Light Up the Sky Like a Flame

 

Do you remember the 1980 movie “Fame?” I loved it at the time even though I was older than the intended demographic. Still, at 20, I was about the same age (or younger) than most of the actors playing high school students in the film. Maureen Teefy, who played nerd-turned-hipster Doris Finsecker, was 27 when she made the film. Barry Miller, who played Ralph Garci (aka Raul Garcia) was 21, and the rest of the cast was between 18 and 20.

“Fame” tells the story of a group of students during their four years at New York’s High School for the Performing Arts.” The breakout star of the film was Irene Cara as Coco Hernandez, an aspiring young singer of Hispanic and African-American heritage. Cara, who is exactly my age, was a child actor on Broadway and then starred as one of the kids on “The Electric Company,” one of the great PBS children’s shows of the 1970s. She had a role in “Roots: The Next Generation” and then catapulted to stardom playing Coco in “Fame,” winning all sorts of awards for the film soundtrack’s hit single, “Out Here On My Own.” She sang that song and “Fame” at the 1981 Academy Awards, the first time in history two songs from the same film were nominated (“Fame” won) and Irene herself won an Oscar a few years later for her song “What a Feeling” from the movie “Flashdance.” I have no idea what happened to Irene Cara since the mid-80s although I remember that she won a bitter lawsuit against her managers who had bilked her out of tons of money.

Leah appeared in a stage version of “Fame” last weekend playing none other than Coco Hernandez. (Who better to play Coco than my red-haired, blue-eyed daughter?) Street dancer Leroy Johnson was also played by a white girl, who did a great job, I have to say. The real Leroy, Gene Anthony Ray, was very close to his character in both the film and TV version of “Fame.” Ray sadly died in 2003 at the age of 41. Like his character, he actually attended the High School of Performing Arts in New York, but was kicked out after a year because of behavior problems.

Other cast members of the original “Fame” included Paul McCrane as the closeted Montgomery MacNeil. I saw McCrane a few days ago (his kids go to Leah’s school) and I remember him as the obnoxious Dr. Romano on “ER” who loses his arm in a helicopter accident. Lee Curreri continued his role as Bruno Martelli in the TV series “Fame” which lasted from 1982 to 1987 (which would make him 26 and still in high school). He ended up marrying the sister of Laura Dean, who was great as the dancer Lisa in the film. The teachers in “Fame” included stalwarts such as the brilliant Anne Meara who played the English teacher, Mrs. Sherwood; Albert Hague, a composer who wrote the song “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch” and took his role of music teacher Mr. Shorofsky to the TV series; and Joanna Merlin as Miss Berg. Merlin’s first movie was Cecil B. De Mille’s “The Ten Commandments” and she created the role of Tzeitel in “Fiiddler on the Roof” on Broadway. She currently appears as a judge on “Law and Order: Special Victims Unit.”

The only actor who appeared in the original 1980 movie of “Fame,” the TV series, AND last year’s awful movie remake, is Debbie Allen. It was Allen’s words that began every episode of the TV series, and they also appeared in Leah’s play:

“You want fame. But fame costs. And right here is where you start paying…in sweat!”

As I listened to this line again, thirty years after first hearing it for the first time, I suddenly hated the message…and the title of the show. Fame? They want FAME? Why? Aren’t they really there to express themselves creatively, to experience the joy of performance, to touch an audience? I hope so…but I guess “Fame” was a catchier title for a film than “The Joys of Creative Expression.” There were no so-called reality shows in 1980, the concept of fame wasn’t as devalued as it is today with completely talentless people becoming famous for nothing at all. Paris Hilton, the Kardashians, and the cast of “Jersey Shore” wouldn’t last a New York minute in the real High School of the Performing Arts.

As Leah was rehearsing this show a month ago, the cast had a special evening with Dean Pitchford, who along with Michael Gore, wrote many of the songs from the movie and won an Oscar for “Fame.” The cast sang “I Sing the Body Electric” for the songwriter. I always loved that song, the title of which was taken from a Walt Whitman poem.

I sing the body electric  
I celebrate the me yet to come  
I toast to my own reunion  
When I become one with the sun.

It’s poignant watching young people (especially my own child) singing about the “me yet to come.” When the film came out, I was a month away from college graduation and that me yet to come seemed so full of promise, wonder, and uncertainty. It still does at 50, but in a much different way. While “fame” isn’t what I’m looking for, I feel much more able today to celebrate myself and the challenges that will always lie ahead then I ever did at the age of 20. 

Charlie came with us, of course, to cheer his sister on. Here he is in the theatre, just before the show began, excited as ever. Of course he was so excited that he started singing along with Leah during her “Out Here On My Own” solo. Oops. It’s thrilling for me to see all that Leah gets out of performing. Again, it’s not about “fame,” but the joy of creation, the pleasure of collaboration, and the gift of moving an audience to places they couldn’t always get to on their own. 

Here is my daughter as Miss Coco Hernandez:

Comments

[Erica M]

Bravo, Leah. Another great post, Daddy. Won-der-ful solo performance from an audience member, Charlie.

[Sue Katz]

What a talented family!

[Jen]

Genius!

[Emily Barton]

Thanks for the memories, and for the opportunity to see Leah perform -- what great fun she seems to be having, and what a voice! I loved "Fame," still remember the first time I saw it (I was sixteen and having one of those exciting weekends in which I was visiting my sister in college, and she and her friends took me to see it, which was oh-so-cool). My shy, talentless (3rd-grade-dancing-school-dropout) self wished I could sing and dance and could go to New York's High School for the Performing Arts. Oh well, at least I eventually made it to New York.

[Julie R.]

What a pro! Leah has been in so many shows, she should qualify for SAG membership. I love that Charlie sang along with her.

[Frances]

Wow! More clips, please.

[Robin]

What a multi talented beautiful young girl. How blessed she is to have you as her proud, supportive father.I've been visiting your blog since Charlie was in the NICU.I pray that Leah continues to follow her dreams in life.I have grown to love all the members in your beautiful family and look forward to more video's.

[laurie]

Leah has grown into such a stunningly beautiful and talented young woman.

[anita]

Holy cow, great solo!

[Pam G]

Great video. Thanks for sharing!

[churlita]

Isn't it great that our kids can go out there and sing and perform and love it? I have horrible stage, so I'm fascinated that they do it.

[Chris]

Leah makes a fabulous Miss Coco Hernandez! Loved her solos! I watched the video twice hoping to hear Charlie's duet with her... you must have kept that "in the family". :-)

My fake I.D. when I was young and ornery was a Hispanic girl named Lupita Garcia. Bouncers just rolled their eyes at me. I don't have red hair, but my blue eyes and light brown hair was a bit of disconnect with the picture.

My four year-old was watching the new Electric Company today. It's great!

Back to Leah... Bravo!!!

[Maria Sosa]

Leah is fabulous. I would have totally worn what she's wearing back in the day! And Charlie is still cute as can be. I'd love a video of him singing with Leah!

[Judy]

What a fun video...lovely talent.."i want to live forever"...who doesn't want that?
Hope you do a piece on Baby June.

[Ruby @ Animal Camp]

I love watching musical theater! There's this feeling that you are involved with the drama even if you are just watching from the audience. Maybe it's because it is a live performance.