The New 20s is an Official Selection in the 2009 New York Television Festival

Sept. 15, 2009 - PRLog -- After more than a year in the making, The New 20s, a new drama series with an African American principal cast, will premiere on the big screen this month as part of the 2009 New York Television Festival’s independent pilot competition. The show, which surrounds the lives of six thirtysomethings ten years after college, has been in the making since the creator was still in her 20s.

“The New 20s was born out of a lack of quality entertainment featuring people of color,” said Tracy Taylor, creator and executive producer of the show. “I love television and having watched a lot of it over the years I continued to recognize a void. Of course we can do comedy, but why can’t we do drama as well? There are so many different stories to tell and I’d been waiting for a show like this one to pop up. When it didn’t, I decided to put pen to paper and write it myself.”

Maurice A. Dwyer, who directed the pilot and also produced, partnered with Taylor to help make the show a reality.

“Sometimes, you have to show people what is possible for them to believe it,” said Dwyer. “We worked hard to make sure the show was relatable and real and entertaining. It’s just something different than you’ve seen before and I like doing work that says something.”

The show features an ensemble cast of notable actors including Sharif Atkins, a former series regular on the hit NBC drama ER. While Atkins has worked consistently in television and film, The New 20s is a project that holds a special place for him.

“This show is something special,” said Atkins. “There are a lot of real life everyday elements in this script that everybody watching will be able to say ooh, I know that, that’s familiar, and they’ll want to emotionally follow along because of that connection."

“The show isn’t just about drama for drama’s sake. It’s about people who are going through some sort of transition in their lives," said Taylor. " They are learning what it means for each of them individually to grow up yet they have the support of one another."

And the show has plenty of real life to drama to draw on. As a real life couple Taylor and Dwyer experienced their own ups and downs in making the show into a reality.

“Working together was a true test of our relationship, but we survived it,” said Taylor. “And there will be plenty of material to draw from just from dealing with each other at work and at home.”

The New 20s screens at the New York Television Festival Thursday, September 24th @ 9:45 pm and Saturday, September 26th @ 2:15 pm at the New World Stages 2 in Manhattan, NY.

For more info contact: info@new20stv.com

# # #

The New 20s is a new drama series surrounding the lives of six friends, ten years after college. They are all navigating life in their 30s. The show is the only current drama series featuring an African American principal cast.