"Orange is the New Black" New York City Premiere
The cast of the new Netflix original series, Orange is the New Black escaped the confines of their set's prison walls and shed their onscreen orange attire for the show's premiere at the New York Botanical Gardens. On the red carpet was the series' star inmate Taylor Schilling along with costar Jason Biggs. Celebrities Ricky Gervais, Deborah Cox, and Jay Manuel also came out in addition to Piper Kerman, the author of the autobiographical book that the dramedy depicts.
"It's based on a true story," said Jason Biggs, "Piper Kerman wrote a memoir on her experience of going to a federal prison for 15 months and I play her fiance."
Taylor Schilling plays the former American Pie legend's current onscreen leading lady. "She graduates from Smith College -- she falls in love with a woman. The woman she is in love with is involved in a drug trafficking ring and Piper gets involved and has to go to prison for 15 months and that is where our story picks up," said Schilling, whose last role in Argo also drew upon actual events.
The real life Piper had nothing but praise for the small screen portrayal of her published diary. "The entire cast and the production crew have just done a phenomenal, phenomenal job of creating the world of a women's prison," said Kerman.
OITNB writer and Showtime's Weeds creator, Jenji Kohan expressed mutual adulation for Kerman. "Well I read the book that Piper wrote and thought it would be great television," said Kohan.
The series' extensive female ensemble shared positive sentiments about working with such a large cast of ladies. "It was awesome," said the one-time That '70s Show castmate, Laura Prepon, "I have never worked with this big of a cast before...it's great and it's like predominantly women which is really cool."
"We, the other women on the show are just all the different colors of women you might find in a prison," said relative newcomer Samira Wiley and her more seasoned acting cohort, Natasha Lyonne echoed her experience.
"I never actually got to work with this many singular women and each one is...an individual beyond," said Lyonne, "I think there is going to be so much undiscovered talent that's going to emerge from this show that is very exciting and inspiring to work with."
And by the mounting rave reviews for the series that has already picked up for a second-season, it seems like the talented cast will not remain undiscovered for much longer.
Look out for the whole first-season of OITNB, available on Netflix July 11th.
