Fame revival reveals complete casting

Complete casting has been announced for the upcoming revival of Fame the Musical.

Running from 28 July to 15 August 2026 at Theatre Royal Plymouth, the production, conceived and developed by David de Silva, will be directed and choreographed by Tom Jackson Greaves. WhatsOnStage Award nominee Omari Douglas has also now joined the production as a creative associate.

Featuring a book by Jose Fernandez, music by Steve Margoshes and lyrics by Jacques Levy, alongside songs from the original movie, Fame is set in Manhattan in 1980 and follows a group of students at New York’s High School of Performing Arts from enrolment to graduation, exploring their ambitions and challenges through music, drama and dance.

The show marks the 30th anniversary of Fame’s European premiere at Theatre Royal Plymouth in 1995. That production went on to run for more than a decade in the West End, toured internationally, and helped establish the stage version of the 1980 film as a global success.

Newly revealed today, Shanay Holmes completes the company, taking on the role of Miss Sherman.

Joining Holmes on stage will be previously announced faculty members Waylon Jacobs as Mr Myers, Alasdair Buchan as Mr Sheinkopf, Edwin Ray as Mr Bell/dance captain, and Rachel Jayne Picar as ensemble Teacher/cover Teacher.

The cast playing the students, previously reported here, includes Joe Boyle as Nick Piazza, Toby De Salis as Goodman “Goody” King/cover Schlomo Metzenbaum, Megan Ellis as Serena Katz, Olivia Foster-Browne as Mabel Washington, James Hastings as Schlomo Metzenbaum, Shoko Ito as Iris Kelly, Elise Marnie as swing/cover Iris Kelly, Alicia Maynard as ensemble/cover Mabel Washington, Amonik Melaco as Tyrone Jackson, Jago Mottart as ensemble/cover Joe (Jose) Vegas, Kieron O’Donnell as swing/cover Goodman “Goody” King and Nick Piazza, Anu Ogunmefun as ensemble/cover Grace “Lambchops” Lamb, Talia Palamathanan as Carmen Diaz, Samantha Shuma as ensemble/Cover Carmen Diaz, Georgia Leila Stoller as Grace “Lampchops” King, Harrison Wilde as Joe (Jose) Vegas and Patrick Wilden as ensemble/cover Tyrone Jackson.

The creative team features set and co-costume designer Soutra Gilmour, co-costume designer Enver Chakartash, co-choreographer Tinovimbanashe Sibanda, musical supervisor and musical director George Francis, orchestrator and arranger Matthew Malone, lighting designer Richard Howell, sound designer Matt Peploe, and casting director Stuart Burt.

Jackson Greaves commented: “Fame is an integral part of our history at Theatre Royal Plymouth, having premiered here 30 years ago. It’s a story of discovery, determination and dreaming, and these beautiful universal themes resonate now more than ever. It also champions the power of performing arts education and how integral it can be in the development of careers, identities and relationships, something that in 2026, we firmly need reminding of.

“With this production, we aim to take a bold step in reviving and reigniting the honest and powerful beating heart of where Fame began; set firmly in 1980, we will encapsulate all that audiences fell in love with on stage and screen, whilst showcasing the talent of an outstanding group of performers and creatives that embody the very spirit that this story celebrates. This revival honours its legacy whilst reimagining it for today’s audiences. I couldn’t be more excited to begin.”