BET Offers Up A Dream in 'ONE NIGHT ONLY'

BET Offers Up A Dream in 'ONE NIGHT ONLY'

New Original Series, ONE NIGHT ONLY, Takes Center Stage On BET Tonight Tuesday, January 23 at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT, BET will premiere the new original program, ONE NIGHT ONLY. This inspiring reality docu-soap follows eight high school kids and their drama teacher from New Orleans' McDonogh 35, as they race to mount the "Dreamgirls" play. Within the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, the series profiles eight enterprising students -- Josh, Chrishira, Deri'Andra, Brandon, Tracci, Michael, Jasmine and Keith -- who join their families and peers in rebuilding their homes, school, and community while also trying to enjoy their teenage years.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070123/AQTU045)

The half-hour, six episode series takes on dramatic twists and turns as these New Orleans students try to keep pace with the demands of preparing themselves for a successful "Dreamgirls" performance, while balancing academics, social activities and their lives in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Taking on the challenge of putting on a show of this magnitude is daunting even for professional theatre groups. This is the 'big time' and for these eight kids who dream of stardom, the stakes are high -- but the bright lights of Broadway are a long way from post-Katrina New Orleans. ONE NIGHT ONLY features guest appearances from Golden Globe Award-winning and Academy Award(R)-nominated star of the hit movie, Jennifer Hudson, actor Blair Underwood, celebrity couple Duane Martin and Tisha Campbell Martin, 2006 American Idol finalist Paris Bennett, Tony Award-winning choreographer George Faison and TLC host and celebrity makeup artist Damone Roberts.

"These students' struggle and determination is inspiration for everyone that dreams really can become reality," said Reginald Hudlin, President of Entertainment for BET. "As the voice of a young Black generation, BET is the perfect home for ONE NIGHT ONLY."

"Scholars and pundits have pondered the social and political consequences of Katrina, but until you've looked into the eyes of a young person in New Orleans, you cannot comprehend the full scale of this human drama," explains ONE NIGHT ONLY director/producer Nia Hill. "We are thrilled to present the real lives, dreams and talents of these dynamic survivors on BET."

In the premiere episode, we are introduced to McDonogh 35 High School and theater teacher/director of the Dreamgirls performance, Troy Poplous, who recounts the struggle to keep the school open after Hurricane Katrina. Through his narrative, we learn that this production has a deeper meaning for those involved. The Dreamgirls story of dreams and perseverance is a theme that the McDonogh students and their community can easily identify with as they rebuild after Hurricane Katrina. Auditions are held with the help of American Idol's Bennett, who knows a thing or two about auditioning (in front of thirty million people).

The final cuts are made and we are introduced to the McDonogh 35 cast of "Dreamgirls":

-- Joshua (Jimmy) -- A senior at McDonogh 35. Joshua is a member of the
choir and serves as the student director for the school's Gospel
Choir.
-- Brandon (C.C.) -- Brandon sings tenor in McDonogh 35 school choir and
is an active parishioner at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church,
where he has been singing since age 8.
-- Keith (Curtis) -- A student at McDonogh 35 where he sings tenor in the
school choir. He is an active parishioner at St. Paul the Apostle
Catholic Church, where he has been singing since age 9.
-- Chrishira (Effie) -- A junior at McDonogh 35 who loves to sing as
well as participate in many other extra-circular activities including:
Majorette, Student Council and Drama Club.
-- Deri'Andra (Deena) -- A New Orleans native and member of the McDonogh
35 school choir, Drama club and Student Council. She is also a member
of the singing group, Aprique.
-- Tracci (Lorrell) -- Attends New Orleans Math and Science High School.
Tracci comes from a musical family and has participated in numerous
nationwide singing contests. She also sings with the group,
Harmonistic Praise.
-- Jasmine (Michelle) -- The 2006 McDonogh 35 Homecoming Queen. She is
an active member of the Student Council, Senior Steering Committee,
and National Honor Society.
-- Michael (Gilbert) - A junior at McDonogh 35 and a member of the school
choir. Michael loves music and has been singing since age 8.

ONE NIGHT ONLY was produced by The Momentum Experience/Strange Fruit Films, with support from Dreamworks/Paramount which covered licensing fees for all amateur productions of the award-winning musical "Dreamgirls" in the United States and Canada during 2006 at high schools, colleges and in community theatres. The program was offered last year in conjunction with the owners of the original musical-which include the estate of Michael Bennett, who directed, choreographed and produced the original Broadway musical, and the Tams-Witmark Music Library Inc. -- with the goal of introducing a new generation of theatergoers to "Dreamgirls" in advance of DreamWorks Pictures/Paramount Pictures holiday release of the long-awaited screen version of the musical. Dreamworks/Paramount also assisted the cast of ONE NIGHT ONLY with wardrobe and licensed the music for the series. Nia Hill and D'Angela Proctor Steed of The Momentum Experience/Strange Fruit Films and Matthew Knowles of MusicWorld serve as Executive Producers of the series.

The movie "Dreamgirls" has already earned over $77 million at the box office (as of January 19-21) and is currently playing in 2,214 theaters. "Dreamgirls" has already won a number of impressive accolades, 8 Academy Award(R) nominations and 3 Golden Globes for Best Picture (Musical or Comedy), Jennifer Hudson for Best Supporting Actress and Eddie Murphy for Best Supporting Actor. In addition, the film was honored with 4 Broadcast Film Critic's Awards including Eddie Murphy for Supporting Actor, Jennifer Hudson for Supporting Actress, "Listen" performed by Beyonce for Best Song and Best Soundtrack.

Editor's Note: Review Screeners, interviews, show clips and artwork are available upon request; contact Zabrina Horton, BET Corporate Communications at (818) 972-3337 or zabrina.horton@bet.net

About BET

BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom, Inc. (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:and)(NYSE:VIA.B), is the leading provider of media and entertainment for African Americans and consumers of Black culture on a global basis. The primary BET cable network reaches more than 84 million households according to Nielsen media research, and can be seen in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. BET Digital Networks -- BET J, BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop -- serve a broader and more diverse audience than the core network. BET.com is a leading internet destination for Black entertainment, music, culture, and news. BET Mobile delivers music, gaming, and video content to the target audiences on wireless devices across virtually all service providers. BET Event Productions is a full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe. Finally, BET International delivers BET content to the consumers of Black culture around the world.

About The Momentum Experience

The Momentum Experience was launched in June of 2006 by Nia Hill with partner D'Angela Proctor Steed as an alternative marketing and distribution company. Hill had a vision....to create content that showed positive images of people of color. With investors such as husband and wife power couple Duane Martin and Tisha Campbell Martin, Will Smith and Blair Underwood, they marketed and distributed their first project with great success...and then on to the next dream.

About Strange Fruit Films

Strange Fruit Films is a Los Angeles-based TV and film production company owned by entrepreneurs Nia Hill and D'Angela Proctor Steed. In ten years, they have financed and produced hundreds of music videos, television shows and live performance DVDs. They have also raised over ten million dollars for five independent films. They have recently launched a new alternative marketing and distribution company with investing partners Duane Martin, Tisha Campbell Martin, Will Smith and Blair Underwood.

About Dreamgirls

"Dreamgirls" is directed by Bill Condon from a screenplay he adapted from the stage musical's original book by Tom Eyen. An Academy Award(R) winner for his screenplay for "Gods and Monsters," which he also directed, Condon received another Oscar nomination for his screenplay adaptation of "Chicago." He more recently wrote and directed "Kinsey." Academy Award(R)-nominated producer Laurence Mark ("Jerry Maguire," "As Good As It Gets," "I, Robot") is the producer of "Dreamgirls," and Patricia Whitcher ("Memoirs of a Geisha," "The Terminal") is the executive producer. The lyrics are by Tom Eyen, with music by Henry Krieger. The creative collaborators on "Dreamgirls" include director of photography Tobias Schliessler ("Friday Night Lights"); two-time Oscar-winning production designer John Myhre ("Memoirs of a Geisha," "Chicago"); editor Virginia Katz ("Kinsey," "Gods and Monsters"); Academy Award(R)-nominated costume designer Sharen Davis ("Ray," "Antwone Fisher"); choreographer Fatima Robinson; casting director Debra Zane ("Traffic," "American Beauty"); Tony Award-winning theatrical lighting designers Jules Fisher & Peggy Eisenhauer ("The Producers," "Chicago"); music supervisors Randy Spendlove ("Chicago," "The Aviator") and Matt Sullivan ("Rent," "Chicago"); music producers The Underdogs (Justin Timberlake, Mariah Carey, Pink); makeup supervisor Shutchai Tym Buacharern ("Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest"); and hair supervisor Camille Friend ("Ray"). A Laurence Mark production presented by DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures, "Dreamgirls" is rated "PG-13" for language, some sexuality, and drug content.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070123/AQTU045
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: BET Networks

CONTACT: Anne Williams, +1-202-608-2063, or anne.williams@bet.net, or
Zabrina Horton, +1-818-972-3337, or Zabrina.horton@bet.net, both of BET
Networks; or Ellene Miles, +1-323-860-7060, ext. 202, or ellene@dvapr.com, of
The DuVernay Agency, for BET Networks

Web site: http://www.bet.com/

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