BET hosts ATL Preview of #TheQuad @ Clark Atlanta University [PHOTOS]

adminJanuary 24, 2017

Written by | Ray Cornelius

I had the extreme pleasure of attending a special advanced screening Monday night of BET’s new series “The Quad. ” The one-hour show premieres on Wednesday, February 1 at 10 p.m. EST and is part of the network’s new lineup of original programming and specials. It is also the only HBCU drama on television and was shot exclusively at the Atlanta University Center’s Morehouse and Morris Brown Colleges.

Larry Rhem and Zoe Renee

The special viewing was held at the Bishop Cornelius Henderson Student Center on the campus of Clark Atlanta University and was attended by the show’s executive producer Rob Hardy as well as some of the show’s cast members including CAU alumni Larry Rhem, Terayle Hill and Loren Sharice. Tyshon Freeman, Miles Stroter, Jock McKissic and Zoe Renee were also on hand.

~The Fighting Mountain Cats~

“The Quad” (originally titled The Yard), follows an ambitious yet troubled Dr. Eva Fletcher (Anika Noni Rose), the newly-elected President of the fictional Georgia A&M University, who is charged with saving the prestigious HBCU from bankruptcy and her twenty-year marriage from crumbling. At the same time, she must manage to repair a tumultuous relationship with her rebellious only daughter (Jazz Raycole) while handling a diverse group of freshman who keep her hands full.

Loren Sharice

Rounding out the show’s cast is Jasmine Guy as Ella Grace Caldwell, E. Roger Mitchell as Carlton Pettiway, Peyton Alex Smith as Cedric Hobbs, Ruben Santiago-Hudson as Cecil Diamond, Sean Blakemore as Eugene Hardwick along with appearances by Demetria McKinney and Charmin Lee.

Rob Hardy + Eric J. Little during the post screening Q&A

Following the screening was a talk back + Q&A with Hardy and CAU Theatre Professor and Atlanta actor/director Eric J. Little. From the cheers and screams of the CAU students, “The Quad” is definitely going to be a hit series for BET and a favorite amongst HBCU students around the country. It has just the right mix of drama, music and real college life issues that many students (and faculty) will find relatable. The show is also going to ruffle a few feathers but hopefully not too many.

See more photos below and click here for a sneak peek of the trailer. Also, don’t forget to tune into my radio show #UPFRONT. This Saturday, I will have a segment featuring “The Quad” stars Larry Rhem, Jasmine Guy and E. Roger Mitchell.