Tag: arts

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TV: 1980s FAME Gets Greenlight For Reboot

The 1980s TV series FAME (based on the hit movie of the same name) has gotten the green light for a reboot over on Lifetime.

From NewNowNext:

Penning the show will be Josh Safran, who was an Executive Producer on Gossip Girl and served as a Showrunner during the season season of Smash.

The plot will remain the same: A group of talented teens face the up and downs of attending the prestigious New York High School of the Performing Arts, all expressed in a smattering of musical and dance numbers.

First airing in 1982, the original series ran for six seasons, starring Debbie Allen. Supporting players during the show’s seven year run included a young Janet Jackson and recent Tony Award-winner, Michael Cerveris.

Nigel Lythgoe (So You Think You Can Dance, American Idol) is also attached as an executive producer.

You’ll recall in 2009 a remake of the series totally flopped.

The original movie was raw, edgy (for it’s time) and was a part of my teenage landscape as a performer. It rang true on so many levels. For many of my generation in the arts, it evoked a visceral reaction.

To this day, I still “get” that ineffable, hard to explain thing that makes us all want to express ourselves in the arts.

Fingers crossed the powers that be find a way to communicate THAT to a new audience.

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Las Vegas Academy of the Arts Students Get Master Class By Original Broadway Cast of [title of show]

Wow! Talk about an great experience for young actors!

The Las Vegas Academy of the Arts is currently presenting the Broadway hit [title of show]. You can see the production this weekend, October 16-18 at 7pm in the Academy Theatre Black Box at 10th Street and Lewis Ave. in Downtown Las Vegas.

[title of show] follows two writers, Hunter and Jeff, who are racing against the clock to write a musical in time to submit it for a festival. The writers, along with their friends, are on a quest a create an original musical that does not conform to the current fads or expectations of what is currently popular on Broadway. [title of show] speaks to the artistic underdog in us all, as the characters struggle to write a musical about writing a musical.

But even better – three original cast members from the Broadway production – Susan Blackwell, Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen – are flying out to work with the students and chat with audience members.

The Broadway actors will teach a master class, take part in a VIP reception before the show Friday the 17th, and stay after the performance for a Q&A “talk back” with the audience.

When is the last time you got to see a show with original cast members (Bowen and Bell also wrote the show), and then ask questions afterwards? Really great experience for the students and the audience.

Tickets are $35 dollars for the whole package (reception, LVA performance and talk back) and the proceeds will be used to create a scholarship for an LVA theatre major.

To purchase tickets for the VIP experience, click here.