Last night, SDTC’s two associate editors went back to high school.  Well, not our high school–we went to Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts for the after party of the Canadian screening of Fame which is now in theatres.

Fame is an updated version of the 1980s classic, and the new version focuses on the same school, the City High School of Performing Arts, known today as Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.  The movie follows a group of talented actors, singers, dancers and artists over their four years there, as all of the students strive for their moment in the spotlight and try to make it big. 

It’s a movie about trying to be a star, and everyone got to make a red carpet entrance going into the party, before making their own “Remember My Name” nametag.  Inside, you could have your moment in the spotlight channeling your inner John Lennon with Beatles Rock Band, or show off those Dance Dance Revolution skills you’ve been practicing on the side.  

The classroom setting was paired with an endless supply of Iceberg vodka and cafeteria food being passed around–mini grilled cheese, sloppy joes, and macaroni.  Drinks in hand, the two of us investigated the empty auditorium pumping Kanye, and when we wandered outside we had a giant barbecue and outdoor patio situation on our hands.  Being at school never felt so right.  

The real stars of the evening were students from Randolph, who were dancing out on the red carpet and doing acrobatics inside the party.   They seemed to be having more fun than anyone else and were performing every kind of dance for partygoers drifting from room to room.  I wish I had moves like that, and how cool would it be to be 17 again and at LaGuardia Arts?  Actually–you couldn’t pay me to be 17 again.  Maybe a party in an arts school is just right for me.