Meet the Cast of the New 'Fame'
by Matt McDaniel 
June 17, 2009
Nearly 30 years ago, movie audiences were first introduced to a high school that was genuinely musical. "Fame" was inspired by the New York High School of Performing Arts, the real life institution whose graduates include Al Pacino, Liza Minnelli and Jennifer Aniston. The film was a hit, earning six Oscar nominations and winning two, and it also spawned a TV series, a reality show, and stage musical.
Now that youth-centered musicals are back in vogue, "Fame" is coming back to the big screen. This new movie isn't a direct remake. The characters are completely different, but it does repeat the structure of the original by following the students from their freshman auditions through their senior year.
The new movie has some familiar names playing the teachers: Kelsey Grammer, Megan Mullally, Bebe Neuwirth, Charles S. Dutton and Debbie Allen (the only actor returning from the original movie and TV series). But the real draw is in the young talents who are breaking out as the students. Here is an introduction to the cast who are each hoping you'll remember their name (remember, remember, remember, remember).
KHERINGTON PAYNE
Role: Alice - dancer
It turns out appearing on a reality show can lead to a career in show biz. A dancer since she was in diapers, Kherington auditioned for "So You Think You Can Dance" at age 18. She made it to the top 10 of the fourth season.
NATURI NAUGHTON
Role: Denise - singer/pianist
As part of the girl group 3LW, Naturi had a platinum record by the age of 17. In 2006, she appeared on Broadway in "Hairspray," and earlier this year she played Lil' Kim in the surprise hit movie, "Notorious."
COLLINS PENNIE
Role: Malik - actor/rapper
Collins spent much of his childhood in foster homes, until he moved out at age 15. He scored TV roles in his native New York, which lead to a modeling campaign for Calvin Klein. He's since appeared in the movies "Half Nelson," "Prom Night," and "Fired Up."
KAY PANABAKER
Role: Jenny - actress
Kay was her high school class' valedictorian. Which is impressive enough, but she was just 13 at the time. She received her BA in history from UCLA before she turned 18. And if that didn't keep her busy enough, she's been on the shows "Summerland," "Phil of the Future," "CSI: Miami" and in the 2007 movie "Nancy Drew."
PAUL MCGILL
Role: Kevin - dancer
Paul was a junior in high school when he got a role in the Broadway revival of "La Cage aux Folles." After graduating, he returned to the Great White Way in "A Chorus Line." He also appeared as the young version of tightrope walker Phillipe Petit in the Oscar-winning "Man on Wire."
ANNA MARIA PEREZ DE TAGLE
Role: Joy - actress
Anna Maria grew up acting and singing in regional theater production, and eventually she convinced her parents to let her go to a professional audition. It happened to be for "Hannah Montana," and she got the recurring role of "Ashley Dewitt." That lead to a part in the Disney Channel movie "Camp Rock," which she'll soon reprise in "Camp Rock 2."
ASHER BOOK
Role: Marco - singer
Asher has been singing on screen since his first role in the 2004 ABC Family movie "Pop Rocks." He also performs in the group V Factory, and their first album is in the works with a song written by "American Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi.
PAUL IACONO
Role: Neil - director
At only 4 years old, Paul was performing in a New York City cabaret impersonating Frank Sinatra. He appeared on "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" ten times as a child, and worked on several soap operas. Paul was also the voice of Benny the Bull on "Dora the Explorer."
KRISTY FLORES
Role: Rosie - dancer/actress
Kristy is a Bronx, NY native who has been dancing since she was three years old. She had been teaching at the Bronx Dance Theater and in public schools when she was invited to fly out to Los Angeles to audition for the movie. This is her first on-screen role.
WALTER PEREZ
Role: Victor - musician/composer
Walter spent three years developing his skills with Colors United, a performing arts group for inner-city high school students. He's appeared in movies and on TV, including a recurring role on "Friday Night Lights," all while earning his B.A. in Criminal Justice from Cal State Fullerton.
"Fame" is the highest-profile project for each of these young talents, and it could propel any of them to stardom when it hits theaters in September. So see if they really did learn how to fly (high!), watch them in action in the exclusive trailer below.
