Liberty’s Student Voice Productions stages dazzling revival of "Fame"

By RICHARD A. ROSS

LAKE HUNTINGTON, NY — The year is 1984 and the place is the famous High School for the Performing Arts in Manhattan. Students blessed with talent in dance, music and theatre have arrived and are embarking on a year of rigorous practice, academic challenges and performances while discovering who they are.

On May 26 to 28, the tuneful stories of the characters made famous by the TV show and the movie “Fame,” starring Irene Cara, were brought to life by the incredible energy of student directors Kerri Benzenberg and Michelle Silva. The two ambitious and energetic directors began their quest to stage “Fame” in November and after months of laborious effort they brought the fabulous show to fruition.

Unlike other productions staged at Liberty or other area high schools, this show was a product of Student Voice Productions,a student-driven enterprise that encompasses the full spectrum of the show’s production including fundraising, costumes, lighting, scenery, directing and acting.

The dynamic musical wowed audiences and featured the choreography of Silva and Jackie Hamlin. First-year teacher Jaimie Saucier served as advisor and was praised to the sky by both Silva and Benzenberg at the show’s exemplary conclusion. Daniel McConnell conducted the pit band, which featured Liberty High School musicians and Filipe Nebrega, an exchange student from Brazil attending Monticello High School this year.

The talented cast sang, danced and acted their way through the show’s evocative numbers that included, “Pray, Pray, Pay,” “There She Goes/Fame,” “Bring on Tomorrow,” among others.

Fabulous performances were turned in by Kelly Baker, who played the stodgy Ms. Sherman, Michelle Silva as the troubled Carmen Diaz, Jay Samant as the serious Nick, Amarynth Sichel as the up-and-coming Serena Katz, Lance Richards as the dyslexic-but-talented Tyrone, Justin Sutherland as the talented musician Schlomo Metzenbaum and Miranda Hardy as the slightly ditzy Ms. Myers.

Many other cast members were outstanding as well.

The show was a tribute to the creativity, energy and verve of the directors, the cast and crew. Just like the fictional characters in the show, Liberty’s kids showed themselves to contain a wealth of talent and great promise for the future.