by dick kerekes dickkerekes@yahoo.com
Jacksonville Beach’s Foundation Academy opened its annual end-of-the-school-year musical last weekend at The Atlantic Theatres in Atlantic Beach.
Three more performances of Fame The Musical remain, May 11th and 12th at 8 pm and May l3th at 2 pm, which happens to be Mother’s Day. Why not take mom to see a fun musical?
I have been covering Foundation’s musicals since they started ten years ago, and not only have they done traditional shows like last year’s Guys and Dolls, but they have also tackled some challenging shows like My Favorite Year and George M.
Just a bit of Fame history: It was first an Academy Award winning movie in l980. Next it became an Emmy Award winning TV series, and then it was made into a musical theatre production.
It is a perfect show for Foundation, which prefers to use as many students as possible in each production. Fame is like Grease in that it has very expandable scenes.
The cast of 34 consists entirely of students at Foundation, from the 6th grade through the l2th. They play all the roles, including the four teachers.
The plot is about students attending a performing arts school in the l980s, who all want to be famous (hence the title, Fame). There are a number of small story lines sandwiched between songs of love, humor, tragedy, and teenage hormones.
I recognized some of the performers from previous years, and there were many new faces on the stage as well. There are also many other new things happening at Foundation.
Acclaimed actor and playwright Al Letson is the new Artistic Director, and he has done an excellent job of guiding and blending experienced and rookie actors and singers into a team. They work together with exuberance and enthusiasm, not only to entertain, but to learn self-confidence and self-esteem.
Also new is Joe Ostentowski, as the Technical Director.
A former student and Foundation graduate, Madaline Hionides, is back from earning her college degree and has taken on the role of Musical Director.
Rhonda Maurer and Channing Woods created the energetic chorography, with Walter Hill leading their competent seven-piece orchestra.
A one set show, it features lockers and the side of an old brick building. The costumes accurately reflect teen life in the 80s.
The entire cast worked hard and all deserve to be mentioned. During the final technical week before they opened, the cast and crew were worked from l0 am to l0 pm on many of those nights.
Let’s hope the following cast members all find fame: Heriberto Cabanas, Chris Medina, Chelsae Newberry, Eric Myers, Alicia Jackson, Cassidy Butler, Natalie Fernandez, Gilbert Monarrez, Spenser Reuffer, Luis Lopez, Rachel O’Rouke, Maureen Bass, Jerek Wright, Diana Branham, Territa Crawford, Kristina Everidge, Christina Fernandez, David Medina, Kati Hollingsworth, Kevin LaMoureaux, Panashe Jeti, Taylor Jones, Dominique Maxam, Tom Connor, Jacob Watson, Savannah Nargi, Brianna Johnson, Karina LaMoureaux, Matthew Brown, Greta Clark, Emily Butler and Jennifer Brady.
Call 249-7529 for more information.
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