Michael Esper Joins Cast of NBC's Jennifer Lopez Police Drama SHADES OF BLUE

According to Deadline, Broadway vet Michael Esper has signed on for NBC's new cop drama SHADES OF BLUE, starring Jennifer Lopez.

Esper will appear as Donnie Pomp in a recurring capacity on the series, "a lieutenant with Internal Affairs who tries to drive a wedge between the characters Wozniak (Ray Liotta) and Harley (Lopez)."

In a steamy new drama, the iconic Jennifer Lopez stars as sexy New York detective (and single mother) Harlee Santos, who fell in with a tight-knit group of dirty cops, taking bribes and protection money that she uses to provide the best life for her honest and talented daughter. When she's trapped by the FBI, however, and forced to inform on her own "brothers," she'll have to walk the fine line between love, loyalty, honor and betrayal, and try to keep it together for her daughter's future.

The cast also includes Ray Liotta, Warren Kole, Dayo Okeniyi, Drea De Matteo, Hampton Fluker, Vincent Laresca and Sarah Jeffery.

Jack Orman and Adi Hasak serve as writers and executive producers. Jennifer Lopez, Barry Levinson (pilot), Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, Benny Medina, Ryan Seacrest and Nina Wass also executive produce. "Shades of Blue" is produced by Universal Television, Nuyorican Productions, EGTV and Ryan Seacrest Productions.

Michael Esper has appeared on Broadway in Sting's THE LAST SHIP, Green Day's musical AMERICAN IDIOT, THE LYONS and A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS. Off-Broadway credits include Tony Kushner's THE INTELLIGENT HOMOSEXUAL'S GUIDE TO CAPITALISM AND SOCIALISM WITH A KEY TO THE SCRIPTURES and Edward Albee's ME, MYSELF AND I.