On April 30th, GHS put on their first performance of "Fame." At P.A., all students have to major in dance, theatre or music. Throughout the musical, "Fame" revealed all the ups and downs of the students’ four years at P.A. Each student showed a tremendous amount of passion for their major and had huge dreams for the future.

Some of the students at P.A. included acting majors Nick Piazza, played by senior Matt Milazzo, and Serena Katz, played by freshman Catelyn Sommerville, musical prodigy Schlomo Metzenbaum, played by senior Joshua Sommerville, and dance majors Tyrone Jackson, played by junior NJ Janneh, Iris Kelly, played by senior Kathleen Hallock and triple-threat Carmen Diaz, played by senior Lily Goldberg.

"Fame" also revealed many love stories between the students. Jackson and Kelly became lovers at first sight, while Katz and Piazza had a hidden but mutual attraction which was finally realized at the end of the show. Coping with a drug problem, Carmen Diaz, a dance major with a big ego ends up leaving P.A. but then returns for her feelings towards Metzenbaum.

"I could really relate to the musical because the kinds of problems that were in the musical are what teens in high school really go through, weather it is drugs or relationships," junior Simone Harris says.

What makes this year’s musical different from previous musicals at GHS? ‘"Fame" is more modern, the music is more rock based and there is much, much, much more dance," director Melissa Spadin says. Songs such as latin-tinged "There She Goes/Fame" and the salsa and flamenco dances brought more color and energy to the stage.

New talent auditioned this year, including sophomore Lynique Webster and freshmen Andrew Prebula, Awa Seka and C. Sommerville, who were fresh faces with unique, yet strong voices.

Unlike other GHS musicals, "Fame" incorporated not only talented singers, but a wide variety of dancers. Synchronizing these two talents became a difficulty for the cast. "As far as dancing we practiced as much as we can because we had a set routine, but those of us who couldn’t sing, we just tried our best," Janneh says.

With the bright graffiti-adorned stage and the live energy, the directors were extremely proud of the cast.

"The final production was excellent, the kids were excited and so were we," technical director Ronald Dietz says.