Cast Profile - Erin Tancock

Erin Tancock's fondest memory of the 80's includes sitting on the field of her elementary school in New Zealand in 1987 with her sister, listening to Kylie Minogue on their pink portable cassette player. Erin is having fun reliving that time period as Miss Esther Sherman in FAME: The Musical.

Erin is a graduate of the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts, whose past credits include Cindy in Suds: The Rockin' 60's Musical Soap Opera (Canadiana Productions), Little Red in Little Red Riding Hood The Musical (Solar Stage), The Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (Encore Entertainment).

Erin hopes to make Miss Sherman approachable and not just a strict teacher. "To be the kind of person that kids would feel comfortable enough to come to and talk about their problems. To help and inspire her students." She says that her favourite moment in FAME is the Teacher's Argument duet.

Currently Erin is busy planning and preparing for a production of a different kind: her wedding! She wishes to thank her amazing fiance who supports her in everything she does; the two of them will be married in New Zealand in January 2011.

See Erin as Miss Sherman in FAME: The Musical opening TONIGHT and running until June 27 at the Papermill Theatre. Tickets available at www.ticketweb.ca

Cast Profile - Nick Nasrallah

Nick Nasrallah fondly remembers back in the 80's when MuchMusic was a new network with music videos that were like mini movies with story lines and influential choreography, including his personal favourite, Paula Abdul's video for "Cold Hearted Snake". Nick will channeling that passion for music and dance as he makes his T3 debut as Schlomo Metzenbaum in FAME: The Musical.

Nick is a graduate of the Vancouver Film School (Writing for Film and Television), and Randolph Academy for Performing Arts and has since spent several seasons performing with Orpheus Musical Theatre (where he also choreographed a production of Fame in 2008), and touring with Little Red Theatre . He has also dabbled in stand-up comedy, short films, producing intimate cabarets as part of the Travesty series as well as teaching musical theatre to 6-15 year olds at the Act One School of Drama in Pickering.

When asked about his favourite role to date, Nick says that he'll never be able to replicate the experience he had playing Charlie Brown in You're a Good Man Charlie Brown at the George Ignatieff Theatre. "The small cast and production team quickly became a very tight knit group. Before each show, we would all gather in the girls' dressing room and break out into a spontaneous vocal warm up, where we would improv-jam to whatever was overheard on the PA system. We were lucky enough to remount the show in Ottawa as part of Anti Bullying Week".

This summer, Nick will continue to perform as Artie as a part of the Bounce Glee Squad and will also be featured in a show with Little Red Theatre at the Palmerston Library Theatre. In the fall, Nick hopes to start training with the Second City Conservatory Program.

Watch for Nick in FAME: The Musical opening TOMORROW, Thursday June 24 at the Papermill Theatre. Tickets available at www.ticketweb.ca

Cast Profile - Madelaina DePace

Madelaina DePace has been dancing since she was seven years old including ballet, jazz, hip hop, tap, modern and pointe, making her a natural to play dancer Iris Kelly in FAME: The Musical.

Madelaina says that her favourite role in her career to date has been Carmen in Sweet Charity. "This is mainly because I was a featured dancer doing Fosse choreography, but also because Carmen was basically me and it was such a natural fit getting into character for her. I could do that role in Sweet Charity for the rest of my life and be happy".

Her favourite moment in FAME so far has been when Wesley dropped her? "This past Sunday Wesley went to lift me and when he heard was gonna get kicked out of the Junior Festival: lifting me... "say what?!?!" ... dropping me mid-lift".

Regarding her character in FAME, Madelaina says that "Iris is a very headstrong girl. She is shy and nervous at first, because she isn't used to the high school atmosphere, but soon grows into her own and it is her headstrong attitude that helps her succeed and grow as a dancer and as a person in general". When not performing Madelaina spends her time working, taking dance classes, reading and is starting university in the fall, where she will be taking European Studies with hopes to do graduate studies in Europe in the future.

Catch Madelaina in FAME: The Musical opening Thursday June 24 at the Papermill Theatre. Tickets available at www.ticketweb.ca

Cast Profile - Damien Gulde

Damien Gulde has been on stages of all shapes, sizes and various states of repair and readiness since the age of 7 (which he hesitates to admit was actually in the 80's). He has had the chance to play some wildly diverse roles over the years. Favourites include; Romeo (Romeo and Juliet), Moonface Martin (Anything Goes), Jeffrey Dahmer (An Evening in Hell), and Rodney/Marshall/Percy (7 Stories).

"I want to make magic..I want to breath fire on a stage... Not only does this song get stuck in my head for my travel home each day after rehearsal; I think it also encompasses the general attitude of this cast. Young, gorgeous, brimming with talent, and all looking for that opportunity to make magic."

Damien hopes that Mr. Myers will tap into this desire and challenge and inspire his students with the believable caring and likability of a teacher who remembers what it's like being a teenager.

"Beyond slap bracelets, Carebears, Adidas short-shorts, and a black Michael Jackson, the 80's were all about the future. Everything was modern, experimental...the 80's were about making that indelible mark of individuality on an indifferent world...that's the spirit of Fame right there."

Watch for Damien in FAME: The Musical opening Thursday June 24 at the Papermill Theatre. Tickets available at www.ticketweb.ca

FAME opens in less than a week

Do you have your tickets yet?

The cast
The teachers: Lara Lane, Damien Gulde, Erin Tancock
& Jean-Paul Parker (unpictured)

The actors: Patrick Twaddle, Bridget Norris & Mike MacDonald

The musicians: Brad Marks, Dana Thody & Nick Nasrallah

The dancers: Chelsea Leaman, Meghan Lugsdin, Wesley Tisdale,

Madelaina DePace, & Sarah Jean Hodkinson

FAME: The Musical

Papermill Theatre

67 Pottery Road

Thursday June 24 8pm

Friday June 25 8pm

Saturday June 26 2pm & 8pm

Sunday June 27 2pm & 7pm

Tickets: $25

Tickets available at www.ticketweb.ca

Cast Profile - Jean-Paul Parker

Jean-Paul Parker would really like you to know that unicorns exist...

...And of course that he'll be making his first appearance in a T3 production as serious Mr. Brutus Sheinkopf in FAME.

A graduate of the Etobicoke School of the Arts, Jean-Paul has been enjoying the development of Mr. Sheinkopf's character: "Mr. Sheinkopf is very serious about his profession. Music truly is the hardest profession in the world and his students will surely come to realize that once he shows them how difficult every aspect of it is. Students are much too caught up in all this 80's alternative/glam rock business and they need to learn from the musicians who practically INVENTED music. Classical music is the root of perfect technique. Mr. Sheinkopf has seen plenty of students in his day and knows all too well that no one enjoys the artistry and skill of classical music. Although he has a tough exterior, it is all to break his students' bad habits of polluting their minds with what their vision of 'music' is today."

His favourite role to date has been the kind and gentle Matthew Cuthbert in Anne of Green Gables. "It was the first role I was ever truly passionate about. I've never worked harder on any character's development than I did for Matthew Cuthbert. I sincerely believe that him and I are one in the same, and that you should never let anyone take the exciting, imaginative, bubbly child out of you. Find love, joy and fantasy wherever you can and hold on to it forever." Following FAME, he will spend the summer teaching drama at a local summer camp where he will be writing a script for an adaptation of Grease.

See Jean-Paul as Mr. Sheinkopf in FAME: The Musical from June 24-27 at the Papermill Theatre. Tickets available at www.ticketweb.ca

Cast Profile - Chelsea Leaman

Chelsea Leaman is excited to be playing the sassy Carmen Diaz in FAME, in what will be her fourth show ever! This Chelsea's second show with T3 Productions after appearing as Annette in Annie in November 2009.

Chelsea is a graduate of the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts and is also certified in BATD Tap, Jazz and Ballet. She says that her favourite role to date has been playing Robin in RAPA's "Smile" as she was able to work along side Jim Betts and Marek Norman in her first ever musical, in a leading role no less! When not performing herself, Chelsea teaches at Randolph KIDS! and I've Got Rhythm School of Dance.

Chelsea's favourite moment in FAME is when she is lifted a la Britney Spears and is carried across the stage. She says "I've never been lifted before and although it was frightening in the beginning I've overcome my fear of not trusting other cast members with my life and can now do partnering lifts with confidence". Chelsea will soon be reprising her role in The Killing Game as a part of the Toronto Fringe Festival, dancing as the Blue Fairy in Pinocchio - the Ballet as well as playing a supporting role in rapper D-Sissive's new music video "West Coast".

Watch Chelsea's performance (and exciting lift!) in FAME: The Musical from June 24-27 at the Papermill Theatre. Tickets available at www.ticketweb.ca