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Act II
The
students begin their junior year with the P.A. Fall Festival
("I Want to Make Magic").
At
a dance rehearsal, Mabel, an overweight dancer, complains about
retaining water, and other problems she faces with the size of her
body. She confesses that, although she tries many weight-loss
schemes and diets, she always goes back to the "Seafood Diet: I
see food, and then I eat it!" She prays aloud for God's help in
keeping her from becoming "the world's fattest dancer"
("Mabel's Prayer"), eventually having an epiphany and
deciding to switch her major to acting. Later, Nick congratulates
Serena for getting the lead female role of Juliet in their junior
show, Romeo
and Juliet. Serena gets excited and assumes that Nick
got the role of Romeo. However, she is surprised to learn that Joe
Vegas has the role of Romeo and Nick got the part of Mercutio.
Lambchops suggests that Nick is gay, and when Serena confronts him
about it, Nick angrily replies that he is straight.
Serena is so angry decides to channel it into her acting
("Think of Meryl
Streep"). Carmen tells Schlomo of her plan to leave
school and go to Los
Angeles. She has met a Hollywood agent
named Elliot Greene, who is sending her a plane ticket. Schlomo begs
her not to go. He had seen her getting into Elliot’s limousine and
accuses her of using cocaine with him. Schlomo tells Carmen he loves
her, but is left alone with his violin/flute/keyboard (depending on
what the actor can actually play).
In
English class, Tyrone is reading a Superman comic
book. Miss Sherman catches him, and forces him to stand up in front
of the class and read from the comic book. He accuses her of trying
to make him look stupid. He then accuses her of racism,
Miss Sherman slaps him in the face and, shocked by what she has
done, runs off. Tyrone says to his classmates he doesn’t need her
help, or the ability to read or write - he is a dancer, and that's
all he needs (“Dancin’ on the Sidewalk.”). Confronting his
pain and frustration, Tyrone goes to the blackboard, writes “I
WILL READ,” and runs off. Miss Sherman enters, sees what he has
written, and is deeply touched. (“These Are My Children.”)
The
students rehearse Romeo and Juliet. Joe, insecure playing Romeo, has
been ad-libbing. Serena pleads with him to be serious in the part.
Nick offers to show him how to play Romeo and winds up kissing
Serena in their first romantic moment. Tyrone asks Iris why she has
been avoiding him all year. She says she doesn’t want to be tied
to a loser. To show her that he is serious, he tells her he is
repeating his senior year and reads a passage of Leaves
of Grass to
her. They dance a pas de deux and walk off together, hand in hand.
A
few of the teachers confront Miss Bell about influencing a summer
school teacher to pass Tyrone. They insist he must repeat the year.
The "Dance Theater of Harlem" is ready to take him, but he
must repeat the year. Miss Bell finally admits she may be losing her
perspective and decides to take a break. Carmen is standing in front
of the school looking physically wasted and disoriented. She spots
Schlomo and tells him the truth about her experiences in Hollywood
("In L.A."). Carmen promises him that she will quit the
drugs and get her GED.
He gives her a couple of dollars and sadly departs.
At
the farewell party, everyone is dressed up and the celebration is
loud and festive. Nick confesses his feelings to Serena and they
decided to try to date although they are heading to different
colleges ("Let's Play a Love Scene" (Reprise)). On the day
of the graduation ceremony, Schlomo tells everyone that Carmen has
died a short while ago from a drug overdose, and they sing
"Bring On Tomorrow" in her memory.
After
the bows, Carmen comes back dancing on the roof of a taxi cab and
sings "Fame" with Schlomo for the Finale. The students are
all heading off in their respective directions, excited about the
future.
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