felt it was the most appropriate.
“It’s a great story, with great characters,” she enthused. “And it really gives us a chance to show off the talent that we have here in this school.”
Since late-September, the cast and crew of “Fame” have been hard at work on the production, which takes to the stage Nov. 17-20 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets cost $6 each.
The process of putting the show on began almost two months ago with auditions, which saw more than 60 students try out. Because so many students came out, many parts have been double cast, with each actor playing the character for two of the four performances.
The double-casting idea has had a few ups and downs. But one of the main advantages is that the actor can watch his or her character in action–and learn what works and what doesn’t.
“Double-casting gives you an opportunity to see your character from someone else’s viewpoint,” said Kim Badiuk. “It’s a good way to get more people involved, and it’s worked well for us.”
Rehearsals typically have run three nights a week after school, plus noon hours on some days. But after taking a week-long break for those students who also were involved in the “TV Tunes” musical revue last month, that schedule has been intensified.
In fact, there’s been only a few nights over the past couple of weeks where there hasn’t been at least something going on for “Fame.”
Students have found balancing the play on top of school work and after-school jobs hasn’t always been easy. But, for the most part, schedules have been worked out and conflicts erased.
< *c>Coming of age
The script, adapted to the stage by Christopher Serge in 1985, is based on the screenplay from the movie of the same name. The play and movie follow similar storylines but the play is more suitable for a family audience.
“Fame” is a coming of age story which follows students through their term at the New York High School for Performing Arts. While some of the language in the script is very dated to the early 1980s (‘Cuz I’s young and single and loves to mingle’), cast members have found they can relate to the story.
“The script suits the time period,” said Lindsay Hamilton, one of the actors who plays Mrs. Sherwood, the homeroom teacher. “But the dialogue serves the characters well and the characters are very easy to relate to.”
Of the six main characters, everyone can relate to at least one of them. There’s “Doris,” the shy girl with big dreams; “Ralph,” the angry kid who covers it up with jokes; “Coco,” the girl who’s bound to be a star; “Leroy,” the cocky cool guy who hides his insecurities; “Montgomery,” the smart, sensitive guy with a huge secret to hide; and “Bruno,” the musician who’s not sure if he’s good enough to make it.
Badiuk, one of the actors playing “Doris,” has found the script for the play has really helped in creating her character.
“There’s a lot of really good lines to build characters with,” she explained. “The script has really helped to create solid characters.”
“This script is really simple but it’s deep at the same time,” added RJ Comeau, who is playing Ralph. “It’s easy to create a character with this script because the play is based on characters.
“The whole purpose of the script is to show you who these people are,” he noted.
The show features a cast of 45 students on stage as well as a crew of 10 backstage. A production team of volunteer teachers and students also has been hard at work since the beginning with things like advertising, set design, and costumes.
“If you want to see the talent that the kids in this community have, do not miss this show,” stressed Kunkel. “It’s going to be great!”
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
