Children's Acting Company Opens FAME Tonight

New York's renowned Children's Acting Academy & Company will present its new stage production, FAME - THE MUSICAL at The Theatre at Saint Peters, 619 Lexington Avenue (54^th Street, just east of Lexington), starting tonight (Thursday, December 8) for six performances through Sunday, December 11, 2011. To reach the theater, enter through the glass door and take the elevator to "LL2 Theater."

The performance schedule is as follows: Thursday, December 8, at 7:30 PM; Friday, December 9, at 7:30 PM; Saturday, December 10, at 3:00 and 7:30 PM; and Sunday, December 11, at 2:00 and 5:00 PM.

The production is directed by Mimi Stuart, Artistic Director of The Children's Acting Academy. Missy Diaz is the choreographer. The Music Director is Mitchell Raftery.

All tickets are $20 and can be purchased at www.childrensactingacademy.com or by calling 212/935-5820.  (there is a $2.00 service charge per ticket). Tickets may also be purchased at the Box Office, 619 Lexington Avenue, Monday to Friday from 12 PM to 6 PM.

The cast (in alphabetical order) includes: Michael Fanelli, Shania Gerancon, Benjamin Hirschhorn, Emma Kantor, Kaci Kaplan, Parris Kelly, Mae Krell, Olivia Lake, Daniel Luttway, Denis Mazariegos, Tiffany Mitsura, Madelyn Murphy, Jonathan Rockhill, Brooke Strutin, Bella Scarselli, Maxine Stern, Lilly Sterenberg and Christopher Vega.

FAME - THE MUSICAL was conceived and directed by David De Silva, with lyrics by Jacques Levy, music by Steve Margoshes and book by Jose Fernandez.

FAME - THE MUSICAL is presented through special arrangements with Musical Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI, 421 West 54^th Street, New York, NY 10019. Phone:212-541-4684; Fax: 212-397-4684; www.MTIshows.com.

FAME – THE MUSICAL premiered in 1988 in Miami, Florida as FAME ON 42ND STREET. It was performed Off-Broadway from 2003 to 2004. De Silva had produced the 1980 film about students at New York City's High School of Performing Arts. The critically and commercially successful film was followed by a six-season television series,  a reality television show, and the stage musical. The musical was significantly rewritten from the previous adaptations, with an almost entirely new score. The film is referred to several times in the script and in two songs.

Set during the last years of New York City's celebrated High School for the Performing Arts on 46th Street (1980-1984), FAME - THE MUSICAL is bittersweet but ultimately inspiring story of a diverse group of students as they commit to four years of grueling artistic and academic work. With candor, humor and insight, the show explores the issues that confront many young people today: issues of prejudice, identity, self-worth, literacy, sexuality, substance abuse and perseverance.

Recent productions by The Children's Acting Academy include a critically acclaimed production of SEUSSICAL, THE MUSICAL which was presented last January at The Vital Theatre in Manhattan, and a production of CAMP ROCK: THE MUSICAL, presented at the State Theater Auditorium in Deposit, NY, this past July.

The Children's Acting Academy, founded in 1972, is designed for talented youngsters who are interested in learning how to act and sing from industry professionals or who wish to build self confidence in their abilities to succeed in life.  

The academy utilizes the Stanislavski, Strassberg and Meisner methods to teach acting. Students learn to behave logically and naturally. Concentration and relaxation are emphasized through sensory exercises, scene work and improvisation. Proper speech and voice are emphasized during every class session. While acting, singing and dancing classes are done in groups, there are opportunities to receive one-on-one instruction.  

Acting classes feature instruction, observation and performance from professionals working on Broadway and on TV, film and radio and they also experience the business of show business by meeting with agents, managers and casting directors, touring TV studios and working on auditioning with theatre veterans. 

Mimi Stuart, Artistic Director and owner of The Children's Acting Academy, joined the Academy's faculty in 2000 and bought the school shortly thereafter. A professional actress with many acting credits, she has much experience working with child actors, having served as Artistic Director at Saginaw Overnight Camp, directing two shows a summer and teaching drama and improv classes as well. She has taught acting at Kean University and voice and speech at NYU and Weist-Barron. She was the originator of The Children and Teen Musical Theatre, and Voice and Speech Program at HB Studio.

The Children's Acting Academy has locations in Manhattan (131 West 72^nd Street, NY, NY 10023) and New Rochelle (Westchester Yoga Arts, 82 Centre Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10801), and Mamaroneck (Danse Elite, 715 Mamaroneck Avenue, Mamaroneck, NY 10543). For additional information, visit www.childrensactingacademy.com or call 212/860-7101.