New musical The Ten will receive a private industry presentation in New York City September 16 at Open Jar Studios, presented by Ken Davenport and Primary Wave Music. The 45-minute presentation will include performances of select songs.
The Ten reimagines the Moses story through the lens of two Black sisters in modern-day Chicago, blending Biblical inspiration with contemporary questions through an original score channeling gospel, pop, and hip-hope as a force of liberation and spiritual awakening.
With music and lyrics by Emily Phillips (the songwriter for songs from Florence + the Machine and Nicole Scherzinger) and Future Cut (music producers for Rihanna, Shakira, and Dua Lipa), The Ten will feature a book by Nambi E. Kelley (Peacock’s Bel Air). Tony winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson will direct.
The presentation will feature performances by Samantha Marie Ware, Amber Iman, Ephraim Sykes, Jeannette Bayardelle, Mehry Eslaminia, Dylan S. Wallach, Dominique Skye Turner, Danyel Fulton, John Clay III, Jon-Michael Reese, Thabitha Moruthane, Nicholas Ward, and Helen Marla White.
The production team will include general manager Bryan McCaffrey, associate producer Jonathan Hogue, assistant director Timothy Johnson, music director Ryan Cantwell, music supervisor Sonny Paladino, associate music director Evan Trotter-White, sound design by Shannon Slaton, production stage manager Kamra A. Jacobs, assistant stage manager Katie Cherven; casting by Destiny Lilly, CSA, dramaturgy by Ken Cerniglia, drummer Jared Shaw, bass George Farmer, keyboard Justin Ramos, and audio team Nick Dunk (A1) and Sam King (A2).