More than 15 minutes of 'Fame'
By Sarah Szuminski
Published: Tuesday, March 9, 2004
http://www.thebatt.com/news/2004/03/09/Entertainment/More-Than.15.Minutes.Of.fame-629456.shtml
The Battalion (a Texas A & M publication)

As the adage says, everyone is entitled to 15 minutes of fame at some
point in their lives, but members of the Texas A&M community can get
more than two hours worth Tuesday and Wednesday evening at "FAME - The
Musical."

Based on the original 1980 Academy Award-winning film, the musical
chronicles the four-year journey of a group of students at a New York
City performing arts high school as they strive to achieve stardom.

Anne Black, executive director for MSC OPAS, said the decision to
bring "Fame" to A&M for the first time was based largely on the
musical's high survey rankings among college students.

"('Fame') appeals to students because it's about young people (who
are) pursuing their dreams," Black said.

The high-intensity show features a broad range of musical styles,
including pop, rap, top 40 and gospel. Dance numbers range from solos
to group numbers, as performers act out the stories of the highs and
lows while pursuing fame.

Cast member Kiira Schmidt, a 23-year-old musical theatre graduate of
Elon University, plays the ballet dancer Iris, who is admitted to the
school as a late applicant and ends up in a romance with fellow
student Tyrone.

Schmidt described the energy onstage as "high-octane" and "super
intense."

"There is a pretty wide range of songs to go along with the wide range
of characters," Shmidt said. "The group numbers are huge, fun, fast
dance numbers."

Schmidt, who said she's been a dancer ever since she could walk,
joined the cast of 'Fame' in August as an ensemble member. She stepped
into the role of Iris in early March after the original performer
suffered a broken foot. Although performing seven or eight shows a
week can sometimes be exhausting, Schmidt said her job is a dream come
true.

"Once the lights come up onstage, I realize there's nowhere else I'd
rather be," she said. "There is never a dull moment; it's pretty
intense."

Schmidt said the two acts are entertaining to audiences in different
ways.

In the first act, audience members will be impressed by the production
itself, while in the second, they will start to fall in love with the
characters.

"In the second act, the characters start to mature, and the stories
become a little deeper; the stakes are raised," she said.

Senior journalism major Deborah Morales said she and her roommate
rented the movie "Fame" over the weekend in anticipation of seeing the
musical this week. Morales said the finale brings back memories of
dancing in high school, when her dance team performed to the musical's
theme song in its spring show.

"I wanted to see the musical because I have danced all my life," she
said. "(My roommate) loves musicals, and I am more into the dance
stuff."

Tickets are still available for both showings, Tuesday and Wednesday
at 7:30 p.m., and can be purchased through the MSC box office.

"Fame" has been touring nationwide and in Canada since September and
is set to finish during the summer.