From David Simon, creator of 'The Wire' and 'Generation Kill,' and Eric Overmyer, writer-producer of 'Homicide' and 'Law & Order,' 'Treme' is set in post-Katrina New Orleans. It chronicles the struggles of a diverse group of residents as they rebuild their lives and their city. Treme,' pronounced Truh-may, takes its title from the name of one of the city's oldest neighborhoods, an historically important source of African-American music and culture.
Season 1 began in fall of 2005, three months after Hurricane Katrina. Season 2 picks up 14 months after the federal levees failed. While many of the old challenges persist, much has changed. The profiteers have arrived, though the insurance checks haven't. Crime is on the rise, but the ability of the police department to keep pace with the criminals is questionable. Life in New Orleans is getting better, but it's not happening fast enough to keep residents from wondering whether things would be easier, better, elsewhere.
What keeps the city afloat through all of this is its culture. Mardi Gras Indian chief Albert Lambreaux (Clarke Peters) is sewing in preparation for Mardi Gras. The social aid and pleasure clubs are getting ready to hit the streets in their colorful, fast step finery. And those loveable rogues, Davis McAlary (Steve Zahn) and Antoine Batiste (Wendell Pierce) have cooked up a new set of schemes on and off the bandstand.
The ensemble cast of 'Treme' includes: Wendell Pierce (HBO's 'The Wire,' the HBO documentary 'When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts'); Khandi Alexander ('CSI: Miami,' HBO's Emmy®-winning 'The Corner'); Clarke Peters ('Damages,' HBO's 'The Wire' and 'The Corner'); Rob Brown ('Stop-Loss,' 'Finding Forrester'); Steve Zahn ('A Perfect Getaway,' 'Sunshine Cleaning'); Kim Dickens (HBO's 'Deadwood'); Melissa Leo (Oscar® winner for 'The Fighter'; Oscar® nominee for 'Frozen River'); Lucia Micarelli; Michiel Huisman ('The Young Victoria'); David Morse ('The Hurt Locker'; HBO's 'John Adams'); India Ennenga, and Jon Seda (the upcoming 'Larry Crowne'; HBO's 'The Pacific').
National and Louisiana-based musical performers featured include Dr. John, Juvenile, John Hiatt, Lucia Micarelli, Steve Earle, Shawn Colvin, the subdudes, the Radiators, Henry Butler, Wanda Rouzan, Cyril Neville, Christian Scott, Donald Harrison Jr., Ron Carter, Kermit Ruffins, Rebirth Brass Band, Galactic, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Hot 8 Brass Band, Leroy Jones, John Boutte, Paul Sanchez, Glen David Andrews, Susan Cowsill, Walter "Wolfman" Washington, Steve Riley, Katey Red, Big Freedia, Sissy Nobby, Ingrid Lucia, Mem Shannon, Al "Carnival Time" Johnson, Tom McDermott, George Porter, Evan Christopher and members of the Pineleaf Boys and Redstick Ramblers, among many others.
'Treme' was created by David Simon and Eric Overmyer; executive producers, David Simon, Nina K. Noble, Eric Overmyer, Carolyn Strauss; Consulting Producers, James Yoshimura and George Pelecanos; supervising producer, Anthony Hemingway; directors, Brad Anderson, Rob Bailey, Adam Davidson, Roxann Dawson, Ernest Dickerson, Anthony Hemingway, Agnieszka Holland, Simon Cellan Jones, Tim Robbins, Alex Zakrzewski; writers, Lolis Eric Elie, Mari Kornhauser, Eric Overmyer, George Pelecanos, Tom Piazza, David Simon, James Yoshimura, Anthony Bourdain.
