The very first episode of the smash hit tv series Fame aired in the UK on 17 June 1982 and to mark the 40th anniversary the original cast will be giving three concerts.
The Fame U.K. Reunion concerts are on Thursday 8, Friday 9 and Saturday 10 September in Birmingham Town Hall. The reunion is initiated and produced by fans as a charity event to benefit Claire House Children’s Hospice in Clatterbridge.
On Thursday 17 June 1982, BBC One showed the very first episode of the legendary TV series Fame in the U.K. Broadcast right after Top Of The Pops, the series became a phenomenon. The show ran for six seasons.
Five television soundtrack albums were released. The Kids from Fame emerged from the series and became one of the biggest pop acts from the 1980’s. Due to huge demand, The Kids from Fame did two concert tours in the UK, Europe, and Israel, including the Royal Albert Hall.
The Fame U.K. Reunion concerts in September this year will feature no less than eight singers from the original cast of the Fame TV series: Valerie Landsburg (Doris), Lee Curreri (Bruno), Carlo Imperato (Danny), P.R. Paul (Montgomery), Cynthia Gibb (Holly), Jesse Borrego (Jesse), Loretta Chandler (Dusty) and Michael Cerveris (Ian).
There is also a meet and greet convention, which will take place on Sunday 11 September at the Birmingham Rep. VIP concert tickets, fan events and convention packages are available through the website. Regular tickets for the concerts are available through the box office.
The cast is brought together by lifelong fan Sue Hinds who, with a team of volunteers, is producing the show in aid of Claire House Children’s Hospice. The hospice helps seriously and terminally ill children live life to the full by creating wonderful experiences and bringing back a sense of normality to family life. By providing specialist nursing care and emotional support they help families smile again when life couldn’t get any tougher.
Valerie Landsburg, who starred as Doris Schwartz in the Fame from 1982-1985, said, “There is something very special about coming back to the UK for this concert. I was sent to London to do press for FAME in 1982.
“I was bowled over by the effect the show had in the U.K. None of us had any idea. Coming back again to perform feels like a perfect circle back to these roots with the fans!
“The visit to Clare House Hospice with my friend Sue Hinds was an eye-opening experience. This was an approach to support not only a child or teenager with a critical illness or a severe on going health situation that will shorten their life expectancy, but one that cradles the entire family through what may be the hardest journey of their lives.”
P.R. Paul, who played Montgomery MacNeill in the Fame TV from series 1982-1983, said, “I semi-retired from acting in 1989 when I took over the business my father built. In 2007, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Post remission, I decided to sell the business to downgrade stress in my life. I reconnected with my Fame cast mates in 2017 and we all had a fantastic time! I live an incredibly blessed life and giving back to the community is of paramount importance to me.”
Cynthia Gibb, who played Holly Laird in the Fame TV series from 1983-1986, said, “I could not be more thrilled for the opportunity to be with my Fame family, in such a special country, for such a moving charity. Our cast is so much closer today than we ever have been and we’d like to share that love and joy with our audience.
“We are planning quite a party and invite anyone who was ever inspired by Fame to come join us! We’ll make you feel like you’re part of the family!”
Sue Hinds, producer, said, “Like hundreds of other fans I desperately wanted the Fame Cast to return to the U.K. However no one was stepping forward to take on that responsibility and challenge. It occurred to me that the person stepping forward could be me … after all if you want something bad enough then you have to make it happen.
“The journey has been incredible and I’ve had the most amazing support from some fellow Fame Fans and together we have become a great team. Like me these colleagues want nothing more than to create an amazing product, do the cast and fans proud and raise some cash for our fantastic charity.
“I felt it was only proper to run the events in aid of a charity. Whilst I don’t have children of my own, I do care for a sick parent and I can imagine that it must be heartbreaking to have a sick child. I just wanted to be able to help families, and the children themselves, to have as many happy memories as they possibly can.”
Image: Larry Van Cassele
Why not follow birkenhead.news on Facebook and Twitter? You can also send story ideas to news@birkenhead.news
Subscribe to our FREE newsletter