Curtain opens on ‘Fame’ remake in Las Vegas

Special to the Sun/ Ethan Miller, Getty Images for Harrah's

Actress and choreographer Debbie Allen arrives at the screening of “Fame” at the Paris Las Vegas Sept. 24, 2009, in Las Vegas. The film opens nationwide in the United States on Sept. 25.

By Sarah Feldberg (contact)

Friday, Sept. 25, 2009 | 6:38 a.m.

Years before celebrity culture would reach an all time high – before the Pussycat Dolls gyrated on parked cars singing about wanting groupies and before “celebrity” was considered a possible career path – there was a hit song about being famous.

The theme from the 1980 film “Fame” was about a different kind of fame than the one we seem stuck with today. It was about a recognition that was the result of hard work and perseverance, the kind of notoriety that came with talent, determination and a little bit of luck. Call it old fashioned – that was fame with a backstory.

That brand of fame is back, as is the movie by the same name. Thursday night cast members and director Kevin Tancharoen walked the red carpet at the Paris Las Vegas Theatre Des Arts to celebrate the opening of the 2009 remake of “Fame.”

“I really did want to focus on the fact that there is this idea of instant fame. A lot of people think that they can just go on YouTube and do a crazy stunt or do a little home video and become famous for no reason,” said the 25-year-old Tancharoen, who walked the carpet casually dressed in a “Where the Wild Things Are” T-shirt and black jacket. “I wanted to go back to the old school route and show that a lot of hard work and focus on their craft is the [route] that kind of pays off for a respectable career and one that lasts longer. It doesn’t last just 15 minutes.”

That route is familiar to the young actors and actresses starring in the movie. While most are in their late teens or early 20s, they have guest starred on TV shows, pursued music, danced in reality TV competitions and performed on Broadway on their way to being cast in the new musical.

“We’ve all really struggled as performers. It’s hard to be successful and not struggle,” reflected Kay Panabaker, who at 19 years old already has a lengthy acting resume that includes appearances on “Weeds,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Boston Legal.”

Panabaker walked the red carpet along with seven of her “Fame” co-stars, including “So You Think You Can Dance” breakout Kherington Payne and the actress, choreographer and director Debbie Allen, who, 29 years after she first played in the film, is back for another round of “Fame.” Dressed in a flowing gold top and towering heels, Allen almost didn’t look old enough to have played a teacher in the 1980 incarnation.

“’Fame’ belongs to me. ‘Fame’ is my baby,” she said of why she decided to join the cast for the remake. “I was there at the beginning. I had no idea when I did it that it would come to mean so much to me and do so much for me.”

Not only did Allen play teacher Lydia Grant in both the original movie and TV show, she also took on choreography duties for the show and directed 11 episodes from 1984-1987. Having started her acting career in the late ’70s, Allen has been working in entertainment for more than three decades. In the age of instant celebrity, she knows about the long road to fame as well as anyone.

Asher Brook, who plays a student named Marco in the film, also has a lot of history with “Fame.” Brook actually attended “the ‘Fame’ school” – the Professional Performing Arts School in New York City where much of the movie was shot. While he said running into a former music teacher in the hallway while filming was odd, taking on his character was anything but.

“Why would I not want to play myself?” he laughed.

Director Tancharoen agreed. “They were kind of playing themselves, honestly. We were really looking for people who were kind of authentic in their own shoes. They’re all hard workers. They’re all very young. They’re all very exuberant. I think they’ll have long careers, as well.”

Brook wasn’t the only PPAS alum among the cast. Twenty-two-year-old Paul McGill also attended “the ‘Fame’ school” during his senior year when the Pennsylvania native was cast in a show on Broadway.

“[The film] is pretty accurate,” McGill said on the red carpet, comparing it to his actual high school experience at PPAS. “I used to do flips down the hallway, and I don’t do it in this movie, but people jam in the cafeteria. They sing and they dance and they play instruments. It’s pretty real.”

The onscreen friendships between the characters in the film became a reality, too. Over the course of months of rehearsals and shooting, the ensemble cast of youngsters formed a close bond.

“I like to call it the ‘Fame’-ily,” McGill said, with a laugh.

Fellow cast member Paul Iacono explained it differently. “We’re like a really weird jigsaw puzzle. You wouldn’t think that the pieces fit together, but they do,” he said, his dark curls peeking out from under a stylish hat.

Even when the cameras weren’t rolling, the multitalented cast enjoyed showing off their skills.

“Collins Pennie would break into five-part harmony by himself. Any time Naturi Naughton sang we would all shut up,” Iacono continued.

A bunch of kids hanging out and amusing themselves by singing, joking around and practicing for long careers in showbiz? Somehow that sounds familiar. Better remember these names.