A chronicle of the lives of several teenagers who attend a New York high school for students gifted in the performing arts.
Acting
Irene Cara's raw audition scene—real tears, one take.
Direction
Alan Parker made actual NYC kids bleed for authenticity.
Score
That title song lives rent-free in your skull forever.
Director
Alan Parker
Irene Cara
Coco Hernandez
Barry Miller
Ralph Garci/Raul Garcia
Maureen Teefy
Doris Finsecker
Paul McCrane
Montgomery MacNeil
Lee Curreri
Bruno Martelli
Gene Anthony Ray
Leroy Johnson
Antonia Franceschi
Hilary Van Doren
Laura Dean
Lisa Monroe
Boyd Gaines
Michael
Albert Hague
Mr. Shorofsky
Tresa Hughes
Mrs. Finsecker
Anne Meara
Mrs. Sherwood
Joanna Merlin
Miss Berg
Jim Moody
Farrell
Debbie Allen
Lydia
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Gene Anthony Ray (Leroy) was literally a street dancer Alan Parker discovered; he couldn't read or write, just like his character.
The TV series ran six seasons and made Debbie Allen famous, but Parker hated it—said it betrayed the film's grit.
US
