Stranger Things’ Shannon Purser Just Scored Her Next TV Role
By Laura Bradley. Photos: Courtesy of Netflix.
The Justice for Barb train continues. That beloved character might be forever dead in the universe of Stranger Things, but the actress who plays her, Shannon Purser, lives on. She found a second life on the CW’s Riverdale as recurring character Ethel—and on Wednesday, Deadline reported that Purser is also set to join NBC’s pilot Drama High, in a role written just for her.
Just like Stranger Things, Drama High—as the title suggests—takes place, at least in part, at a school. The book that inspired the TV adaptation is described as a combination of Friday Night Lights and Glee, centering on a gifted drama teacher named Lou Volpe whose program enjoys attention from Broadway. It’s based in an economically depressed town (Levittown, Pennsylvania), but his students thrive and grow up to hold positions of power and prestige in the industry.
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Friday Night Lights E.P. and showrunner Jason Katims and Hamilton producer Jeffrey Seller will bring the book to screen. Per Deadline, Katims created the recurring role of Annabelle specifically for Purser. (The actress initially met with him about another part, Deadline notes.) The project has yet to cast Lou, but Rosie Perez and Moana’s Auli’i Cravalho are already on board in other major roles. And while Drama High is still in the pilot stage—and has yet to be picked up to series—you know what they say: clear eyes, good pipes, can’t lose.
This story originally appeared on Vanity Fair.
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