Scarecrow Suggests | 'Fame' fans might like 'Camp,' 'Girls Rock' and others

Our recommendations this week begin with the obvious, the original "Fame" (1980) that spawned a TV show, a stage musical and millions of amateur performances in bathtubs and basements everywhere. The film follows the lives, loves, insecurities and ambitions of a group of talented teenagers through their years at New York's High School of the Performing Arts. They clash with teachers (including Debbie Allen, who returns as the principal for the remake), struggle with their parents, fall in and out of love with each other and face the harsh realities of the business.

Irene Cara, who plays Coco in the film, sings the titular anthem that won an Oscar for Best Original Song. "Fame" was directed by Alan Parker, whose résumé includes Pink Floyd's "The Wall," the film version of "Evita" starring Madonna, and the highly entertaining story of rag-tag group of Irish working class musicians, "The Commitments."

The drama moves out of school and into an upstate New York performing-arts center in "Camp" (2003). Over the course of a summer, a group of teenagers stage various productions like "Romeo & Juliet" and "Dreamgirls" while getting into entanglements both professional and romantic. Legendary composer Stephen Sondheim appears as himself in a brief cameo.

Northwest musicians deliver an amplified message of empowerment to young women in "Girls Rock" (2007), a documentary about the Rock and Roll Camp in Portland that gives girls 8-18 five days to form a band, learn their instruments, write a song and perform it in front of 750 people. "We all remember what it was like to be an adolescent, and I think we all kind of hope that we can give them what we needed at that time," says one of the camp's leaders; through the hectic week they don't just teach rock fundamentals but use music to give their group a strong sense of self and achievement.

At the other end of the age spectrum are the subjects of the documentary "Young@Heart" (2007), a lighthearted portrait of a Massachusetts senior-citizens choir. Their group doesn't have a repertoire of old standards, but instead delivers inspired performances of songs by artists like The Clash and Coldplay. You might laugh at the thought of such a group belting out The Ramones "I Wanna Be Sedated," but it will also warm your heart.

"A Chorus Line" might just be the ultimate tale of aspiring performers. Die-hard fans of the Broadway musical often find fault with the 1985 film starring Michael Douglas, but the songs still ring true. It's a perfect double feature with "Every Little Step" (2008), the documentary that played at this year's Seattle International Film Festival that tells parallel stories of the musical's original conception and production along side a behind the scenes look at the exhaustive and emotionally draining audition process of the 2006 Broadway revival.

We also have a grab-bag of performance-related recommendations: Staff favorite "School Of Rock" (2003) stars Jack Black as a loser musician who masquerades as a substitute teacher and ends up turning a group of bright but reserved private elementary-school kids into a pretty tight rock group. Teen drama "Center Stage" (2000), Robert Altman's "The Company" (2003) and the charming "Billy Elliot" (2000) are all very different looks at the lives of ballet dancers. Bob Fosse's semi-autobiographical film "All That Jazz" (1979) starring Roy Scheider warns of over-expending one's talents, while "Ladies and Gentlemen: The Fabulous Stains" (1981) shows the dangers in finding success too quickly though the self-destructive antics of a teenage punk band fronted by a then-15-year-old Diane Lane. And lastly, we find ourselves coming back to three modern classics in which the heroes are inspired to triumph over adversity though dance: "Flashdance" (1983), "Footloose" (1984) and "Dirty Dancing" (1987).

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