David De Silva, or "Father Fame" as he is known in some circles," is taking your questions on our Bulletin Board. De Silva is billed as Consulting Producer behind the hit 1980 motion picture "Fame" and now the U.K. hit, "Fame -- the Musical."
De Silva grew up in New York City, and has always been interested in theatre. From his early teen years, he would take the subway to see Broadway shows. For a time, De Silva tested the waters as a professional performer. He studied theatre with Stella Adler and did summer stock at the Hampton Playhouse in New Hampshire.In his late 20s, De Silva worked as a theatrical agent in New York and represented such actors as Jerry Orbach and Jessica Walter, among others.
The concept for the movie based on the High School of Performing Arts, came about when De Silva was working as an agent. De Silva hired Christopher Gore to write the screenplay. After "Fame" the movie came "Fame" the TV series and now "Fame -- the Musical."
"Fame -- the Musical" got its first tryout in regional theatre at the Coconut Grove in Miami in 1988. In 1989, it was performed at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia where it broke box office records. From there, the show went into hiatus because Broadway would have cost $3-$4 million to mount since they didn''t have "stars."
Rights for "Fame -- the Musical" have been released world-wide by Musical Theatre International. The show had it''s European premiere in Stockholm in ''93. It is currently running in London''s West End at the Cambridge Theatre and further plans are in the works for a run in South Africa under the new democratic government. Last date for questions is November 24. Posted responses are scheduled for November 30.
TONY ROBERTS OF "VICTOR/VICTORIA" IS ON THE BOARD
Tony Roberts, co-star of Broadway''s "Victor/Victoria" is accepting questions now on Playbill On-Line''s Bulletin Board. Post questions to him in the TONY ROBERTS subject of the QGUESTS topic.
Prior to joining the "Victor/Victoria" cast, in the role of Toddy, Tony Roberts most recently appeared on Broadway in Wendy Wasserstein''s "The Sisters Rosensweig." In 1991, he starred in "Jerome Robbins'' Broadway" in New York and then toured with it to Los Angeles and Japan. Roberts has been nominated twice for the Tony Award.
His Broadway career started with Dore Schary''s "Something About a Solider" in 1961. From there, he went on to star in Saul Bellows'' "The Last Analysis," "Barefoot in the Park," "Promises, Promises" and "They''re Playing our Song" for Neil Simon, and "Don''t Drink the Water" and "Play it Again, Sam" for Woody Allen.
His film work includes the contemporary classics "Play it Again, Sam," "Annie Hall," and "Serpico." He Also starred in Woody Allen''s "A Midsummer Night''s Sex Comedy" and Neil Simon''s "Star Spangled Girl." among others.
Roberts still resides in New York City. He graduated from the High School of Music & Art, which recently merged with the High School of Performing Arts to become the LaGuardia High School for Performing Arts at Lincoln Center -- sometimes referred to as the "Fame" school.
Last date for questions is November 10. Responses are scheduled for the week of November 20.
-- Transmitted November 7, 1995
