Trident students bought the 80s back to life with their musical production of Fame. ‘Fame -The Musical’ is a bittersweet but inspiring story of a diverse group of students who commit to four years of gruelling artistic and academic work at New York’s celebrated performing arts school. Set in the 1980s and inspired by the original 1980 film and subsequent television series, the show explores issues that still confront many young people today - prejudice, identity, self worth, literacy, sexuality, substance abuse and perseverance. Directed by Trident drama teacher Lynne Robb, the production has been a team effort, with the highly experienced Alan Spence taking up the reins of musical director and Helen Tuhoro the vocal coach. Vanessa Hamman has designed the choreography, with help from Trident teachers Hilary Harison and Kate Feist. Fresh from his lead role in All Shook Up, Zac Taylor performed the lead male role in this show, with his leading lady, Karla Lyford, also a regular performer for Theatre Whakatane. Zac and Karla play Nick Piazza and Serena Katz, providing the romantic component of the story.Other lead characters are being played by Poukena Reha, Paora Morunga, Aimee Sinclair, Chloe Blommerde, Mihi Savage, Mitchell Spence, Leonnie Hall, Luke Spence, Abigail Helsby, Vanessa Immink, Karla Ferguson and Sean Widdowson, and a variety of students who made up the rest of the company, performing several large song and dance numbers. Trident also thanks Kelly Kiwha, Glen and Shaun Stricot-Tarboton, Cameron Holmes, Chaise Francis-Monrad, Ms Foster, Mr Geenty all the technical crew, backstage helpers, patient parents and supporters.