EVERY HIGH SCHOOL HAS A "LITTLE" COMPETITION

"A.N.T. FARM," A COMEDY ABOUT MIDDLE SCHOOL PRODIGIES ENROLLED IN A HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR GIFTED STUDENTS, PREMIERES FRIDAY, JUNE 17 ON DISNEY CHANNEL

Talented Young Cast Led by 12-year-old China Anne McClain

"A.N.T. Farm," a comedy series about a middle school musical prodigy who is newly enrolled in a prestigious A.N.T. (Advanced Natural Talents) program at a local high school, will premiere FRIDAY, JUNE 17 (8:30 p.m., ET/PT) on Disney Channel. Starring 12-year-old China Anne McClain, the series depicts the new fish-out-of-water situation Chyna Parks and her fellow A.N.T.s. encounter in the sometimes daunting world of high school - three years earlier than expected.

In addition to McClain, the series stars Sierra McCormick ("Ramona and Beezus") as Olive Doyle, an A.N.T. with a photographic memory; Jake Short ("Shorts," "Dexter") as Fletcher Quimby, an artistic genius and practical joker; Stefanie Scott ("Flipped," "No Strings Attached") as Lexi Reed, an overachieving cheerleader who is intimidated by Chyna; and Carlon Jeffery ("Heroes") as Cameron Parks, Chyna's older brother who overcompensates in order to step out of his sister's shadow.

Recurring are Finesse Mitchell ("Saturday Night Live") and Elise Neal ("The Hughleys") as Chyna's parents, Darryl and Roxanne Parks; Zach Steel as Gibson, the A.N.T's school counselor, and Aedin Mincks as Angus, the computer genius.

Beginning May 27, DisneyChannel.com will launch the "A.N.T. Farm" super site, featuring the game, "Find Your Inner A.N.T." Players can select one of four mini games inspired by the talents of Chyna (music), Olive (memory), Fletcher (painting) and Angus (computer genius). After each new episode, users can also test their brain power with the Weekly Brain Teaser.

Following is the schedule for "A.N.T. Farm":

Sunday, May, 22

"A.N.T. Farm" Full Preview Episode (9:45 p.m., ET/PT)

· In "TransplANTed," it's Chyna's first day of high school as part of the prestigious A.N.T. (Advanced Natural Talents) program. After Chyna and her new A.N.T friends, Fletcher and Olive, hear about a high school party, they try to make themselves look older to attend. The party is ruined when Fletcher accidentally pulls the plug on the music, but Chyna keeps the party going with an impromptu musical performance.

Monday, May 23

· A full preview episode of "A.N.T. Farm" is available on Disney Channel on Demand, Disney Channel.com and Disney Channel Mobile on Demand which includes AT&T U-Verse, Sprint TV, Verizon VCast and MobiTV.

Tuesday, May 31

· The preview episode is available on iTunes, Sony Playstation and Xbox Live.

Friday, June, 3 "A.N.T. Farm" Full Preview Episode (9:45 p.m., ET/PT)

Friday, June 10

· "A.N.T. Farm" series premiere episode is available on Disney Channel on Demand which includes AT&T, Cablevision, TimeWarner and Verizon.

Friday, June 17

"A.N.T. Farm" Series Premiere (8:30 p.m., ET/PT)

· In "ParticipANTS," Chyna makes an effort to be more involved with her school's extracurricular activities and joins the cheerleading squad, but she gets more than she bargained for when Lexi puts her cheerleading skills to the test. Meanwhile, Cameron and Fletcher create their own unique lunchtime club.

· Simulcasts on Sprint TV and MobiTV and immediately following the premiere, the episode will be available on DisneyChannel.com

"A.N.T. Farm" was created by Dan Signer ("The Suite Life on Deck," "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody") and executive-produced by Signer and Stephen Engel ("The Big Bang Theory," "Mad About You," "Dream On"). The comedy series is a production of It's A Laugh Productions, Inc. It carries a TV-G parental guideline.

Disney Channel is a 24-hour kid-driven, family inclusive television network that taps into the world of kids and families through original series and movies. Currently available on basic cable in over 99 million U.S. homes and to millions of other viewers on Disney Channels around the world, Disney Channel is part of the Disney/ABC Television Group.