High school musicals and teen angst star in new drama ‘Rise’
LOS ANGELES — Even if you’re trying to put the squeeze on a ballooning TV watchlist, consider the pedigree of NBC’s “Rise”: It’s from the “Friday Night Lights” producer who created “Parenthood” and a producer of Broadway’s “Hamilton.”
With stars Josh Radnor (“How I Met Your Mother”) and Rosie Perez (“Fearless”) and a strong cast of young performers, including Auli’i Cravalho of “Moana,” the drama revolving around a small-town high school and its theater program clearly deserves attention.
For Jason Katims, the chance to take a different approach to themes he explored as executive producer of “Friday Night Lights” drew him to “Rise,” debuting 10 p.m. Tuesday. He was captivated by the “idea of being able to observe the people of this community and do it through this beautiful storytelling device of musical theater,” said Katims, who’s collaborating with “Hamilton” producer Jeffrey Seller.
Don’t be misled by “musical” and “high school.” The series, inspired by the life’s work of teacher Lou Volpe that was detailed in Michael Sokolove’s 2013 book “Drama High,” doesn’t pick up where “Glee” left off.
“If I felt like that was the show it was going to be I wouldn’t have done it, because ‘Glee’ did that so beautifully,” Katims said. “We spend as much time, more time in fact, in their [the students] homes and with their families and relationships. … and the theater becomes their home base in a way that’s driving the story.”
The youngsters face challenges that are both timeless and contemporary, including teen pregnancy and gender identity. Shades of “Friday Night Lights,” there’s even a football thread, with one student (Damon J. Gillespie) caught between his talents as an athlete and a performer. The adults face their own problems.