Kimberly Williams-Paisley Stars in Lifetime Movie Network's Original Movie Amish Grace

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Kimberly Williams-Paisley (According to Jim, Father of the Bride Parts I and II) stars as Ida Graber in the Lifetime Movie Network Original Movie Amish Grace.  The powerful and moving film is based on a true story about the aftermath that followed the 2006 schoolhouse shooting in the Amish community of Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania.  The movie examines a mother's (Williams-Paisley) personal journey in which she copes with the tragic loss of her daughter during the shooting and subsequent questioning of her faith.  Matt Letscher (Brothers & Sisters, Entourage) portrays her husband, Gideon Graber, and Tammy Blanchard (Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows) stars as the shooter's wife, Amy Roberts.  Amish Grace, based on the book Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy, will premiere Sunday, March 28, 2010, at 8pm ET/5pm PT, on Lifetime Movie Network, Lifetime's sister network and the second highest rated women's channel.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090421/LA02601LOGO)

ABOUT AMISH GRACE

The peaceful Amish community of Nickel Mines was forever changed when a gunman senselessly took the lives of five girls in a schoolhouse shooting before taking his own life.

What transpires afterwards takes the community by storm when the media descends on the town and criticizes its Amish leaders for their notion of unconditional forgiveness of the shooter and their outreach of support to his widow, Amy Roberts (Blanchard).  Devastated by her daughter's death, Ida Graber (Williams-Paisley) finds herself struggling with her community's belief of the transcending power of forgiveness.  Deeply conflicted and unable to forgive the gunman and his family, Ida is tempted to leave the only life she's ever known before re-embracing her faith.

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION

Amish Grace is produced by Larry A. Thompson Organization for Lifetime Movie Network.  Larry A. Thompson (Little Girl Lost: The Delimar Vera Story, A Date With Darkness: The Trial and Capture of Andrew Luster) executive produces, and Kyle A. Clark and Marta M. Mobley (Citizen Jane, Mrs. Washington Goes to Smith) produce.  Gregg Champion (Miracle Run, 14 Hours) directs the teleplay from Sylvie White and Teena Booth (The Wronged Man, Natalee Holloway).  The teleplay is based on a true story and the critically-acclaimed book, Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy by Donald B. Kraybill, Steven M. Nolt and David L. Weaver-Zercher.  Multiple Emmy® Award-winner Van Broughton Ramsey (Lonesome Dove, Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All) is the costume designer and Michael Hancock (Witness, Paper Dolls) is the key makeup artist.

ABOUT LIFETIME MOVIE NETWORK

Lifetime Movie Network is the #2 women's channel, behind only its sister network Lifetime

Television.  2009 was the most watched year in the network's 11 year history in both Total Day and Primetime across Households, Women 18-49, Women 25-54, Adults 18-34, Adults 18-49, Adults 25-54, Total Viewers, Women 18+ and Adults 18+, while last year also was the network's most watched year ever in Primetime among Women 18-34.  In addition, 2009 was Lifetime Movie Network's highest rated year ever in Primetime among Households, Total Viewers and Adults 18+.

Original Movies on Lifetime Movie Network this year include Double Wedding, with Tia and Tamera Mowry; Secrets in the Walls, featuring Jeri Ryan; Seven Deadly Sins; and Deadly Honeymoon.  The Wronged Man, starring Julia Ormond and from executive producer Gale Anne Hurd, debuted on January 17 and Sins of the Mother, with Jill Scott, premiered on February 21.  Recently, Lifetime Movie Network reached more than 75 million U.S. subscribers, making it the industry's fastest growing channel.*

Lifetime Television®, Lifetime Movie Network®, Lifetime Real Women® and Lifetime Digital™ (which includes myLifetime.com, LMN.tv, Lifetime Games, Roiworld.com, DressUpChallenge.com, MothersClick.com and LifetimeMoms.com) are part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, LLC, a subsidiary of A&E Television Networks, LLC.  A&E Television Networks is a joint venture of the Disney-ABC Television Group, Hearst Corporation and NBC Universal.

*Among channels with at least 66 million households.

SOURCE Lifetime Movie Network