“It has been said that being an actor is the most spiritual thing a person can be, because as actors it is our job to ‘walk in someone else’s shoes,’” explains Director of Dance and Theatre Erica Smith. “We make a regular practice of studying—and then metaphorically stepping into—the profound and unique experience of someone different from ourselves.” 

The Middle School cast and tech crew of Fame worked hard to enter the world of high school performers, specifically the New York teenagers of the very real High School for the Performing Arts. And boy, did they succeed!

“Our cast has strived to honor these young and passionate artists from many different ethnic, cultural, and class backgrounds. They have worked hard to honor these characters, so very different from themselves, with their very hearts and souls. They have learned East Coast accents and classical ballet, salsa dancing, and Shakespeare. They have taken extra guitar and drum classes, and practiced piano sonatas. They have come early to learn ’80s popping and locking, and stayed late to drill flamenco. We have had many thought-provoking conversations about what it might be like to grow up on Long Island, in Queens, or the Bronx.” 

In the process, the cast has turned into deeply committed performing artists themselves, and they have humbly and lovingly walked in someone else’s shoes.

The transformative power of the Middle School arts wasn't limited to the stage alone. While the Fame cast immersed themselves in different cultures and identities through performance, their fellow students were exploring similar themes through visual expression. Audience members came early and stayed late to admire the vibrant and delectable works of art created by all the San Domenico Middle School students and hanging in the Hall of the Arts lobby. Guided by their dedicated Art Teacher Ms. Houston, the students explored a wide range of artistic traditions and cultural influences, gaining a deeper understanding of the world around them in the process. Each lesson sparked new insights and inspired fresh perspectives.