Doug Atchison Director, Screenwriter Laurence Fishburne Dr. Larabee Actor, Producer Angela Bassett Tanya Actor Keke Palmer Akeelah Anderson Actor Curtis Armstrong Mr. Welch Actor Tzi Ma Mr. Chiu Actor Lee Thompson Young Devon Actor Dalia Phillips Ms. Cross Actor Craig Wasson Ted Saunders Actor J.R. Villarreal Javier Actor Sean Michael Afable Dylan Actor Sara Niemietz Polly Actor Eddie Steeples Derrick-T Actor Julito McCullum Terrence Actor Erica Hubbard Kiana Anderson Actor Sahara Garey Georgia Actor Sidney Ganis Producer Nancy Hult Producer Daniel Llewelyn Producer Michael Romersa Producer Marc Butan Executive Producer Mark Cuban Executive Producer Michael Paseornek Executive Producer Helen Sugland Executive Producer Todd Wagner Executive Producer Michael Burns Executive Producer Tom Ortenberg Executive Producer M. David Mullen Cinematographer Glenn Farr Film Editing Aaron Zigman Original Music Warren Alan Young Production Design Shelley A. Wallace Art Director Julieann Getman Set Decoration Sharen Davis Costume Design Jaki Brown Casting Kim Coleman Casting Aisha Coley Casting Michael Johnson Associate Producer