For Immediate Release UP PRESENTS THE ORIGINAL MOVIE THE DEMPSEY SISTERS CYMPHONIQUE MILLER, DENYCE LAWTON, TEAIRRA MARI, MC LYTE, VALARIE PETTIFORD, ANTWON TANNER, LYNN WHITFIELD AND CLIFTON POWELL STAR IN A FAMILY’S DRAMATIC PURSUIT OF A MUSICAL DREAM, PREMIERING SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2 AT 7 P.M. EDT ON UP ATLANTA – October 28, 2013 – UP, America’s favorite channel for uplifting entertainment, presents the UP Original Movie The Dempsey Sisters, which follows a family’s dramatic pursuit of a musical dream, and stars Cymphonique Miller, Denyce Lawton, Teairra Mari, MC Lyte, Valarie Pettiford, Antwon Tanner, Lynn Whitfield, Clifton Powell, Taj En’Phiniti and Dom Santana. Produced by Eric Tomosunas’ Swirl Films, Roger Melvin (Sugar Mommas, Love Will Keep Us Together) directs from a screenplay by Siddeeqah Powell (NAACP Image Award-nominated Somebody’s Child, Love Will Find A Way). The Dempsey Sisters will premiere exclusively on UP on Saturday, November 2 at 7 p.m. EDT, with encores at 9 and 11 p.m. EDT. Petite, take-charge, 27-year-old Deena Dempsey (Denyce Lawton) has been working unenthusiastically as a personal assistant for sophisticated, multi-millionaire socialite Olivia Norman (Lynn Whitfield). Recognizing that Deena’s heart just isn’t in the job, Olivia decides it’s time to push the little birdie out of the nest and lets her go. Understandably upset, Deena turns for comfort to her middle sister Sheena (Teairra Mari), an endlessly practical, 25-year old massage therapist, and younger sister Tina (Cymphonique Miller), a free-spirited 22-year old trying to find her way in life. With time on her hands, Deena reevaluates her life and eventually decides to revisit a cherished childhood dream. The Dempsey Sisters performed together as a singing group when they were kids, but disbanded when a record deal never materialized. When their big brother, Thad (Antwon Tanner), a charming, fit 29-year old, brings home his new wife, Ava (TAJ En’Phiniti), who has some surprising talents, and announces plans to focus on music management full- time, the stars seem to align for the sisters – or do they. While their parents Theo (Clifton Powell) and Elizabeth (Valarie Pettiford) want to see their children succeed, not everyone is on board with the reunion plan. It’s going to take practice, commitment, money for studio time and savvy marketing to start. But if Theo can talk his way through music label assistant Andre (Dom Santana) to the major exec Taylor Powell (MC Lyte), then maybe the Dempsey family really can all live their dreams. “The Dempsey Sisters is a special story about three sisters who decide to put the family band back together when several of the siblings fall on hard times,” said Barbara Fisher, svp, original programming, UP. “Through their love of music, the Dempseys come together and find the uplifting inspiration to face life's hardships.” UP presents a Swirl Films production. The Dempsey Sisters stars Cymphonique Miller, Denyce Lawton, Teairra Mari, MC Lyte, Valarie Pettiford, Antwon Tanner, Lynn Whitfield, Clifton Powell, TAJ En’Phiniti and Dominic Santana. Directed by Roger Melvin. Executive produced by Denyce Lawton. Co-produced by Drue Powell. Produced by Eric Tomosunas, David Eubanks, Keith Neal. Director of Photography is George Su. Editor is Charles Stewart Jr. Screenplay by Siddeeqah Powell. For more information, please go to www.UPtv.com/TheDempseySisters. Follow our cast at: Cymphonique Miller on Twitter @Cymphonique Denyce Lawton on Twitter @DenyceLawton Teairra Mari on Twitter @Teairra_Mari MC Lyte on Twitter @mclyte Valarie Pettiford on Twitter @MissP160 Antwon Tanner on Twitter @antwon_tanner Lynn Whitfield on Twitter @MsLynnWhitfield Dominic Santana on Twitter @DominicSantana About UP UP (www.uptv.com) is America’s favorite network for uplifting family entertainment. The network presents original and acquired movies, series, stage plays and music specials along with gMovies, the first faith- friendly streaming movie service. The UP brand is reflected in “Uplift Someone,” the network’s successful pro-social initiative. UP can be seen in more than 65 million homes on various cable systems around the country, as well as DISH Network on channel 188, DIRECTV on channel 338 and Verizon FIOS on channel 224. Follow UP on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/UPtv, Twitter on @UPtv and Instagram at UP_TV. About Swirl Films Swirl Films (www.swirlfilms.com), America’s “number one urban film production company,” focuses on independent features and multi-camera productions. Recent films include 2012 ABFF Best Narrative Feature, Best Actress and Best Director winner The Under Shepherd, 35 & Ticking and Percentage, with Flavor Unit Production (Queen Latifah & Shakim Compere). Swirl Films is a major content provider for UP. Most recently, Swirl Films produced The Perfect Summer, starring Eric Roberts, Sydney Penny and Jason Castro in his TV acting debut. In addition, hit programming includes She’s Still Not Our Sister, Sugar Mommas and the Wedding Vow Series. Additional original productions include: Love For Sale, Something Like A Business, TV One’s Roast and Toast of John Witherspoon and Just Another Day. MEDIA CONTACTS Chelsye J. Burrows David Gardner 770.692.4559 770.692.9939 [email protected] [email protected] CAST BIOS CYMPHONIQUE MILLER Cymphonique Miller, is an actress, singer, dancer and writer. The daughter of Percy Robert Miller (Master P) and the sister of Romeo Miller, this Los Angeles native is one of Hollywood's biggest teen phenomena and the star of the hit TV show “How To Rock.” Cymphonique has made a name for herself and built a diverse R&B, Pop and Hip Hop fan base through the Internet before taking her acting and music career mainstream. At a remarkably young age, she created her own brand and identity in the entertainment world. She was a finalist in Radio Disney's “Next Big Thing” but came in second place to Jasmine. Her songs "Butterflies", "Lil Miss Swaggar" and "Daddy I'm A Rockstar" received airplay on Radio Disney. Miller previously guest-starred on “Big Time Rush,” “True Jackson VP,” “The Troop” and “Just Jordan.” Miller has performed on several national school tours and in theme parks across the United States. She has toured with Raven-Symoné, Ashley Tisdale, Demi Lovato, JoJo, Wonder Girls, College Boyys and Elizabeth Tselepi. In 2011, Miller was nominated for "Best Female Hip-Hop Artist" at the BET Awards. On July 7, 2012, Miller performed the half time show at the Los Angeles Sparks' Girl Scouts night at The Staples Center. She has also appeared in numerous national commercials, PSA’s, and on “MADtv.” In 2013, she released her mixtape titled Passion on No Limit Forever,” and will be starring in an as-yet-untitled action film. Cymphonique's special skills are competitive kick boxing, swimming, drawing, writing, playing the piano and guitar. She is inspired by her passion to help others, created a book series to empower young girls called “Fabulous Girls,” and founded Fabulous Girls Charity to help bring awareness to kids with cancer. In addition to her being one of the youngest teens to receive a key to the City of Memphis for her philanthropic efforts, she is also the founder and President of Fabulous Girls Clothing as well as the spokesperson for BYOU, an organization specializing in girl empowerment and anti-bullying. She founded a performing arts school with Let The Kids Grow Foundation. DENYCE LAWTON Multiethnic (African American / Korean) actress Denyce Lawton, is best known for her four seasons as a series regular on the #1 cable comedy series and six-time NAACP Best Comedy Series Winner, Tyler Perry's "House of Payne." Denyce has recently completed nine films, including the leading role in Swirl Films & New Image movie “Frat Brothers,” starring Stomp The Yard and “Soul Food” star Darrin Dewitt Henson and rapper/actor Romeo Miller, which she also co-produced. In less than one year, Denyce completed leading roles in the dramedy movie entitled Jump, where she held her own among the cast of comedians also starring Esau McGraw & Brian Hooks; UP’s Original Movie Between Sisters opposite Vanessa Bell Calloway; Winnerz opposite Glenn Plummer and BET “Let’s StayTogether” actor Christian Keyes; Act Like You Love Me opposite Lynn Whitfield & Glynn Turman, Switchin’ The Script; ABFF and HBFF crowd-pleaser The Coalition; UP Original movie The Love You Save opposite Robin Givens; and Lionsgate’s thriller The Helpers in theaters Fall 2013. You can also find Denyce starring opposite “Numb3rs” stars Alimi Ballard and Rob Marrow in an Inception-inspired short film Interception; opposite Reagan Gomez-Preston & Wesley Jonathan in an original family web series Almost Home ; and opposite Calvin “Snoop Dogg” Broadus in Malice N Wonderland. Outside of “House Of Payne” and her abundance of other television and film work, if Denyce’s face seems familiar, it may also be the heavy rotation on cable of her two other films Redline (an action auto thriller) & horror thriller DEAD TONE. With a few other films straight to DVD and television, and projects presently in the works (including an HIV/AIDS Documentary Denyce is producing and directing), this South Korean born actress is already releasing breakthrough performances in her very selective decisions and is on her way to portray some of today's most memorable and remarkable roles. Denyce began her entertainment goals and career as a background dancer in theater, NYC famous Broadway and then later for recording artists such as N’ Sync, Mya, Nelly, Jagged Edge, Ja Rule, Puff Daddy & many others. Wanting to set her goals higher, Denyce ventured into the music industry as a backdoor into the film industry. Denyce served as assistant Vice President of Urban Promotions at Warner Brother Records then later became A & R at Priority Records in New York City, NY.