SundanceTV's "Dream School: NYC" premiering Wednesday, October 1st at 10pm ET/PT takes on a new class of students who have dropped out or been expelled from the conventional school system and offers them a real chance to graduate. At "Dream School: NYC" kids who were the hardest to reach via a traditional school curriculum, receive lessons firsthand from leaders in various fields. The mentors have made it their personal duty to educate students and help them turn their lives around. However, overcoming past failures will prove to be no easy task for both the students and teachers where life is tough, but the lessons are tougher. Can this class from The Big Apple - which includes those dealing with poverty, homelessness, single PARENTHOOD and being orphaned - overcome the odds and prove they can "make it there"?
Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson says: "I am excited "Dream School" is coming back for a second season, this show is really important to me and I am honored to be able to help offer these kids a chance to turn their lives around."
Touted last year as "inspiring" by TV Guide and declared "a winning docuseries" by Entertainment Weekly, "Dream School" challenges students (and their instructors) to flip the script on their story and turn their lives around. Joining Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson and Jamie Oliver as executive producers for season two is one of hip-hop's most influential and positive voices Chuck D. 50 Cent and Chuck D are no strangers to overcoming adversity in order to succeed. Together, they will head to New York with a new roster of mentors to take on 15 students that are in desperate need of inspiration.
SundanceTV President, Sarah Barnett, stated: "The journey of these young students as they struggle to rewrite the script of their lives is inspiring and at times explosive. Their "Dream School" guides are an impassioned group of influencers and celebrities who passionately try to help these students forge a fresh future for themselves. This is unscripted television that feels every bit as dramatic as scripted storytelling."
In an effort to allow students to realize their full academic potential, SundanceTV has partnered with New York City's renowned Beekman School, known for personalizing their approach to education according to each student's unique abilities. Through this accredited program, each student will be granted an opportunity to graduate high school. Leading the charge to higher education is LouAnne Johnson, former teacher, and author of the New York Times bestseller, "Dangerous Minds" (originally "My Posse Don't Do Homework"). Johnson will serve as principal at "Dream School."
"Dream School: NYC" features an all-star cast committed to changing the lives of the youth include: chef and restaurateur David Chang, Olympic figure skater Johnny Weir, screenwriter Cliff Dorfman ("Entourage", Warrior), survival expert Les Stroud, The Young Turks' journalists Cenk Uygur and Ana Kasparian, financial guru Alvin Hall, fitness instructor Nicole Winhoffer, historian David Eisenbach, Rabbi Shmuel "Shmuley" Boteach (author of Kosher Jesus and Kosher Sex), actor Dean Winters, and lawyer and rights activist Gloria Allred.
The complete list of instructors and their teaching topics are:
Gloria Allred (Civil Rights Attorney) - Legal Studies
50 Cent (Multi-platinum award-winning musician and Entrepreneur) - Student Mentor
David Chang (Chef and founder of Momofuku Restaurant Group) - Nutrition and Culinary Arts
Chuck D (Hip-Hop Legend, RAPtivist, Musician and Digital Advocate) - Student Mentor and Sociology
Cliff Dorfman (Screenwriter) - English
David Eisenbach (Author and Historian) - History
Alvin Hall (Financial Advisor and Author) - Math
Gaye Theresa Johnson (Activist, Author and Historian) - Sociology
Adam Richman (Television personality) - Environmental Studies
Don Rimx (Graffiti Artist and Muralist) - Art
Rabbi Shmuley (Author, TV Host and Public Speaker) - Religious Studies
Les Stroud (Survival Expert) - Earth Sciences
Cenk Uygur ("The Young Turks" Main Host and Co-founder) - Cultural Studies
Johnny Weir (Olympic Figure Skater) - Physical Education and Communications
Nicole Winhoffer (Fitness Instructor) - Physical Education
Dean Winters (Actor) - Life Skills
The show is produced by Fresh One Productions, the production company launched by Jamie Oliver and its Emmy award winning executive producer Roy Ackerman. The show is also produced by G-Unit Films and Television, the production company launched by Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, with Jackson serving as Executive Producer. His producing partner Andrew Jameson also serves as Executive Producer. Nicole DeFusco and Jonathan Grosskopf will executive produce for SundanceTV.
About SundanceTV
SundanceTV is making and celebrating television as distinctive as the best independent films. Working with today's most remarkable talent, SundanceTV is attracting viewer and critical acclaim for its original scripted and unscripted series. Launched in 1996 and owned and operated by
AMC Networks Inc., SundanceTV delivers on the spirit of founder Robert Redford's mission to celebrate creativity.
About
AMC Networks Inc.
Dedicated to producing quality programming and movie content for more than 30 years,
AMC Networks Inc. (NASDAQ: AMCX) owns and operates several of the most popular and award-winning brands in cable television. AMC, IFC, SundanceTV, WE tv, and
IFC Films produce and deliver distinctive, compelling and culturally relevant content that engages audiences across multiple platforms. The company also operates AMC/Sundance Channel Global and AMCN Chellomedia, international programming businesses that reach over 138 countries, and
AMC Networks Broadcasting & Technology, a full-service network programming origination and distribution company.
