Tony Winner Anika Noni Rose to Star in BET Drama Pilot THE YARD

Deadline reports exclusively that Anika Noni Rose has nabbed the lead role in BET's 2-hour scripted pilot THE YARD. The Tony Award winner will portray Eva, described as "the newly elected President of the fictional college Georgia A&M. Upon her arrival, Eva finds a bold, brazen and diverse freshman class that promises to keep her hands full."

Previously announced cast members include Peyton Alex Smith, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Sean Blakemore and Jasmine Guy (The Vampire Diaries). EMPIRE' Rob Hardy will direct the project.

As previously announced, Anikia Noni Rose will take on the role of Kizzy on the History Channel's remake of ROOTS and will soon be seen on the new season of POWER.

Rose starred on Broadway in A Raisin in the Sun, won the Tony and Theatre World Awards for her performance in the musical Caroline, Or Change and starred as Lorell in the screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical Dreamgirls. Her other stage credits include the Encores! productions of The Cradle Will Rock and Purlie, the NY Philharmonic's production of Company, Maggie in Cat on A Hot Tin Roof opposite Terrence Howard, James Earl Jones and Phylicia Rashad, Footloose, and Eli's Coming (Obie Award).

Anika's other film credits include For Colored Girls, Just Add Water and the Disney's animated feature The Princess And The Frog, in which she supplied THE VOICE of Princess Tiana which made her Disney's first African-American princess. She will soon be seen in the film Half of a Yellow Sun opposite Thandie Newton. Her TV credits include The Good Wife, Elementary, Private Practice, Hallmark Hall of Fame's The Watsons Go To Birmingham, Stephen King's Bag of Bones opposite Pierce Brosnan and soon in A Day Late and a Dollar Short based on Terry McMillan's novel opposite Whoopi Goldberg. Anika is a three-time NAACP Image Award nominee for her performances in Anthony Minghella's The No.1 Detective Agency (HBO), Law & Order: SVU and Hallmark Hall of Fame's Mitch Albom's Have A Little Faith.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / WM Photos