By Jim Butler, Eagle Staff Writer

It may be a sign of the generation gap, but I felt the teachers stole the show from the students in “Fame — The Musical.”

Yashira Perez as Greta Bell, the dance instructor, and Toni Malone as Miss Sherman, the English teacher, delivered a powerful duet during the Rudder Auditorium performance that echoed a timeless conflict between academics and extracurricular activities.

In this setting, the New York High School of Performing Arts, the student in question was Tyrone Jackson (Anthony Wayne), a gifted dancer who was failing English. Should Miss Sherman give Tyrone a break because of his dancing ability? Perez showed one of the most powerful female voices I’ve ever heard.

In the second act, Malone belted out “These Are My Children” with such passion and range that few in the audience were left untouched.

The entire cast of the national tour of the Broadway show demonstrated as much acting skill as vocal and dancing talent. The amount of energy expended in the many dancing scenes was exhausting to watch.

Mekia Cox was outstanding as Carmen, a student who drops out of school to pursue her career. When she returns to her friend Schlomo, well-played by Justin Speranza, she is beyond help.

My favorite character was Grace “Lambchops” Lamb, a drummer with spiked, blond hair who had an impressive solo.

The audience favorite was “Mabel’s Prayer,” a gospel-like number in which Kellee Knighten and her girlfriends ask for heavenly help in dealing with their personal and academic problems.

The reprise of the song “Fame” was well-staged, with the cast climbing over a yellow convertible while large letters F-A-M-E pulsed behind them.