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CREATIVES
Book Writer, Tina Andrews, has been working closely with Chaka, as we develop her life story into a stage musical!
TINA ANDREWS / Book Writer
Tina Andrews is an international award-winning writer, producer, director, as well as author, playwright, and multi-media visual artist. Her nonfiction book, ‘Sally Hemings An American Scandal: The Struggle to Tell The Controversial True Story’ (The Malibu Press), won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Achievement in Literary Nonfiction and the Literary Award of Excellence from the Memphis Writers Conference. The book was based on her award-winning CBS miniseries, ‘Sally Hemings: An American Scandal’ which she wrote and Executive Produced. It was the highest rated, most watched miniseries of its season garnering Tina the Writers Guild of America Award for Outstanding Long form Television, She is the first African American to win the award in Long form) She also won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding TV Movie, Miniseries or Special. CBS bought the miniseries based on her play ‘The Mistress of Monticello’, which Tina originally wrote and directed at the Chicago Dramatists Workshop. She also wrote the screenplay for the 1998 movie ‘Why Do Fools fall in Love?’. Tina’s work in film and television has led to other accolades, including a Proclamation from the City Council of New York. Her novel, ‘Charlotte Sophia’, told the story of Queen Charlotte of England’s concealed African Ancestry and was released as an audiobook voiced by ‘Bridgerton’ actress Adjoa Andoh. HBO Max recently acquired the novel, and Tina is working on the script.
RACKY PLEWS / Director
Directing and Choreography credits include: ‘American Idiot’ (West End and UK Tour, (winner of Best New Musical in the West End Broadway World Awards, Best Director and Best Choreographer nomination What’s On Stage Awards), ‘Summer Holiday’ (UK Tour), ‘Knights of the Rose’ (West End), ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ (UK Tour & Canada), ‘Footloose’ (West End and UK Tour), ‘Vanities’ (Trafalgar Studios), ‘Guys and Dolls’, ‘The Drowsy Chaperone’ and ‘Into The Woods’ (The Gatehouse), ‘Respect La Diva’ (Garrick Theatre), ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ (UK Tour), ‘Josephine Baker’ (Off Broadway, New York), ‘Cougar’ (The Belgrade), ‘Denise Pearson - The Jackson’s World Tour’ (Arena Tour), ‘Bare - The Rock Musical’ (Best Choreography nomination Broadway World), ‘Effectors’ (Spectrum of the Seas), ‘Flight’ (Symphony of the Seas), ‘Columbus’ (Harmony of the Seas), ‘The 48hour Musicals - The Boy Friend’ (Her Majesty’s Theatre), ‘Crazy For You’ and ‘Me & My Girl’ (London Palladium).
IAN OAKLEY / Musical Director
Ian Oakley is a London-based, multi-award-winning (including two Black British Theatre Awards) musical director, composer and arranger with more than 25 years’ experience in both the UK and the USA. Commended for his versatility, Ian has worked across the spectrum of the music industry - from the creative genesis of a project, to working with legendary Grammy Award-winning artists (Dionne Warwick, Take 6), to conducting orchestras (London Symphony Orchestra). Ian was the orchestrator for Stormzy’s 2017 performance of Blinded By Your Grace Pt. 2.on the UK series of ‘X-Factor’ which was viewed by over 6 million people. Theatre credits include: ‘The Color Purple’ (Birmingham Hippodrome), On the Ropes (Park Theatre/The Production Exchange), To The Streets (China Plate/Birmingham Hippodrome), Playboy of the West Indies (Birmingham Rep), Coming to England (Birmingham Rep), ‘Respect - The Aretha Franklin Songbook’ (UK Tour), ‘The Lion King’ (UK Tour).
ADRIAN GRANT / Producer
Adrian Grant has worked in the entertainment and media industries for over 30 years, producing magazines, books, records, videos, television, concerts, and theatre shows. Adrian had an amazing 20- year working relationship with Michael Jackson which led him on to create ‘Thriller Live’, a show seen by over five million people worldwide, and becoming the 12th biggest West End musical of all-time. Adrian also produces the Visionary Arts Awards which celebrate inspirational culture, media & entertainment.
Adrian said, “I’m thrilled to be producing a theatrical stage musical about the life of Chaka Khan. She has been an icon across many genres and decades, but I grew up in the 80s, and songs such as ‘Ain’t Nobody’ and ‘I Feel For You’ created an everlasting cultural imprint that will form a part of this show, with electric choreography and vocals that blow the roof off! We have an amazing creative team, and Tina (Andrews) and Chaka, who both hail from Chicago, have formed a great bond during the writing process. There’s a long way to go, but every day I wake up excited with the possibilities that lay ahead!”
Adrian said, “I’m thrilled to be producing a theatrical stage musical about the life of Chaka Khan. She has been an icon across many genres and decades, but I grew up in the 80s, and songs such as ‘Ain’t Nobody’ and ‘I Feel For You’ created an everlasting cultural imprint that will form a part of this show, with electric choreography and vocals that blow the roof off! We have an amazing creative team, and Tina (Andrews) and Chaka, who both hail from Chicago, have formed a great bond during the writing process. There’s a long way to go, but every day I wake up excited with the possibilities that lay ahead!”
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