Oh, Henry

Spencer Patterson

Friday, Aug. 8, 2003 | 4:46 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION: August 10, 2003

For nine weeks Serena Henry lit up the sky like a flame. Now the Henderson resident is hoping to parlay her newfound "Fame" into a career in show business.

From May through July, Henry competed as a contestant on the new NBC reality series "Fame," a show produced and choreographed by Debbie Allen, a cast member of the movie "Fame" and the subsequent '80s television series.

The new show's viewing audience ultimately voted Michigan's Harlemm Lee the winner, but not before the 20-year-old Henry grabbed her share of the spotlight, singing and dancing her way to the final four before bowing out.

"Fame" was not Henry's first foray into the entertainment world. Far from it, the New Jersey native spent nearly five years in Gladys Knight's touring company, starting at the tender age of 11.

Since then she has continued to perform both locally and beyond, under the guidance of her co-managers: mother, Gem, and Kim Flowers of modeling and acting school John Robert Powers. She is a performer in "V, The Ultimate Variety Show" at The Venetian.

On Wednesday Henry spoke about her "Fame" experience, her years with Knight and her triumphant return to Nevada in a phone interview from her Henderson home.

Las Vegas Sun: What originally brought you to Southern Nevada eight years ago?

Serena Henry: I was already on the tour with Gladys, living in Jersey at the time. She asked us to move to Vegas so I could be closer to her and so we could do more shows in Vegas.

Sun: How did you first get hooked up with Gladys Knight at age 11?

SH: We went to her. My mother and I drove down to Atlantic City, where Gladys was performing at Caesars Palace. Our whole plan was to get backstage, and we did by the grace of God.

It was Gladys' birthday, and I told her I had a gift for her. I guess she was expecting balloons or a card or flowers or something, but I sang for her. I sang the gospel hymn, "His Eye is on the Sparrow." And then she took our number and we departed.

A month later Gladys called my mom and said she was starting up a national tour and wanted to take me on as a special guest vocalist. I was on the tour for almost five years.

Sun: During that time, you got to perform for the Clintons, in Washington, right?

SH: It was on the front lawn of the White House, in front of the former president, the first lady and about 200 guests. And it was aired on PBS. That's probably the highlight of my career thus far, besides "Fame."

Sun: What was your initial "Fame" audition in Los Angeles like? Were there lines around the block, as there were for "American Idol?"

SH: It wasn't to the extreme of "'American Idol," but it was a long line. There were people there from 6 in the morning until midnight. I was there eight hours.

Sun: Were you confident when you left you'd be called back to be one of the show's 24 contestants?

SH: We auditioned on a Friday or Saturday, and they told us that we should be expecting calls either Monday or Tuesday. I was sitting by the phone, I'm not gonna lie. I didn't really go out much, and I gave them every number that they could possibly reach me on: fax, business line, cell.

And Monday and Tuesday came by and no call. So I thought, "Well, nice try." You don't always get every part you audition for. But then they called me on Thursday.

Sun: Describe that phone call.

SH: Debbie Allen was the one who called me. I'd just come from getting my hair done and I was about to hop on (Highway) 95 to go back to Henderson and she calls me and says, "Hi Serena, this is Debbie Allen and I just wanted to tell you that you made it on the show 'Fame.' " And I'm screaming and slowing down and cars are honking at me.

Sun: Once the show started, how challenging was it having only 90 seconds to impress the voting public with your singing and dancing?

SH: It's really hard to get in everything you want in that short amount of time. You have to pull all your tricks out of the hat in that minute and 30 seconds. We tried to get right to the core of the songs, the best part of the songs. You know, start with a bang.

Sun: Were you surprised to hear your name called when they pared it down from four to two finalists?

SH: No. Every time I made it to the next round it was a shock to me. Everybody's been asking me if I was upset, sad, mad. But I wasn't. I was just happy to have made it that far, down to the last four out of 24 and out of the thousands who auditioned in the first place.

Sun: Did you think Harlemm was a deserving victor?

SH: Harlemm was very deserving of his win. Throughout the course of the show, when we had our confessionals, they asked who I thought would win or who I wanted to win. And I always said Harlemm. I was pulling for him.

Sun: What has it been like being back in town with your newfound celebrity?

SH: The funniest story is, I was taking a friend to the airport last week, an older lady who needs a wheelchair to get by. So I was looking around for the attendant, and this group of three ladies stopped me. And they were like, "Oh my God, that's the girl from 'Fame!' "

They had a camera and a camcorder and something for me to sign. It was really cool. It feels good to be recognized for your talents.

Sun: Have you had any new job offers since the show ended?

SH: I have something pending right now, possibly two opportunities. I can't say what until they materialize, but I don't think they would have happened if I wasn't on "Fame." I'm keeping my fingers crossed.