Debbie Allen The Australian April 2013
SHE was playing a dance teacher in the 1980s television series Fame when Debbie Allen warned her students about the price of success. "You want fame?" she told them. "Well, fame costs. And right here is where you start paying. In sweat."
SHE was playing a dance teacher in the 1980s television series Fame when Debbie Allen warned her students about the price of success. "You want fame?" she told them. "Well, fame costs. And right here is where you start paying. In sweat."
Allen is an actress, choreographer and director based in Los Angeles. She has choreographed for Michael Jackson, directed and starred in TV series Grey's Anatomy and opened her own dance academy.
Allen is an actress, choreographer and director based in Los Angeles. She has choreographed for Michael Jackson, directed and starred in TV series Grey's Anatomy and opened her own dance academy.
Today she's still happy to talk about what she calls her "right hand" - Fame - but her more pressing concerns at the moment centre on the violence in her country. "Congress is battling about gun control," she says.
Today she's still happy to talk about what she calls her "right hand" - Fame - but her more pressing concerns at the moment centre on the violence in her country. "Congress is battling about gun control," she says.
"And then we look up and see this tragedy in Boston. You're looking at these beautiful people who were glistening with sweat and sun now running for their lives. When is this kind of violence going to stop?"
"And then we look up and see this tragedy in Boston. You're looking at these beautiful people who were glistening with sweat and sun now running for their lives. When is this kind of violence going to stop?"
These issues make for a poignant introduction to Allen's new theatre work, which will have its world premiere at the Brisbane Festival in September.
These issues make for a poignant introduction to Allen's new theatre work, which will have its world premiere at the Brisbane Festival in September.
Speaking in Brisbane ahead of today's announcement of the production as the jewel of the festival, the 60-year-old says Freeze Frame is based on the stories of the young people who have passed through her dance academy at Crenshaw in Los Angeles. Described as "musical theatre collage", it's about the gangs that battle for control in her neighbourhood, drug addiction, dance, graffiti and violence.
Speaking in Brisbane ahead of today's announcement of the production as the jewel of the festival, the 60-year-old says Freeze Frame is based on the stories of the young people who have passed through her dance academy at Crenshaw in Los Angeles. Described as "musical theatre collage", it's about the gangs that battle for control in her neighbourhood, drug addiction, dance, graffiti and violence.
"There are different cultures," Allen says of Los Angeles. "There are places where that fusion melts like butter and there are places where it clashes."
"There are different cultures," Allen says of Los Angeles. "There are places where that fusion melts like butter and there are places where it clashes."
Brisbane Festival artistic director Noel Staunton commissioned Allen to write, direct and choreograph the musical about four years ago after he was struck by the polarities of Los Angeles, which he saw as a city where young children could find identity in a gang or a dance troupe.
Brisbane Festival artistic director Noel Staunton commissioned Allen to write, direct and choreograph the musical about four years ago after he was struck by the polarities of Los Angeles, which he saw as a city where young children could find identity in a gang or a dance troupe.
A cast of 30 - comprised of students from Allen's academy and professional performers - will fly from the US to star alongside Allen in the work.
A cast of 30 - comprised of students from Allen's academy and professional performers - will fly from the US to star alongside Allen in the work.
Stevie Wonder is among the artists who have contributed new music to the score, which traverses gospel, R&B and hip-hop.
Stevie Wonder is among the artists who have contributed new music to the score, which traverses gospel, R&B and hip-hop.
Staunton hopes Freeze Frame will expand festival audiences by aiming itself at an often overlooked group, 14 to 22-year-olds.
Staunton hopes Freeze Frame will expand festival audiences by aiming itself at an often overlooked group, 14 to 22-year-olds.
"It's aimed at a young audience, which I don't believe we've had to the festival," Staunton says.
"It's aimed at a young audience, which I don't believe we've had to the festival," Staunton says.
"We've had bits of them to the festival but not en masse."
"We've had bits of them to the festival but not en masse."
Staunton, who has increased festival attendances by more than 30 per cent under his tenure, will present his fifth and final festival next year. "I've indicated to the board that I think five festivals will be enough," he says. "Renewal is very important."
Staunton, who has increased festival attendances by more than 30 per cent under his tenure, will present his fifth and final festival next year. "I've indicated to the board that I think five festivals will be enough," he says. "Renewal is very important."
Two years ago the festival presented a sold-out season of Rhinoceros in Love to appeal to Chinese audiences.
Two years ago the festival presented a sold-out season of Rhinoceros in Love to appeal to Chinese audiences.
This year it has invited Ireland's Pan Pan Theatre and Chinese producer Sun Yue to stage Fight the Landlord, another play spoken in Mandarin.
This year it has invited Ireland's Pan Pan Theatre and Chinese producer Sun Yue to stage Fight the Landlord, another play spoken in Mandarin.