Dancing on the Edge – a miniseries event inspired by accounts of the Duke Ellington Band mingling with English high society during the early 1030s – is set to premiere on Starz following the finale of the network’s The White Queen. The bliss accompanying the Louis Lester Band’s embrace by the British elite vanishes when members of the band become entangled in a murder conspiracy.
Dancing on the Edge’s star-studded cast includes Oscar®-nominee Chiwetal Ejiofor, Matthew Goode, Jaqueline Bisset and John Goodman. The five-part miniseries premieres on October 19th at 10/9C, following the finale of The White Queen, before moving to its regular timeslot for the remainder of its run. Check out the press release for more details – including a first-look video.
Starz to Premiere Jazz-centric Original Miniseries Event “Dancing on the Edge” On Saturday, October 19th at 10pm et/pt
Starring Golden Globe® Nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor and Matthew Goode, Along with Emmy® and Golden Globe® Award Nominee Jacqueline Bisset and Emmy® and Golden Globe® Award Winner John Goodman
Network Reveals Key Art and First Look Video from Musical Drama Set in 1930s London
Beverly Hills, Calif., August 20, 2013 – Starz is excited to announce that the U.S. television debut of the STARZ Original Miniseries Event “Dancing on the Edge,” will premiere on Saturday, October 19th at 10pm ET/PT on STARZ, following the finale episode of “The White Queen.” The tuneful five-part drama will continue airing on Saturday nights at 9pm and stars Golden Globe® Award nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years of a Slave–releasing in October 2013, Salt, American Gangster), Matthew Goode (Stoker, A Single Man, Brideshead Revisited), Emmy® and Golden Globe® Award nominee Jacqueline Bisset (Joan of Arc, Two Jacks) and Emmy® and Golden Globe® Award winner John Goodman (The Monuments Men, Inside Llewyn Davis–both set to release in December 2013, Monster’s University).
Written by the multi-award winning writer/director Stephen Poliakoff (Glorious 39, “Gideon’s Daughter,” “The Lost Prince”), “Dancing on the Edge,” features original lyrics and music from the Emmy® Award-winning musician and composer Adrian Johnston (“Gideon’s Daughter,” “Shackleton,” Kinky Boots, Brideshead Revisited). Actresses Angel Coulby (“The Tunnel,” “Merlin”) and Wunmi Mosaku (I Am Slave, “The Body Farm”), both lend their extraordinary, authentic vocals to perform the original soundtrack.
Inspired by true accounts of the phenomenal Duke Ellington Band mingling with the future Duke of Windsor Edward VIII in Europe, “Dancing on the Edge” takes place in London during the early 1930s. The story illustrates the journey of a group of Black jazz musicians – the Louis Lester Band – as they steadily rise to stardom, a result of performing at various elite social gatherings hosted by London’s aristocrats. Although Britain’s climate was flourishing with extraordinary social change, much of the upper-class loathed the idea of Black musicians performing in polite society. Still, the city’s more progressive socialites (including members of the Royal Household) befriend the ensemble and introduce them to posh life. The blissful eminence surrounding the band abruptly changes when the band members are entangled in a murder conspiracy.
The striking cast also includes Janet Montgomery (Black Swan, “Entourage”) as Sarah, the insightful photographer; Anthony Head (The Iron Lady, “Merlin,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) the compassionate gentleman named Donaldson and Tom Hughes (“The Lady Vanishes,” Cemetery Junction) plays Julian, the employee of Masterson and socialite brother of Pamela played by Joanna Vanderham (“The Runaway,” “Young Herriot”).
The miniseries event will conclude with a special hour-long epilogue entitled “Interviewing Louis” on Saturday, November 23rd.
Key Art Image (please see attached)
New “Dancing on the Edge” First Look Video:
Link: www.starz.com/originals/DancingontheEdge
**see below for embed code
“Dancing on the Edge” Online
Website: www.starz.com/originals/DancingontheEdge
Facebook: facebook.com/Starz
Twitter: twitter.com/starz_channel; join the conversation at: #DancingOnTheEdge
For additional information please visit the STARZ Press Room at starz.mediaroom.com.
About Starz
Starz (NASDAQ: STRZA, STRZB) is a leading integrated global media and entertainment company with operating units that provide premium subscription video programming on domestic U.S. pay television channels (Starz Networks), global content distribution (Starz Distribution) and animated television and movie production (Starz Animation), www.starz.com.
Starz Networks is a leading provider of premium subscription video programming through the flagship STARZ® and ENCORE® pay TV networks which showcase premium original programming and movies to U.S. multichannel video distributors, including cable operators, satellite television providers, and telecommunications companies. As of June 30, 2013, STARZ and ENCORE serve a combined 56.9 million subscribers, including 21.8 million at STARZ, and 35.1 million at ENCORE, making them the largest pair of premium flagship channels in the U.S. STARZ® and ENCORE®, along with Starz Networks’ third network MOVIEPLEX®, air more than 1,000 movies monthly across 17 linear networks, complemented by On Demand and authenticated online offerings through STARZ PLAY, ENCORE PLAY, and MOVIEPLEX PLAY. Starz Distribution develops, produces and acquires entertainment content, distributing it to consumers globally on DVD, digital formats and traditional television. Starz Distribution’s home video, digital media and worldwide distribution business units distribute original programming content produced by Starz, as well as entertainment content for itself and third parties. Starz Animation produces animated TV and movie content for studios, networks, distributors and audiences worldwide.