The musical sports a new score (except for the title tune), and many of the characters have been tweaked. There are even several jabs at the movie, including a teacher's admonition to her new students, ''If you think you're going to be dancing on top of cars, you're singing the wrong tune."
But new is not always better, and it's hard to shake the power of the film's iconic status. ''Fame, the Musical" is unconvincing and static by comparison, and it's weakest where it diverges from the movie. The rock-flavored score is loud and energetic but largely unmemorable, and the characters are shallow archetypes never given enough material to develop and make us care about them. With sitcom-style pacing, we get one quick song, dance, and vignette after another, and little in the way of dramatic depth as the show bounces from dance studio to rehearsal hall to classroom.
Taken on its own terms, however, ''Fame, the Musical" is a spritely, entertaining little show, and the North Shore Music Theatre's production is full of eye-catching choreography, performed by a vigorous, committed young 32-member cast.
Like the movie, the musical is a wildly unrealistic, romanticized romp through four years at New York's High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. It traces a crew of students through the ups and downs of high school dilemmas -- grappling with identity issues, racism, drugs, body image, and academic pressures -- exacerbated by hopes for fame. It would help if more of the troupe were truly gifted, but the ensemble displays admirable enthusiasm.
Dennis Moench is probably the most talented of the bunch, a quadruple threat as singer, dancer, actor, and violinist. He brings a grit tempered by sweetness to the role of Schlomo, who tries to find his own musical voice while living up to the expectations of his ''genius" father. Eric Anthony is also convincing as the illiterate Tyrone; though he underplays the tough-kid attitude and the frustration of his inability to handle his academic work, he is a terrific dancer.
Though he struggled vocally, Jonathan Groff has a charismatic, compellingly natural presence as child soap star Nick, and Jenna Gavigan is engaging as the lovesick ingenue Serena. Lynnette Marrero brings spice and strong pipes to the role of the overly ambitious, ill-fated Carmen, and Krystle N. Pyram is adorable as the diet-challenged Mabel. Gerard Salvador, Ambere Rogers, and Warren Freeman also contribute strong performances. Though the role of Miss Sherman is painfully one-dimensional, Inga Ballard provides the most touching moment of the show with the ballad ''These Are My Children."
