Local teen is one step away from 'Fame'

A powerful performance of 'This Is The Moment' from the musical 'Jekyll and Hyde' ensured Dunshaughlin teenager Sean Carey a place in next Sunday night's final of 'Fame: The Musical', when he will be depending on support from the voting public to win the lead male role in the hit show that is set to tour Ireland later this year. With the public vote eliminating two participants on Sunday night, one male and one female, it was a crunch moment for Sean and the other two competitors he was up against for the role of Nick. He will face opposition from Ben Morris from Tallaght in the ultimate sing-off on Sunday night next, following the elimination of Waterford's Michael Joseph in The Helix at the weekend. Following performances from the six, Michael and Roisin Magee from Newry, got the least amount of votes, meaning that they automatically left the competition. In previous weeks, the judges, theatre producer Robert C Kelly, Fame's original star Erica Gimpel and actor Simon Delaney, had the power to save performers, but this week the decision lay firmly in the hands of the voting public, as will next Sunday night's final. Dubliners Jessica Cervi from East Wall and Sarah O'Connor from Lucan are the two females left. Ben Morris was the first to be made safe after a well-received rendition of 'Somebody to Love' from Queen, a song he said he loved. Michael, who sang 'Come What May' from 'Moulin Rouge' received the lowest number of public votes. The judges were all impressed with Sean Carey's performance, particularly his holding of the high note at the end of the song. A protege of St Mary's Musical Society in Navan, and a past pupil of Gaelscoil na Rithe and Dunshaughlin Community College, he is studying at NUI Maynooth, but that has been on hold as the Fame competition progressed. The search for the stars of 'Fame: The Musical' was launched in January and thousands of applications were received. The 12 finalists were chosen from the hundreds of performers who went on to audition at locations in Dublin, Cork, and in London's West End. In a first for Irish television, the show is offering one male and one female the chance to kick-start their career and land the lead roles of Nick and Serena in the nationwide tour. Presented by Derek Mooney, 'Fame: The Musical' airs on RTE One at 6.30pm on Sunday with the results show at 8.30pm. To support Sean Carey, text FAME 10 to 53125 or call 1513 71 71 10 when the lines open after the performances.