Casting announced for workshop presentation of I’M EVERY WOMEN - THE CHAKA KHAN MUSICAL
An industry workshop presentation of I'm Every Woman - The Chaka Khan Musical will take place with two 80-minute performances at Mountview on 10 November.
The cast features: Karen Mavundukure (Dreamgirls, The Color Purple) as Chaka Khan, with Jordan Frazier (Hamilton) as Flashback Chaka Khan, Amarra Smith (Get Up, Stand Up) as Destiny, Alistair Toovey (Legally Blonde) as Dylan, Ashley Samuels (Hairspray, Motown) as Joel the Director and Stevie Wonder, Anelisa Lamola (The Color Purple) as Nina – the Book Writer, Hassun Sharif (Hamilton, Pretty Woman) as Flashback Richard Holland and Prince, Charlotte St. Croix (The Wizard of Oz, Hairspray) as Taka Boom, Gavin Keenan (Chicago, Cats) as Harry Myles – the Producer, Duane-Lamonte O’Garro (Motown) as Hassan Khan and Grandmaster Melle Mel, Chris Breistein (School of Rock) as Robert Palmer and Kevin Murphy, Jessica Niles (Six) as Whitney Houston, Chanice Alexander-Burnett (Les Miserables) as Angela Davis, Teddy Wills (Get Up, Stand Up) as Fred Hampton and Andre Fischer, Marvyn Charles (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie) as Bobby Watson, Luke Friend (American Idiot, Footloose) as Cocaine and Lee Graziano, Oliver Jacobson (The Book of Mormon) as Bob Martin, Andre Coulson (Five Guys Named Moe) as Don Cornelius and Tony Maiden, and introducing Connor Wilkins as Al Ciner, and Ellie Cooper as Joni Mitchell.
Completing the cast are Suki Wong, Wallis Pipe, Asmara Cammock, Lee Crowley, Jamie Bell and Zion Battles.
The book is written by screenwriter Tina Andrews, with direction by Racky Plews, orchestrations, vocal arrangements, and musical supervision by Ian Oakley, choreography by Del Mak, sound by Chris Whybrow, and casting by Debbie O’Brien.
The show, which is fully endorsed by Chaka Khan, plans to premiere in Autumn 2024.
I’m Every Woman brings Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Chaka Khan’s explosive and dramatic life to the stage. Her story will be explored and experienced in flashbacks utilising the unique concept of a present-day musical within a musical about Chaka Khan herself.
A journey of music, love and betrayal, this brand new musical reveals the woman behind the diva. I’m Every Woman features Chaka Khan’s much-loved songs released as a solo artist and lead singer of the band Rufus.
Featuring beloved, famous songs from Chaka and her famous friends such as ‘I’m Every Woman’, ‘Ain’t Nobody’, ‘I Feel For You’ and ‘Higher Love’, the workshop combines Chaka’s phenomenal music catalogue with a fusion of dynamic, intricate choreography which mirrors Chaka’s eclectic music career.
This untold story of Chaka Khan reveals her passion for civil rights, struggles within a toxic music industry, a dangerous road to a drug-fuelled overdose, and the high pressures of working whilst being a mother.
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