Colleges

HBCU LOVE: Prairie View A&M University’s Marching Band Is Getting Its Own Show On The CW

HBCU marching band culture is getting its own show on The CW with MARCH a docuseries following Prairie View A&M University’s Marching Storm marching band.

The 8-episode series debuts on Monday, January 24 at 8:00pm ET/PT on The CW and will follow the 300-person band and staff members including musicians, drum majors, dancers, flag team and faculty advisors as they navigate the pressure of performing and tackling rigorous academic schedules at the HBCU. The show will also explore the legacy and culture HBCUs, Prairie View A&M and how the Marching Storm is an integral part of that rich history.

On top of following the unusual struggle of navigating student life during the pandemic, the series will feature PVAMU performances against other bands including Jackson State University and Texas A&M. It will also chronicle the band’s pressure-filled journey to become the top-ranked HBCU band in the land after starting the season at #8, as ranked on ESPN’s The Undefeated.

We at Watch The Yard are especially excited to see is the fraternity and sorority representation in the show. From band fraternities and sororities to BGLOs (Black Greek Letter Organizations), there is major representation in this docuseries.

Among people highlighted, the show follows Shawn Zachery, the coach of The Black Foxes dance troupe and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. as well as Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority. Zachary began her career in dance as a Southern University Dancing Doll. While juggling a successful career in the IT field for over 30 years, she has served as Director and Choreographer for Howard University’s Ooh La La! Dancers, the Champagne Dancers at South Carolina State University, and the Hot Ice Dancers at Norfolk State University. She is also the creator of the National HBCU Auxiliary and Dance Directors Association.

The show also follows Kaylan, a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the captain of The Black Foxes dance troupe and highlights her intense leadership as she pursues her mission to leave a legacy before graduating.

With an AKA as the coach and a Delta as the captain of the dance troupe D9 audiences across the nation are excited for the show.

Photo credits: Lee Morgan/The CW — (C) 2022 The CW Network, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Shot in the fall of 2021, MARCH presents the students and staff members navigating a plethora of relatable issues – the effects of the pandemic on their lives, long-distance relationships, the current discussion around pronouns, being a student and a parent, getting along with bandmates, and more. The student band members also cope with the common college issues including the first-year students missing their families, sophomores and juniors growing into leadership positions, and seniors contemplating their next moves – all while working toward the shared goal of musical and performance excellence.

The 8-episode series is executive produced by Jamail Shelton (“Love & Hip Hop”), Emmy winner Cheryl Horner McDonough (“The T Word”), and Stage 13 EPs Shari Scorca and Marcel Fuentes.

“At Stage 13, we are thrilled to partner with The CW to bring audiences the dynamic energy and inspiration of Black college life via the awesome HBCU marching band experience,” said Stage 13 SVP/GM Diana Mogollon. “PVAMU’s Marching Storm is unparalleled, and its members deliver quintessentially high-stakes entertainment at its best, with swagger, camaraderie, and heart throughout the series.”