Red Arrow Studios International Partners With SEVEN STORIES And ATALAYA PRODUCTIONS To Develop HARVEY GIRLS

New period drama be adapted by Liz Lake (‘Riviera’, ‘Call the Midwife’)

Red Arrow Studios International has partnered with Seven Stories and Atalaya Productions to develop Harvey Girls, a fresh, irreverent female-led series based on the historical phenomenon of the ‘Harvey Girls’ in early 1900s America. Liz Lake (‘Riviera’, ‘Call the Midwife’) will write the screenplay for the project, based on research from the non-fiction book ‘The Harvey Girls: Women who opened the West’ by Lesley Poling-Kempes.

Harvey Houses was a chain of high-class hotels and restaurants for travellers along the Santa Fe Railroad, engineered by British-born Fred Harvey. The drama will follow the young women who worked and lived full time in these establishments - drawn by the opportunity to escape and earn good pay. Set across the 1920s and 1930s, Harvey Girls will explore the resonant themes of identity, sexuality, sisterhood and female independence as they embark on a voyage into the unknown and seize their chance to live the American Dream.

Seven Stories’ Sharon Maguire, Anand Tucker and Colleen Woodcock will executive produce for Seven Stories, alongside Giovanni Orlando for Atalaya Productions, and Carlo Dusi for Red Arrow Studios International.

Carlo Dusi, EVP Commercial Strategy, Scripted at Red Arrow Studios International said “It’s fantastic to be working with Seven Stories, Atalaya, and the hugely talented Liz Lake on Harvey Girls – a show that explores a little-known slice of US history while still managing to feel timely. It’s exactly the sort of bold and ambitious drama we like to support at Red Arrow and we are looking forward to working with this best-in-class talent to create a compelling, globally-appealing series.”

Colleen Woodcock, Creative Director, Seven Stories added “We're delighted to be partnering with Red Arrow and Atalaya on this irresistible story of complex, bold young women remaking their destinies, and very privileged to be working with Liz Lake, who deftly blends the darker elements of their stories with a fresh sense of mischief and surprise.”

Giovanni Orlando, Partner and CEO, Atalaya Productions commented “Since first hearing about this fascinating but largely unknown group of women, I’ve continued to be intrigued by their many diverse and compelling stories, some of which are encapsulated in the interviews and anecdotes in Lesley Poling-Kempes’ book. I’m delighted to have been able to transmit my enthusiasm to the talented teams at Seven Stories and Red Arrow Studios International. It’s a real pleasure to now be working with them on this project to bring these incredible stories to the screen.”

About Red Arrow Studios International

Red Arrow Studios International is a world-leading TV distributor of scripted, formats and factual shows from a global network of in-house production companies, outstanding third-party producers and digital-content partners.

Led by Bo Stehmeier, with offices in Munich, London and Los Angeles, Red Arrow Studios International co-produces and finances global entertainment, and distributes acclaimed content to over 200 territories worldwide.

Red Arrow Studios International is part of Red Arrow Studios, which is comprised of 20 production companies in seven territories; digital studio, Studio71; and film distributor Gravitas Ventures. Red Arrow Studios is a ProSiebenSat.1 Media SE company, one of Europe's leading media groups.

For more information, please visit: redarrowstudios.com/international

About Seven Stories

Seven Stories is a scripted drama production company launched in September 2015 by award-winning directors, writers and producers Anand Tucker (‘Hilary and Jackie’, ‘Red Riding’, ‘Indian Summers’) and Sharon Maguire (‘Bridget Jones’s Diary’, ‘Bridget Jones’s Baby’) with the backing of All3Media. Based in London, the company is developing and producing bold, high-end, distinctive drama for the global market. 

About Atalaya Productions

Originally created to bring to the screen non fictional stories, which content would resonate with audiences for its strong contemporary references, Atalaya has since ventured into the development and production also of fictional material.

Based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the company has an international presence in London where it is developing, with UK and European partners, a number of multi season-series expecting to shortly hit the television screen.

The high quality of Atalaya’s products currently in development, has attracted co-production partnerships and Studios partnerships on both sides of the Atlantic, with the likes of Scott Free, Propagate, Seven Stories, Red Arrow Studios International, A&E and Fremantle.