By Julie Roberts
This past weekend, Fishers High School’s Performing Arts Dept. presented “Fame – the Musical.” Based on the movie and television show of the same name, the story spans four years in the life of ambitious students attending the New York City High School of Performing Arts in the early ’80s.
The play’s director, Matt Rund, 44, provided a behind-the-scenes look at the play and discussed his approach with the large cast of 70 students.
“My goal has always been to teach as we entertain. That is what educational theater is about – stretching the performer not only in the performance aspect, but the mental aspect,” he said.
While he admitted that on some days, managing 70 kids is like “herding cats,” he said his experience as a football coach, as well his military experience, taught him a few tricks about keeping students focused for rehearsals. For example, to help the students develop their characters, he began each rehearsal with an ’80s dance party.
Rund removed some of the script’s grittier elements, but not all. One of the main characters, Carmen, drops out of school and moves to Los Angeles. Soon after, she dies of a drug overdose, which Rund felt was an important part of the play’s message.
“She made some poor choices, and it’s important for the kids to know that.” He also hopes his students take away another important lesson from the play, that “it takes hard work to do what you want to do.”
For Rund, the most inspiring part of directing is seeing his vision come to life.
“It is like painting a picture that only exists for two hours,” Rund said. He also enjoys watching the students develop.
“You get to see the kids transform right in front of your eyes, from the read-through to opening night. The kids are always improving.”
While thematically the play casts a spotlight on an artist’s hunger for fame, Rund hesitates to single out any one FHS student in the play. He proudly points out, “They all worked hard.”