Robert Barker/University Photography

From left, Joey Steinhagen, artistic director of Running to Places; Vice President Joel Malina, founding cast member of "Fame: The Musical"; and Jeremy Pletter, resident music director of Running to Places.

Twenty-six years ago, Joel Malina walked down a red carpet for the opening night of the world premiere of “Fame: The Musical,” in which he starred as “gifted yet tortured” violinist Schlomo Metzenbaum. In those days Cornell’s vice president for university relations was a professional actor, and “Fame” was a turning point in his career.

When he learned that Running to Places (R2P), an Ithaca youth theater company, was staging “Fame,” he offered to join them for some rehearsals and to share his experiences with the cast.

“This is an amazing opportunity for these young people, to hear what it was like to stage an original show from someone who was there,” said Joey Steinhagen, R2P artistic director.

On Oct. 26, Malina spoke to a rehearsal room full of enthusiastic high school actors at the Just Be Cause Center in Ithaca. He kept his audience spellbound with stories from his career, even breaking into song at one point.

“I’m happy to share my journey and how it took me to new and exciting places, including my job at Cornell,” he told the cast. “My six years as an actor made me who I am today. It opened doors I didn’t anticipate and made me a stronger and more well-rounded person.”

Malina majored in political science at Yale University but had been involved with theater since elementary school. At graduation, he was faced with the difficult choice of law school or the stage. His cousin Josh Malina (who plays David Rosen on TV’s “Scandal”) counseled him to take the opportunity to pursue his dream: Don’t wake up at 50 having let it pass you by, Josh told him.

Provided

Founding members of the "Fame" cast Joel Malina and Monique Cintron perform in Miami.

Malina took his cousin’s advice. But because of his college degree, Malina didn’t have to be a waiter while searching for acting jobs; he worked as a paralegal, filling a midnight to 6 a.m. shift so he never had to miss an audition.

His first role was in a “mediocre” musical revue in Miami Beach, he told the R2P cast, “but it is a magical moment when you get your first paycheck as an actor.”

He almost didn’t get cast in “Fame” because his violin playing was a bit rusty. Even though Malina had been playing violin since he was 5 and had been the concertmaster of his high school orchestra, “Fame” composer Steve Marshoshes wanted a virtuoso in the role. The composer insisted he learn and audition with the famously difficult Tchaikovsky violin concerto. Malina got his brother (a Tony Award-winning orchestrator) to coach him, and he won the role and spent three months intensively practicing before “Fame” rehearsals began.

Preparing an original show for a hoped-for Broadway debut was an exciting process, despite its frustrations, said Malina. He described working with the creative team and how scenes were added to the show – sometimes the same day as a performance.

One of Malina’s favorite memories was being on stage as Schlomo listening to Carmen sing “In L.A.,” which deeply moved him. He’s still in touch with Monique Cintron, who played Carmen – and whose daughter is a freshman at Cornell, as well as many others in the cast. He’s invited them all to Ithaca the weekend of Jan. 16 to see R2P’s production of “Fame.”

Malina’s advice to teens considering an acting career: Get a liberal arts education. “Don’t lock yourself into ‘this is all I’m doing,’” he said.

Still, he added, “at the end of the day, do something that gives you fulfillment. Money is important, but it’s not life. Ask yourself, what are you doing to find joy?”

Linda B. Glaser is a volunteer with Running to Places.