Fame - Tour

Yes it was on Wednesday's show. I love the first Kids From Fame album. Desdamona, I Still Believe. I even like Lori Singer trying to sing note in tune in Its Gonna Be A Long Night.

Phew, just the conference centre, not the ginormo arena. Was a bit worried...good luck to them!

This has announced a run in London following the tour, playing at the Peacock Theatre. Tickets on general sale from October.

I think that is a bit of stretch to call it a West End run. The Peacock is not what most people would consider to be a West End theatre.

I had never heard of the Peacock Theatre until today but after googling it, it seems to be in the West End and is a decent size.

Saw this on Thursday night in Woking, last minute booking as my boss managed to find some tickets for £12.50 for the centre of row E in the stalls so I went with her and her two grown up daughters. Went in not really expecting to enjoy it much (I really don't like the film), however I actually had a really good time! Great young cast, particular stand out for me was Stephanie Rojas! Jorgie Porter was an excellent ballet dancer although she does pull some strange faces at times! Mica Paris voice absolutely stunning! Not a show I would immediately rush back to see again but I am so glad I got to see it!

I saw the tour last night in Wimbledon. Also my first ever time seeing the musical.

Seemed full on all three levels, or very close to full.

I had a good front row seat, but strangely a family group had decided to split four young girls to sit at one side of the front row and the rest of the family at the other. One of the younger ones was rather bored, running across to mum several times and there was a bit of phone checking and the inevitable choosing to eat crisps immediately after the interval instead of during. There were also two long and loud phones going off in the second half (elsewhere in the audience) and some very loud talking from the back. Thankfully, I was far enough away I could drown a lot of this out and have sat through far worse, but it is something about this type of show that brings that type of audience with it.

Things weren't helped by the show starting 20 minutes late and then choosing to have a 25 minute interval, so we weren't out until nearly 10:30pm.

As for the musical itself, I got the idea it was trying to be edgy but never got there. Maybe it's a product of its time?

The set is very simple, largely just a row of photos of the High School members, which I think included former movie and TV show stars, as well as the current cast. These lit up at different times and in different colours to signify things, although I couldn't work out the pattern. There are a few double sided items that are rolled in and out, such as lockers. That's about it. Simple, but it worked.

The cast mostly look about 20 years out of high school, but they brought some energy to the roles. Several are actor-musicians (although there is a band hidden away under the stage as well). Not knowing the show, I expected Keith Jack to be in a major role, but he isn't on stage a lot. The standout has to be Stephanie Rojas, who commands the stage when she's on.

One of the main problems with the musical is I didn't really like any of the characters or find anyone I wanted to do well. That's unusual, as there's normally at least someone who it's possible to sympathise with.

I also notice the plot is changed around a lot from the description on Wikipedia. Things certainly take place at different points, the close of act one is different, the Tyrone reveal is different, the Carmen descent storyline is different etc. Is that something fresh for this tour?

Someone earlier in the thread discussed if they sing Fame. They do, midway through Act One and again at the end, where the crowd are told to stand up (there was no attempt at a standing ovation otherwise). There was a few snatches of the music elsewhere as well. Don't know if that was changed for the tour.

All in all, Selladoor have done a good job of touring this on a budget. This is a show that will always be hampered by the book and the music and they've worked around this as best they can. It's obviously selling well too, so well done to them.

Whoever cast a Schlomo with a receding hairline needs to be sacked

Given the current casting of Curious Incident and Fame, I'm expecting the company of Dear Evan Hansen to all be 30 plus!!!

There are a hell of a lot of students being held back- maybe Stockard Channing is in with a shout?

Saw it with my dancer daughter in Birmingham at the Alex on a Friday night and then got persuaded to return the next day.We both loved it especially ‘Bring On Tomorrow’ and Stephanie Rojas as Carmen in ‘There She Goes/Fame’.Was hoping for a cast recording from Mica and company.

Saw this again last night in New Brighton and it's still just as sharp and slick as it was a year ago in Manchester. The dance captain is certainly doing a great job in keeping Nick Winston's choreography so tight while the cast continue to give every number their all. No sign of fatigue setting in after twelve months on the road.

Jorgie Porter's dancing was exquisite right back at the start of the tour but she's more assured in other aspects of her performance now too (though it's a shame she doesn't get a solo number to sing). It's still Jamal Kane Crawford, Molly McGuire and Stephanie Rojas who steal the show for me as Tyrone, Serena and Carmen respectively, though there's really not a weak link in the entire company.

Great to see the Floral Pavilion packed to the rafters on a Monday night. The standing ovation at the end is contrived but I was more than happy to get to my feet. Definitely plan to catch this one last time during its London run at the Peacock.