Ready to Live Forever? KMT Presents FAME!

With three times the talent and 10 times the fun, KMT is presenting their very own student production of FAME!

The uber talented society, made up totally from students, is using the musical adaption by Jose Fernandez as their basis for the production.

This means that from cast and production team, to set and sound design King’s students are doing it all!

While 33,000 students prepare themselves to round off the semester, 17 members of the student body have dedicated the last three months to bringing FAME! from the streets of New York City to our very own Greenwood Theatre from the 2nd to 4th April.

To make it even more exciting, we’re giving away four tickets! Don’t miss your chance to be part of the action — for further details on how to enter visit our Instagram page @thetabkcl.

In the meantime, The King’s Tab has interviewed the cast and production team to bring you exclusive behind the scenes content ahead of show week.

Starting with the production team consisting of Cole Boon, Alex Evans, Senri Furukawa, Evelyn Chow, Sam Crawley and Karen Kuroiwa.

Why FAME!? What specifically called you to pitch it?

Cole Boon (co-director, co-producer): “FAME! really stood out to me as it presented an opportunity to be playing characters their own age, which we don’t often get to do as teenagers/young adults.

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“It allows for the actors to create more intimate relationships with the characters they are playing, as there is a certain level of relatability that you experience when playing someone your own age. The themes are also extremely relevant, the show is incredibly human and doesn’t shy away from complex issues that prevail within today’s society, so instead of shying away from these issues we decided to face them!”

What is the overall vision or theme you want to convey through this production of FAME!, and how do you plan to reflect that in the staging, lighting, and costumes?

Alex Evans (co-director, co-producer):“For me the most important thing is to really capture the era and context in which FAME! is set. It’s a really special coming of age story, with comedic elements, love, and also sadness – it’s a bit of an emotional rollercoaster, and is a whistle-stop tour of four years at the High School of Performing Arts in New York City.

“The staging is going to be dominated by a large scaffolding rostra, with the band situated underneath, and we’re envisioning that the lighting, costume, and performers and musicians will contrast the context of 80s NYC.”

What’s been the most challenging part of preparing for this production, and how have you overcome it?

Peter Unsworth (Schlomo): “For me personally, the most challenging part has been the fact that I’ve had to learn both guitar and piano. The piano wasn’t as bad since I’ve played it before, but guitar I had to learn completely from scratch. I don’t play very much but I’ve overcome that by practicing one on one with the Musical Directors. Also balancing both singing and playing while also learning choreography has been pretty tough.”

Keira Gandhi (Carmen Diaz): “Basically everything, for me personally Carmen (without spoiling too much) goes through a really tough time during the show and its something that I resonate with very personally so this has been a good outlet for me to express that and go through the emotions.”

Ava Satasi (Iris Kelly): “I was at a different university last year so I haven’t done theatre, dance or singing for a year and FAME! is incredibly vocal and dance heavy so I’ve had to come in and feel a little bit behind which was a bit hard.

“But I feel like everyone has been very encouraging specially with the dancing, the choreographers and vocal coach are so on it with sending us material to practice at home and are truly talented.”

What’s your favourite part of the rehearsal process—learning the choreography, perfecting the vocals, or something else entirely?

Francesca Fitzsimons (Ty): “My favourite part has definitely been rehearsals with Senri and Karen. It is so much fun, their choreography is just so clean, succinct and fitting for the show. Also, in a way in line with my character because Ty is a dancer and I have so much fun it’s so freeing to just properly dance.”

How did you first get involved in theatre, and what made you audition for FAME!?

Ava Satasi (Iris Kelly): “So I’ve been singing since I was really young so at my last school, my choir director really pushed me towards doing theatre. For FAME! because its been such a big part of my life in every school I have attended it would be really good way to get to know people and make friends.

“I didn’t join KMT last semester because I was a bit nervous and felt kinda weird about it but this semester I felt super encouraged by everybody and I’m very glad I did.”

How do you balance the demands of being a student and performing in such a high-energy show?

Bea Watts (Miss Sherman): “At first it can be difficult but you get into the swing of things as the semester goes on. Mel and I have been in KMT since first year so it has definitely become easier over time. It’s more of an outlet rather than something that takes up your time, really good fun.”

Melissa Stewart (Miss Bell): “I agree, its also about viewing the time in rehearsals as respite from uni so its something you’re appreciative of because its a clean from studying. You’re getting to do something fun with your friends, you just get endorphins from it.”

If you could bring one piece of advice from your character’s journey in FAME! into your own life, what would it be?

Louisa Hughes (Mabel Washington): “My character has a tough experience that a lot of young girls would’ve experienced growing up in dance or even just in general. But she still remains herself she doesn’t change to fit anyone else’s idea of what she should be or what she should look like.

“She remains unapologetically herself the whole time and doesn’t come off as insecure, not taking herself too seriously despite facing a lot of criticism. I would just take that, I wish I could do more of that in my own life, not listening when people have certain expectations.”

Do you think the message of FAME! resonates with the students of King’s? How does it connect to university life today?

Francesca Fitzsimons (Ty): “Looking at Ty, and the message that is delivered through her story line is something that a lot of students can relate to today as she tends to limit herself. She struggles with reading as she has dyslexia, so she tends to only focus on what she can do which is dance. She communicates that you should not restrict or limit yourself just because something feels uncomfortable.

“A lot of students can relate to that experience, when something feels uncomfortable they tend to not do it or even consider it. Putting yourself out there to be vulnerable opens a world of new opportunities which is something I feel everyone should try to step towards.”

If your character were to write a university essay, what would their subject be and what would they likely get as a grade?

Keira Gandhi (Carmen Diaz): “‘Why we shouldn’t be doing so much academics’ she would probably get a D because Mr Myers would tell her to re-write it on something more important than that.”

Peter Unsworth (Schlomo): “Schlomo would an A* on music composition easy, also performance and probably essays he’s a pretty smart guy.”

There you have it folks, KMT’s production of FAME! will be on in the Greenwood Theatre of Guy’s Campus from April 2nd to April 4th.

By curtesy of the FAME! production team, two of our lucky readers also have the chance to win 2x tickets to see the show! Check for further details on how to enter the giveaway through our instagram page @thetabkcl.

Featured images via Cole Boon and Ava Satasi