Rise (2018) - Top 5 Facts You Need to Know!
It's time to learn more about the upcoming hit show, “Rise!” We'll be looking at fun facts related to the upcoming drama series “Rise”, set to debut on March 13th, 2018. Did you know that it's based on the novel, “Drama high?” Dans of Glee and Friday Night Lights will LOVE IT! Whether you were a diehard Gleek, a fanatical supporter of the Permian Panthers or both; chances are you will totally love “Rise”. The show dips into both of their worlds, as it focuses on an English teacher tasked with revitalizing a theatre program at a school whose main priority is football.
#5: It's Based on the Novel "Drama High"
Okay we confess, “Rise” isn’t actually based on book called “Drama High”. It’s actually based on a book called “Drama High: The Incredible True Story of a Brilliant Teacher, a Struggling Town, and the Magic of Theater”; but that was a little too long to squeeze into the entry title. The novel, which was published in 2013 and written by Michael Sokolove, is based on the true story of Lou Volpe, a teacher at Harry S Truman High School who over the course of many years turned the school’s theatre program into one of the most respected in the entire country.
#4: It's From the Mind of Tony Winner Jeffrey Seller
An award winning theatre producer who has worked on everything from “Rent” to “Hamilton”, Jeffrey Seller is exactly the kind of person you want crafting a show about an upstart theater program. Since 1996, he has had a hand in developing numerous Broadway hits and he’s been rewarded for his work to the tune of five Tony Awards. With his sights now set on making “Rise” NBC’s next big thing we can’t help but wonder to what heights the show will soar. Depending on its level of success we may well see “Rise” on Broadway somewhere down the line!
#3: It’s Working to Promote Theater Arts Education
In a truly inspirational move, NBC has teamed up with the Educational Theatre Foundation to provide grants of $10,000 to 50 schools across America. The $500,000 pledge will seek to revive numerous floundering theatre programs from across the country. The partnership is to be called R.I.S.E America, a clear reference to the network’s upcoming show. The impact of this donation is simply immeasurable, as it will impact the lives of countless U.S. teens for years to come. It sure is nice to see a major corporation giving back in a big way!
#2: Fans of “Glee” and “Friday Night Lights” Will Love It
Whether you were a diehard Gleek, a fanatical supporter of the Permian Panthers or both; chances are you will totally love “Rise”. The show dips into both of their worlds, as it focuses on an English teacher tasked with revitalizing a theatre program at a school whose main priority is football. “Rise” has the added benefit of being developed by the former executive producer and head writer of “Friday Night Lights” Jason Katims; who won a Primetime Emmy for his work on the show. An inspiring plot based on true events developed by veteran producers Jeffrey Seller and Jason Katims; what more could we possible have to say….
#1: It’s Has a Great Cast
The cast is stacked with both new and old faces of varying degrees of celebrity. For starters, the one and only Josh Radnor, who you’ll instantly recognize as Ted Mosby from “How I Met Your Mother”, will play “Rise”’s main character Lou Mazzuchelli. As if that weren’t already enough, the show will also feature Academy Award nominee Rosie Perez as well as Auli'i Cravalho, the uber-talented teen star of Disney’s “Moana”. Still not impressed? That’s okay, we saved the best for last; and her name is Barb. Okay, her name is actually Shannon Purser but you’ll know her best as Barb from “Stranger Things”. Seriously, how pumped are you for this show?
