Broadway's Merle Dandrige & More Join Cast of OWN's GREENLEAF

According to Deadline, Broadway's Merle Dandridge, Lynn Whitfield and Desiree Ross have joined the cast of OWN's new drama series from award-winning writer/producer Craig Wright ("Six Feet Under," "Lost") that takes viewers into the unscrupulous world of the Greenleaf family and their sprawling Memphis megachurch, where scandalous SECRETS AND LIES are as numerous as the faithful.

Per the report:

"Whitfield will play Bishop Greenleaf's imperious wife Lady Mae, a steely woman who loves money and power and will do absolutely anything to protect her position as the First Lady of Greenleaf World Ministries. Dandridge is Lady Mae's estranged daughter Grace, a disillusioned former preacher who returns home after fleeing her contentious family 20 years ago. Ross plays Grace's teenage daughter, Sophia, who finds her new extended family and extravagant new surroundings a welcome change from her previously isolated, middle-class life in Phoenix."

Like so many megachurches in America, Greenleaf is more than just a house of worship. It's a home. It's the center of the community for the thousands of predominantly African-American members who attend services there. But beneath its steeple lies a den of iniquity -- greed, adultery, sibling rivalry and conflicting values -- a multigenerational matrix of DECEPTION that involves the church's founding family, but also extends to the congregation and prominent members of the Memphis community and beyond. Yet, amidst all of the mayhem and deception, the power of something greater persists, calling everyone to conscience for their sins.

The Lionsgate-owned series is set for production later this year.

Most recently, writer/producer Craig Wright was executive producer and writer for "Tyrant" (FX) and "Rush" (Fox Crime Platinum), and was consulting producer on "United States of Tara" (Showtime). Wright served as writer and producer on the acclaimed series "Lost" and "Six Feet Under," was supervising producer on the long-running series "Brothers and Sisters," and created the cult hit "Dirty Sexy Money." He was Emmy nominated for his writing on "Six Feet Under" and received three WGA Award nominations, winning the Dramatic Series award in 2004 for "Lost." He is a graduate of the United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities and is a former minister.

"Greenleaf" is produced for OWN by Lionsgate. Executive producers are Oprah Winfrey and Craig Wright. The deal was brokered by WME who represents Winfrey and Wright.

Photo by Walter McBride

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