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The brand new show you should be tuning into is Rise on NBC. Especially if you are a big fan of Broadway and the musical Spring Awakening. However, what makes this show different is that it is a drama with so much to give.

For instance, it tells the story of dedicated English teacher, Lou Mazzuchelli, who wants more out of his career and is looking into taking over the theater program, which is already run by longtime director Tracy Wolfe, played by the talented Rosie Perez, and asks the principal if he can take over. He is looking for a way to inspire his students and begins on the idea to do Spring Awakening. After a bit of a struggle, hee convinces Tracy to go along with him and begins the auditions for the show.

But at the heart of the story are the students who have their own lives while trying to make it in school, and it adds the element of dreaming big and rising to the occasion.

I thought the casting of Moana’s Auli’i Cravalho as one of the main protagonists, alongside Damon J. Gillespie as the football player Robbie Thorne, was just so perfect. All of them have challenges they have to face by their parents, coaches, and teachers and with their own peers, but they are motivated by their teachers played by How I met your Mother’s Josh Radnor and Tracy.

I thought that pairing up Jason Katims, who worked with Peter Berg when they created the hit show Friday Night Lights (and let’s not forget Katims other hit show Parenthood), was just amazing and it doesn’t hurt that they have added Hamilton producer Jeffrey Seller. But the biggest added element of this show is that it was inspired by a true story.

Finally, I  just love musicals and I miss the void that was left by shows like Glee on Fox and Smash on NBC. I thought the premiere was amazing and I am so looking forward to the rest of the season.

This is why I think Rise is the show you should be watching.

If you are still not convinced here is the trailer:

I hope you will give it a chance and tune in.