Students to Perform in ‘Fame’ This Friday

La Cañada will have more than its 15-minute allotment of “Fame” this Friday night as teens from Assistance League of Flintridge’s Alfie Youth Theater perform the Broadway musical based on the Academy Award-winning 1980 movie in Lanterman auditorium at 7 p.m.

“Fame,” the musical, was conceived and developed by David De Silva. Jose Fernandez wrote the book, Jacques Levy wrote the lyrics, and Steve Margoshes composed the music. The title song, “Fame,” was written by Dean Pitchford and Michael Gore. The show is presented by agreement with Music Theatre International.

Singing and dancing about the “Magic of the Theatre,” that “Artists are Special” and the promise of “Fame,” the cast depicts the sweat, thrills, heartache, and success of students and teachers at a school based on New York City’s renowned La Guardia High School for the Performing Arts. Aspiring dancers, musicians, and actors are followed from their first auditions through their triumphant graduation. The show includes excerpts from Romeo and Juliet as well, for which the Alfie cast has been perfecting swordplay and Shakespearean language.

Cast members are: Meredith Murdock, Mary Reardon, Seth Crane, Paige Riley, Colin La Bran-Boyd, Ragini Sahai, Karl Bucar, Claire Steckbeck, Sofia Portantino, Nick Haber, Shoshana Luria, Christian Renfro, Jennifer Kutchaver, Mitchell Steele, Evanne Friedmann, Chelsea Kelley, Sarah Phillips, Morgan Miller Emily Saxe, Jessica Yamamoto, Ryan Lisman, Grace Korkunis, Scott Blaisdell, Rachel Fazzi, Nicole Yon an, Chelsey Graf, and Laura McClelland.

JuIIiard-trained director Koni McCurdy has been holding workshops with the students since September, with rehearsals starting in earnest in January. Her assistant director and choreographer is Heather Lohmeyer, who has also been planning her wedding to fight choreographer Evan McNamara. Nancy Abbot is the talented and tireless music director. The stage manager is former Alfie cast member Fletcher Pryzbyla. As always, parents and ALF members have contributed many hours of time and talent to the production.

Tickets are $5 at the door. For more information on this March 1CP production, please call Assistance League of Flintridge at 790-1328. Assistance League of Flintridge is a chapter of National Assistance League. Alfie Youth Theater is one of the seven philanthropies administered by Assistance League of Flintridge members with proceeds from the Bargain Box thrift shop.15 MINTUES OF FAME ? The cast of “Fame” from the Alfie Youth Theater include, top row from left, Colin La Bran-Boyd, Seth Crane, Meredith Murdock, Paige Riley, Mary Reardon; second row, Christian Renfro, Karl Bucar, Nick Haber, Chelsea Kelley, Mitchell Steele, Sarah Phillips; third row, Ragani Sarai, Sofia Portantino, Shoshana Luria, Scott Blaisdell, Rachel Fazzi, Nicole Yonan, Evanne Friedmann; front row, Claire Steckbeck, Jennifer Kutchaver, Chelsey Graf, Ryan Lisman, Laura McClelland, Emily Saxe, Jessica Yamamoto and Morgan Miller. Not pictured, Grace Korkunis.lyo-fame0309.jpg-BPhotoInfoOC1ONPDE20060309ivs6i2kn(LA)