Singer's fans are true Bleu

After winning millions of teenage hearts portraying the nice-guy heartthrob, Chad, in Disney's "High School Musical" movies, Corbin Bleu proved to fans at Friday's DuPage County Fair in Wheaton that he is just as charming in real life.

Before they screamed throughout a 12-song show filled with tunes from Bleu's solo album and Disney films, scores of lucky fans won a peek behind the scenes after winning a meet-and-greet contest, co-sponsored by the Daily Herald.

Fourteen-year-old Sarah Rymsza donned her Corbin Bleu T-shirt and clutched her camera with friend Hallie Purcell, also 14, while they waited for Bleu to take the stage for sound check. Both Streamwood High School students gasped when Bleu, 19, greeted the crowd with a smile and many thanks.

"I'm going to ask him to marry me," said Purcell, joking about how she would spend her face-to-face moments with Bleu during the autograph signing.

Even 8-year-old Brittany Applehoff of Bartlett knew exactly what she would tell Bleu when she asked him to sign a copy of her "High School Musical" CD.

"I love you," Brittany said.

Bleu didn't disappoint as he posed for photos, waved to fans peeking over the fence, and even serenaded fan Joon Lee, 18, of North Aurora on stage during his show.

Bleu says being kind and welcoming to fans is natural.

"I think there are a lot of people who go out of their way to not act like that," he said. "But it's about being a good person. We're all human beings."

During his hourlong show that featured backup dancers and intricate choreography (some of it a little racy for his youngest fans), Blue performed his best-known hits like "Push It to the Limit," material from his untitled second solo album coming out in February, and even a cover of Prince's "Let's Go Crazy."

While true Bleu fans can catch him in the upcoming "High School Musical 3," Bleu said it's likely that this is the end of the road for the series.

"It has been a blessing and a great adventure, but it's time to move on to other things," he said.

Still, Bleu and his signature wild locks will pop up both onstage and on screen. He said he plans to continue both music and acting and will appear in an upcoming film about motocross, "Freestyle," which he produced with his father.

"It's all about balance," he said. "All the arts are interconnected and you need to keep working, because you're never as good as you could be."