Misty Copeland Will Produce a Dance-y TV Show
Let’s make it official: Misty Copeland has the most insanely diverse resumé of pretty much any dancer around.
First African-American female principal at American Ballet Theatre? Check. Star of a huge national ad campaign? Check. Author of a best-selling autobiography? Check. Subject of a documentary film? Check. Muse to a pop icon? Check. Darling of the late-night TV circuit? Check and check.
Oh, and I almost forgot: Producer of a network TV show? CHECK.
NBD.
Or, um, YES big deal, actually. Because the show that Copeland just signed on to produce? It’s a scripted drama for FOX, created in collaboration with on-the-rise writer Tracy Oliver. It’s going to follow a group of cool young dancers competing for spots in a top-echelon ballet company. It is, basically, “Glee” meets “Bunheads” meets Misty—a seriously winning combo. And its network television platform means it’s sure to get a LOT of attention. (That is, assuming the script makes it to production, which is still an “if”—cross your fingers and toes.)
There’s a cool backstory, too: According to Deadline, Oliver has been all about Copeland since she first heard her story a couple of years ago. (Oliver has a background in the performing arts herself.) She ended up cold calling Copeland and pitching her the TV show idea—and Copeland agreed to do it on the spot. Misty Copeland: She knows a great idea when she hears it.
We’ll obviously keep you posted as we hear more!
