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Series Based On Truman’s Drama Program Cancelled By NBC

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Tom Sofield
Auli’i Cravalho as Lilette Suarez in an episode of “Rise.”
Credit: Peter Kramer/NBC

Despite heavy promotion from NBC and an all-star team of producers, “Rise” was cancelled by the network after just one season.

The series that is set to wrap up next Tuesday night is based on Harry S. Truman High School’s drama program and Michael Sokolove’s New York Times best-selling 2013 book “Drama High: The Incredible True Story of a Brilliant Teacher, a Struggling Town, and the Magic of Theater.”

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Entertainment Weekly reported the series averaged 5.9 million weekly viewers and a 1.2 in key demographics. Despite the modest ratings, the show will not move past Tuesday’s finale that will feature the cast performing “Spring Awakening,” including a new song penned by the show’s Tony-winning songwriting duo of Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater.

The New York-filmed series does not take place in Levittown but a community called Stanton that is partly based on Lower Bucks County. It focuses on teacher Lou Mazzuchelli, who is portrayed by Josh Radnor of “How I Met Your Mother” fame, and follows a group of students similar to those who took part Truman’s theater program.

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Mazzuchelli’s character is based off of now-retired Truman teacher Lou Volpe, who led the award-winning theater department until he retired.

Actress Rosie Perez (Tracey) and actor Josh Radnor (Lou Mazzuchelli) in a scene from the upcoming NBC series “Rise.”
Credit: NBC

“Rise” stars Radnor, Rosie Perez, Marley Shelton, Auli’i Cravalho, Damon J. Gillespie, Amy Forsyth and Rarmian Newton. Cravalho, 16, signed on to “Rise” after her acclaimed role as the lead in Disney’s 2016 film “Moana.”

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“While the time was short, it was most certainly sweet,” Cravalho said following news of the cancellation.

Jason Katims, who has produced “Friday Night Lights” and “Boston Public,” teamed up with “Hamilton” and “Rent” producer Jeffrey Seller to create the series.

NBC showed confidence in “Rise” by placing in the post “This Is Us” time slot and launched a large promotional campaign. Critics gave the show modest reviews.

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In advance of the show’s debut, NBC and nonprofit Educational Theatre Foundation awarded 50 $10,000 R.I.S.E. (Recognizing and Inspiring Student Expression) America grants to high schools across the nation. Truman was among the schools who received a grant.

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Tom Sofield

Tom Sofield

Tom Sofield has covered news in Bucks County for 16 years for both newspaper and online publications. Tom’s reporting has appeared locally, nationally, and internationally across several mediums. He is proud to report on news in the county where he lives and to have created a reliable publication that the community deserves.