South Carolina ETV

In Celebration of National Foster Care Month SCETV Presents the Premiere of LILLY’S LIGHT on Public Television May 2010

A MUSICAL ADVENTURE FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY

For Immediate Release
April 21, 2010

Columbia, SC... This May in honor of National Foster Care Month (www.fostercaremonth.org) Lilly's Light, a one-hour live-action family musical adventure, makes its world premiere on public television stations. This one-hour special program is centered around an enchanted lighthouse foster home. Lilly's Light “shines a light” on the significant social issue of challenges facing foster children nationwide as well as entertaining children through music and language arts. Weaved through the story are adventures and comedic tales designed to inspire children’s imagination and stimulate their creative skills. Produced and created by Sherry Hursey (Home Improvement), the program is presented by ETV and distributed nationally by NETA in Columbia, SC.

In South Carolina, Lilly's Light will premiere on ETV on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 9 at 5 p.m. Encore broadcasts can be seen on ETV on May 17 at 5 p.m. and on the South Carolina Channel on Sunday, May 16 at 6 p.m.

Along with Hursey, Lilly's Light features talented celebrities including Mindy Sterling (Austin Powers), Philece Sampler (Stanley) and special guest Fred Willard (Everybody Loves Raymond, Best in Show). There is an award-winning production team including William Stout (Production Design), Grammy nominee Jim Linahon (Music Production) and original contemporary songs with contributions by Emmy and Grammy winners Steve Dorff and John Bettis. Lilly's Light will have national support from both the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and The Heart Gallery of America.

"As the national voice for the 123,000 children waiting in U.S. foster care to be adopted, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is delighted to see Lilly's Light airing on public television,” says Rita Soronen, executive director of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. She adds, “The program draws attention to children without families, and portrays them in a positive light. It is important for Americans to learn more about the possibility of adopting from foster care."

“Heart Gallery of America is truly impressed with Lilly's Light’s sensitive approach to the issues facing foster children, says Diane Granito co-founder of Heart Gallery of America. She adds, “With national chapters across the United States providing portraits of children needing families, we are excited about our collaboration with Lilly's Light and anticipates the creation of many local events to help promote this program in coordination with local broadcasts on public television stations. We know that together, we’ll be able to help carry the message of our waiting children and Lilly's Light across the country in this personal and powerful way.”

In Lilly's Light, Hursey portrays Lilly, a loving foster mom and the keeper of an enchanted lighthouse. With a melting pot of foster kids, a few exotic talking pets and a cast of zany characters, she guides them all through the challenges of everyday life and growing up. With joy, love and laughter as her tools, Lilly helps everyone learn that “Life is Full of Possibilities!”

While Professor Crabbe perfects the Illuminating Imaginator and Will Patchitt repairs Lilly’s squawking coo-coo clock the messenger pelican, Pel Mel, brings news that a newly orphaned boy named Daniel and his pot-bellied pig, Oink, need a home. As Peaches and Dee compete for Lilly’s attention, Lilly enlists the help of the kids and Uncle Fitz to take Daniel on a life changing, imaginary journey where they meet Dilly & Dally, Moylin and Sir Oinks-A-Lot. We discover that one of the enchantments of the lighthouse is its ability to illuminate their mental pictures turning them into real-life adventure.

Lilly's Light is filled with original music, sparkling sets and strong messages that children can relate to. Lilly’s talented team was guided by renowned educational adviser Dr. Gordon Berry, who has worked on public television series such as Barney and Liberty Kids. His expertise helped craft Lilly's Light into an inspiring and educational adventure that will capture the attention and minds of children, and adults, everywhere. Lilly's Light will be a beacon to celebrate National Foster Care Month this May and encourage dialogue about foster care all year round.

ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA ETV (ETV):
South Carolina ETV is South Carolina’s statewide network with 11 television stations, and a closed-circuit educational telecommunications system in more than 2000 schools, colleges, businesses, and government agencies. ETV brings non-commercial inspiring public television not only to the citizens of South Carolina, but through its national productions to the rest of the United States and the world. Recent presentations include Journey to Planet Earth: The State of the Planet’s Oceans, hosted by Matt Damon, (the only continuing environmental series on PBS), The Powder and the Glory, The Power of Forgiveness, Germans in America and Uncorked! Wine Made Simple. Past productions include Making Schools Work with Hedrick Smith, and Global Warming: The Signs and the Science, hosted by Alanis Morissette. ETV Radio produces Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz, NPR’s longest running performance program.

ABOUT LILLY’S LIGHT PRODUCTIONS, LLC:
Lilly’s Light Productions, LLC was created by Sherry Hursey and Art Klein to produce high-quality family entertainment that inspires and empowers the child in all of us while raising awareness of important social and cultural issues.

Sherry Hursey is a writer, producer, singer, and award winning actress with more than 20 years experience in the entertainment industry. As an actress she has starred in numerous television pilots, four television series and over a dozen movies for television. Best known for her role as Ilene in ABC’s long running hit Home Improvement and as Kirsten Dunst’s mother in the box office hit Bring it On, Sherry has also guest starred on television series such as Touched by an Angel, CSI, Judging Amy and Nip/Tuck to name a few. She has used her vocal talents off camera and can be heard in over 100 feature films such as Shrek, Madagascar, Polar Express and The Game Plan.

Art Klein is and entrepreneur with more than 30 years of executive management, sales and investment experience in the high-tech networking industry. In addition to Lilly’s Light, he has been the executive producer of recent independent film successes such as Bottle Shock, Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing and Charm School and Nobel Son.

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For more information, contact Rob Schaller at (803) 737-6556 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or Donna Hardwick at (617) 308-5677 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).


Photos may be downloaded for the sole purpose of publicizing this program. To download an image, click on the picture below. A new Web page will open containing the hi-res version. Right click on the hi-res image, and select "Save As" or "Save Picture As."
ETV Presents the Premiere of “Lilly’s Light” on Mothers Day, May 9, 2010
Max (Russell Lyons), Lilly (Sherry Hursey), Daniel (Vitor Philipe), Uncle Fitz (LeRoy White), Dilly (Hal B.Klein), Katy Lynn (Brianne Tju), Ashley (Lizzy Jones), and Dally (Philece Sampler) dance their way through the imaginary village of Hamelot in a musical adventure number from “Lilly's Light”. (images courtesy of Lilly's Light Pros.LLC)
ETV Presents the Premiere of “Lilly’s Light” on Mothers Day, May 9, 2010
Fred Willard (Everybody Loves Raymond) portrays Moylin in the adventure segment of “Lilly's Light” (image courtesy of Lilly's Light Pros.LLC)

ETV Presents the Premiere of “Lilly’s Light” on Mothers Day, May 9, 2010
From the live action musical “Lilly's Light”, Lilly and her foster kids plan their next storybook adventure from inside their enchanted Light House (Lizzy Jones, Sherry Hursey, Brianne Tju,and Russell Lyons) - (images courtesy of Lilly's Light Pros.LLC)
ETV Presents the Premiere of “Lilly’s Light” on Mothers Day, May 9, 2010
Dee and Peaches compete for Lilly's attention in the new family musical “Lilly's Light.”, advocating fostering and adoption while teaching children the values of self worth, creativity and positive thinking (Left; Philece Sampler; Center; Sherry Hursey, Right; Mindy Sterling)


Photos may be downloaded for the sole purpose of publicizing this program. To download an image, click on the picture below. A new Web page will open containing the hi-res version. Right click on the hi-res image, and select "Save As" or "Save Picture As."
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