Those kids at New York’s High School of Performing Arts would never have gotten anywhere if it weren’t for a talented group of instructors. According to Variety, five topnotch teachers were just added to the class roster of Fame, all of which are vets of the Broadway stage.
Lakeshore and MGM have nabbed Debbie Allen, Charles S. Dutton, Kelsey Grammer, Megan Mullally and Bebe Neuwirth for teaching positions in the film. Dutton graduated from the Yale School of Drama and made his Broadway debut in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. He will take the part of an acting teacher. Grammer, who attended Juilliard and made his Broadway debut in Macbeth, will play an orchestra maestro. Mullally, who is well known for her quirky role as Karen on Will and Grace actually graduated from the School of American Ballet and will be playing a voice instructor. Neuwirth, most famous for her leading role in Chicago, which won her a Tony, will play the school’s dance instructor. Finally, there’s Allen, who is no stranger to the Fame set. She played Lydia Grant back in 1980 in the movie Fame and again in1982 in the television version. Allen will be getting a promotion from student to the school’s principal.
Considering the past experience of this group, it’s hard to image anything but success to this set. Hopefully their students will follow in their footsteps. Production is set to begin this week under the direction of Kevin Tancharoen. Tancharoen plans to have his new class through school and ready for release on September 25th.
