Episode 13 School for Stars

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Many people dream of fame, success and life in the spotlight.

But few realise it takes years of hard work.

We've been behind the scenes

of one of the most famous stage schools in Britain.

Motivation, commitment - let's do it.

It's got to be sharp, guys.

We've seen the highs and the lows.

The good times and the bad.

I thought you were going to get it.

As the talent of tomorrow juggle school and work.

We're preparing for the performance of a lifetime.

And now, finally, it's gala time at the School For Stars.

Coming up on School For Stars, it's gala night.

Ella, Ed and Jordan take the stage by storm.

But things don't go quite so smoothly for Will and Eloise.

It just is like a huge, huge train wreck.

And Mark's unhappy with his dancers too.

Anybody doing Broken Dreams with me, I need them down here now.

Can the cast get it together for the performance of a lifetime?

Break a leg.

For the past five nights, the Italia Conti Academy Of Theatre Arts

has been celebrating its 100th-year anniversary.

After a spectacular week of shows featuring the whole school,

it's time for the closing night, the centenary gala itself -

a production everyone has wanted to be a part of.

Auditions have taken place across the school

to decide who will play the lead roles.

# Ye-e-eah! #

Top choreographers have been brought in to teach complicated routines.

We need to deliver, basically.

The show director has been flown in from Los Angeles

to make sure only the best will do.

And go, two, three, four, five.

And hundreds of hours have been spent perfecting routines.

This is the A-list - the very best performers in the school.

Tonight, they'll be on stage with ex-pupils who are now professionals

in front of an audience of casting agents

who'll be watching their every move.

THEY CHEER

Over at the New Wimbledon Theatre, the gala cast is starting to arrive.

This has been home to all 305 students for the past week.

With 1,500 seats, it's one of the biggest theatres in London

and the show has sold out every night this week.

It was a dream come true for Ella and Jordan

when they found out they were some of only a few juniors

performing on the closing night.

Yay!

They'll be in two numbers tonight

and they're spending every spare second perfecting their moves

for the Sinatra love song Let's Fall In Love.

We've been practising round these areas,

just going through it.

It's good dancing with Ella, she's a really good dancer.

And it's quite funny with the choreography.

We're just making sure it's all going to go swell.

Ella and Jordan are dancing comedy roles

in the same routine that Rhianna and Max sang on the opening night.

# Let's fall in love. #

Only tonight, it's being sung by two seniors,

including Katie, who we saw get her first big movie role.

Tonight, it would be quite good to show what I actually can do.

I want to perform when I'm older and that's what I'll hopefully do.

# To be or not to be. #

I feel really good about this Sinatra piece cos it's one of my favourites.

You can act childish and really get into the character.

Ella has made some huge sacrifices

to follow her dream of becoming a dancer.

When she decided she wanted to go to this stage school,

her parents came with her,

swapping a home in Cornwall for a hotel in London.

Here's Mum and Dad making some coffee.

Mum and Dad's bed, my bed, my teddy.

Tonight's a chance for Ella to show her mum and dad

that everything they've given up for her has been worth it.

It's so important my parents are here

because I wouldn't be here if they weren't here

so it means so much to me. I just have to give it everything.

With just hours to go before the curtain rises,

everybody backstage is busy getting ready

for their final dress rehearsals.

Oh, it stinks of fake tan in here.

Eloise has one of the main parts in the show.

She's singing a huge gospel number called Memphis.

It's our centenary year gala performance.

I've got to up my game now. I can't be the student.

Eloise started singing at one of the associate schools

when she was just seven.

# Maybe, baby... #

'My ambition is to be a pop singer and do arena tours'

and conquer the world.

With tonight's audience full of agents,

that dream could become a reality for Eloise

and for her singing partner Will.

Will had to audition against two of his classmates to win the role.

When you're in there, do or die.

# The music of my own. #

Now he's here, he can't wait to get on stage with Eloise.

-Excited?

-Yeah, I'm ready.

I'm literally buzzing.

Absolutely buzzing. I'll tire myself out before we get onstage.

The audience will have more professionals than parents so they'll expect a professional show.

Yeah, definitely.

# Tonight's the kind of night Everything could change... #

Out in the theatre's auditorium,

the stage staff are gearing up for the final dress rehearsal.

And senior dancer Paul, who only recently

recovered from a fractured thumb,

has been given some exciting news.

I've just found out I'm in the gala performance of the Sinatra section,

which I wasn't meant to be in. It's really exciting suddenly getting in,

like, "You're in the gala." "Yes!"

At the last minute, Paul's been given a new role.

One of the other dancers fell ill so he's been chosen to replace him.

He'll be on just after Ella and Jordan

but right now he has to learn all the moves with his partner Jess.

We've only got a few minutes to learn the choreography

so it's really intense.

While Paul and Jess work on their routine, a storm is brewing.

That's a snap.

Top choreographer Mark Webb is on the warpath

and looking for the dancers for his routine, Boulevard Of Broken Dreams.

Guys up in the stalls,

if there's anybody doing Broken Dreams with me,

I need them down here now.

Mark feels rehearsals haven't been going well enough

and is determined to get some more time with his dancers

-before today's dress rehearsal.

-It's hard at the top.

Trouble is, the only free space is outside in the rain.

Let's go through it slowly. The first bit you're going

one, bob, tat, tat, hand, bob, bob, drop.

Let's see that again.

Six and seven and eight and...

One and two and three and four.

And two and three and four! And one and two and three and four!

Mark seems happier but in any case time's run out

and the cast are being called in by Hallie Newton, the show director.

She wants to see a practice run of the whole show -

and wants it looking good.

You are on this stage with professionals, tonight.

We've got to bring it up a notch, OK?

This is not a student show, this is a pro show, OK?

You're working with the best of the best here. Got it?

Really excited. This is what we've been waiting for

and working towards for months so I can't wait.

The practice run gets under way.

Tonight's show will be crammed with jaw-dropping routines

but none are more ambitious than the opening aerial number,

where dancers will perform complex acrobatic moves

in hoops suspended from the theatre's rafters.

Marni was one of the seven girls competing to be in the routine.

She pushed herself to the limit to get the part.

You will really kick yourselves if you give up.

You are either a fighter or you are not.

I just want this role so bad.

I'd really love to go out there and show everyone what I can do.

Marni's hard work paid off. She's not only in the routine,

she's been given the central hoop - where all eyes will be on her.

The cast has been chosen and I did get in, so I'm really happy.

It's the biggest audience I've ever performed to before

and there's going to be a lot of celebrities there.

As well as my family.

We're the opening to the whole show and, when the curtain goes up,

my stomach's probably going to be in knots and I'll be going he-he-he!

Eloise and Will are the last to practise on stage.

Their Memphis routine will be the gala finale

so it's crucial that everyone gets it right.

But it's not just a tough routine for the two leads.

Backing dancer Billie, who will take centre stage for part of the number,

is feeling the pressure.

It's good to be nervous cos it shows you care.

The routine has complicated dance moves

performed with difficult vocals. When the rehearsal's finished,

it seems director Hallie isn't happy.

Can we have Memphis over there?

The cast is handed over to top choreographers

Richard and Rachel for a pep talk.

It just is like a huge, huge train wreck.

When you hit that bit of choreography,

I just want to get up and walk out.

Guys, you're noticed up in the dress circle

for absolutely the minute-est thing.

You think you're not but you are. You'll be scrutinised.

Will, eye-lines, Do You Rock And Roll.

It's very moody when you walk forward.

We've had our little chat, now lift it up and tell the story to the back.

Will and Eloise coming in.

Make sure you play to each other - she was dying up there.

I've seen it done loads of times before. I know you can do it.

Chins up, chests out, smile and just mean it.

For your own sakes - not for ours, for yours.

It's tough criticism and lead dancer Billie is taking it very personally.

I missed the turn on that bit. One, two, three, four, five, six...

I really care about this and I really want this work

so of course I'm nervous cos I want to do well.

I can tell you're worrying.

I just like to get things right all the time.

It has to be perfect all the time. I get really stressed.

-You're human, it was a dress run. It's fine.

-Yeah.

When else do you make mistakes, Billie? Never.

-No, I never make mistakes.

-Yeah, exactly, so, one little thing.

Don't worry. You're only human.

Right now for the whole Memphis cast, things are looking bleak.

But their time has run out.

It's not just the cast who are nervous.

For Head Of Musical Theatre Karen it's a big night too.

We really want this to be a show to remember. It's a celebration.

We're celebrating 100 years.

This is months and months of hard work. It all comes down to tonight.

Everyone's here tonight. Casting agents, directors...

You name it, they're here.

After all the pain and hard work of rehearsals,

finally it's show time.

1,500 people are busy taking their seats,

including ex-pupils like Pixie Lott.

It's time to raise the roof.

Ready?

Opening the show...

Break a leg.

..it's Marni and her aerial cast.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

DRAMATIC MUSIC

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

'It was so amazing.'

I didn't expect to be so nervous but I was a bit shaky.

But it went really well and I didn't fall off, so it was great.

Marni can't wait to celebrate with her sister,

who was a floor dancer in the routine.

I'm really pleased for her and just really proud, a really proud sister.

It's a stunning opening to the show

but things are about to get even more thrilling.

MUSIC: "Thriller" by Michael Jackson

It's the Michael Jackson routine.

# Cos this is thriller

# Thriller night

# And no-one's gonna save you from the beast about to strike... #

And backstage, Ella, Jordan and their classmate, Ed,

are waiting to take the stage.

-It's good to have nerves.

-I know.

Ella and Jordan have their comedy Frank Sinatra dance,

later on in the show.

First, they get to dance with the seniors

in the Michael Jackson routine.

Ella, Ed and Jordan were selected after a really tough audition

where they impressed some of the school's most experienced dancers,

as well as Sean, the Michael Jackson choreographer.

That went really well!

They are the only juniors to be appearing in not one

but two routines in the gala tonight.

The first is a section in the Michael Jackson routine.

The three friends will be dancing to Smooth Criminal

but on the way to the stage, after all these weeks of practice,

Ed starts to get worried about some of the choreography.

-Try it on the outside, put that leg there.

-No, cos I trip.

I trip.

-What was it before?

-I always step there. Do you?

Can we do that again so I don't drop you on stage?

I can't do the move without you sticking out your bum.

We need to go out now.

-Stick out your bum.

-Let's go.

# Thriller, thriller night... #

It's time to see if Ella, Ed and Jordan

can cut it with the older performers.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

# Ow

# Ow

# Oooh

# Oooh

# Oooh

# Ow

# Annie, are you OK? Will you tell us?

# Are you OK, Annie?

# There's a sign in the window

# That he struck you A crescendo, Annie

# He came into your apartment

# He left bloodstains on the carpet

# Then you ran into the bedroom

# You were struck down It was your doom, Annie

# Ow! #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

That went so good! Oh, my God! THEY LAUGH

Oh, my God!

-Yey! I'm really sweaty, actually.

-I know.

-My hat's caught.

-High-five. Ow!

You guys do good on the Sinatra.

It's a knockout performance

but Jordan and Ella now have just minutes

to get changed for their Sinatra routine.

On stage, Mark's dancers are doing him proud.

It seems the last-minute practice in the rain

was worth every soggy second.

-Whoo!

-It's OK for those coming off the stage

but for those still waiting to go on, it's an anxious time.

Especially for Eloise and the cast of Memphis,

whose routine will close the show.

It feels real now. Now the costume's gone on.

Tonight I've got nine people from my family all coming from up north.

All my grandparents and family, so...that's added pressure.

I'm more nervous about that than the celebrities in the audience.

It's that point before where you feel the butterflies going,

you're like, "Right, it's time!"

That split second before I step on,

all the nerves come rushing to me and then...

It's all right, I like that feeling.

It always makes the performance better if I get that.

The Sinatra routine starts on stage, which means for Ella and Jordan,

their final performance of the night is just moments away.

We're just about to go on in a minute and...ish, it's all right.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

BRASS BAND PLAYS

LAUGHTER

# We might have been meant for each other

# To be or not to be

# Let our hearts discover

# Let's fall in love

# Why shouldn't we Fall in love...? #

Ella and Jordan look like they're having fun

and what a difference this performance is

from the one Katy had in her street film.

# In love

# Let's fall in love. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Ella and Jordan's comedy performance has brought the house down.

Let's get this party started!

We didn't know it was going to be that good.

Ella's really good, she's a genuinely amazing dancer

and one of the best at school, so...

-it's good to dance with her.

-We're a good couple.

Classmate Amber is also a fan, as is Jade,

but for Ella, tonight's performance was all about pleasing her parents.

I love my parents and my mum always says to me,

"Just give it all you've got cos you're only doing it once."

ELLA LAUGHS

Sinatra's over for the juniors but for senior student Paul,

the challenge is just beginning.

When Paul fractured his thumb,

his dream of starring in the gala started to fade away.

But all that seems forgotten now as he dances with Jess.

They may have only learned the choreography today

but the crowd love it.

You'd never think just a few weeks ago,

Paul couldn't even lift a coffee cup.

Tonight's just a night to remember.

I can't really say much more than that. I'm still buzzing from it.

With Sinatra done, it's all down to Eloise, Will and the cast of Memphis

to put their nightmare dress rehearsal behind them.

I just want to get on there now, I'm like, completely...

(Just want to get on!)

I'm really excited, I'm buzzing now, really buzzing.

(Here we go!)

It's down to Will to open the routine with his vocal solo.

# When I was a young boy

# My daddy sat me down

# He said, "Son

# "Don't you never go to the dark side of town"... #

This ain't helpin'!

# I'm talkin' downtown Memphis

# See that's where the poor folk play

# And I said, "Yes, sir, Daddy"

# Oh, then I snuck down anyway

# It broke down all my senses

# It made me feel so whole

# See, I was lost until I found

# I was deaf until I heard

# I'll make this world come around to

# The music of my soul

# The music of my...

# Soul. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

With the crowd on their side,

it's time for Will and Eloise to bring the routine home.

# First comes a point in everybody's life

# When they gotta stand up and face the fight

# There comes a point in everybody's life

# When they've gotta wonder if they've done right

# I swallowed my fear

# Heart's right here

# And through it all

# One almighty thought stood clear... #

Their disastrous dress rehearsal has given them the push they needed.

The whole cast are now dancing in perfect unison,

with lead dancer Billie shining at the front.

# Listen to the beat Listen to the beats

-# Play it

-Play it

-# Obey it

-Obey it

# Play it, let it make you whole... #

And finally the whole cast,

including celebrity ex-pupils from the West End stage,

bring the centenary gala to an epic end.

# Na na na na na-na na-na na

# Na

# Oh, yeah

# Na na na na na-na na-na na

# Na na na na na-na na-na na

# Na na na na na-na na-na na

# Yeah

# And if you listen to the beat and hear what's in your soul

# You'll never let anyone

# Never let anyone

# Never let anyone steal

# Your rock and

# Roll. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Well done, that was amazing! ELOISE LAUGHS

-That was such good fun!

-How big was the cheer?!

Yeah, it was pretty big!

Such a good one! They were cheering all the way through.

Aw, I'm literally shaking... That was incredible.

Everything was so together, just wicked, I loved it.

I've never had that kind of buzz and literally, I just let loose.

Brilliant, best feeling in the world. I've just done it.

Aw, the audience, was like, out of this world.

-We're just buzzing, it's brilliant.

-Best feeling ever, amazing.

Couldn't have gone better, could it?

That was so good, the energy was unreal!

Richard pulling us together before the show made us up our game.

We realised it wasn't as good as it could be and that was...bang on it.

Just amazing.

ALL: Yes!

# The stars come out

# And all that counts

# Is here and now... #

For everyone involved in this show,

the weeks of hard work have paid off.

# I'm glad you came... #

Guys, that's professional level.

It's without doubt one of the most exceptional shows we've done.

As the night draws to a close, the talk at the stage door

is about Ella, Ed and Jordan,

who stepped up to perform with the seniors.

I thought Jordan did really well. Him and Ed just completely blew it away.

Ella did amazing. She was so good, I was so proud of her.

CHEERING

Finally.

Go, Ella, and then you couldn't hear us.

Well done, you're amazing!

Very proud. She was just amazing.

She doesn't want to listen!

-It was wonderful.

-Just astonishing.

With the end of the show comes an end to the summer term.

But things have not stood still for the cast of School For Stars.

Layton is now a senior and has been offered two panto roles.

Despite turning up late for her acting exam, Fifi got a distinction.

Alex is still at the school and still practising his guitar playing.

Lyndsey got a B in GCSE Maths, an A in English

and is on track for opening her own dance school.

Fiona got into the acting college she wanted with As in both

GCSE Dance and Drama.

Tyler and Morgy are still writing songs together.

Ella was booked for a job with Pineapple Studios.

Jordan's continuing his run as a Munchkin in London's West End.

Callum has left the school

but is gearing up to defend his European dance title.

Natasha's end-of-year award has encouraged her to work even harder

to get that lead role.

Jade and Max have just celebrated their one-year anniversary.

Lucia had a fantastic opening night at Billy Elliot

and was happy to give Fifi her autograph.

Reece is still dancing, acting and trying to make his mum happy.

And Paris, Molly and Georgia haven't given up on that dream move

to Los Angeles.

Oh, and Mimi? Well, she is still turning over a new leaf.

Life goes on...

at the School For Stars.

# The way you are

# The way you are

# Cos you're amazing

# Just the way you are

# And when you smile

# The whole world stops and stares for a while

# Cos, girl, you're amazing

# Just the way you are... #

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