WATERVILLE (AP) – The American premiere of the theatrical production “Fame Forever” will be at the Waterville Opera House, where the show will open this fall. The production’s international premiere was May 3 in Glascow, Scotland.

Auditions will be held during the first week in June for the sequel to “Fame, the Musical.” People from Maine and beyond are expected to try out for parts. The premiere will be on Sept. 21, followed by performances on Sept. 22-23 and Sept. 28-30.

“We will be the first place in the United States that will do the show – it’s just amazing,” Opera House Director Diane Bryan. “It will be so very exciting. I’m just tickled to death.”

“Fame Forever” producer David DeSilva, who conceived and developed the 1980 Academy Award-nominated picture “Fame” and worked on the theater version later, chose Waterville for the U.S. premiere after visiting the area last summer and meeting with Bryan.

“I heard that Waterville had done ‘Fame’ last year and very successfully, so having researched what theaters had done the show in the last year, I discovered Waterville,” DeSilva said. “I went up to meet with Diane Bryan and one thing led to another.”

DeSilva plans to attend the U.S. premiere with Ben Winter, who wrote the lyrics, and Steve Margoshes, who wrote the music for “Fame Forever.”

Debra Susi, who directed “Fame” at the Opera House last year, will direct “Fame Forever.” Her musical director will be Michael Peterson of Oakland.

The original “Fame” is about students who audition for the New York City High School for the Performing Arts. It follows their struggles and heartbreaks and triumphs after being accepted.

“Fame Forever” takes place 20 years later and reveals the fate of some of the original characters, and their children who are students at the school.

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Information from: Morning Sentinel, http://www.onlinesentinel.com/