The Ten, a new Broadway-aimed musical loosely based on Moses and the Ten Commandments and inspired by the power and spiritual energy of gospel, is currently in the works.

With music that also draws from hip-hop, bluegrass, R&B, soul, and the blues, the new musical will have music and lyrics by the Grammy-nominated team Future Cut (Tunde Babalola and Darren Lewis) and London-based songwriter and lyricist Emily Phillips with a book by Nambi E. Kelley (Native Sun). Tony winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson (Seven Guitars, Lackawanna Blues) is attached as the director. 

A reading is being planned for early 2023. Get a first listen of the demo track “Ten (Prologue)” from the new musical by clicking here.

Director Santiago-Hudson said in a statement, "I’m incredibly excited to be diving into the development of this fascinating new musical, The Ten, with an amazingly talented group of artists. Writers Nambi E. Kelley and Emily Phillips with composers Darren Lewis and Tunde Babalola of Future Cut bring a wonderful marriage of power and poetry through story and songs that will literally lift you out of your seats. The Ten is loosely based on the story of Moses and The Ten Commandments set in our current times. Through this fascinating story we will span the landscape of modern music, from soul and gospel, to funk, country, folk, and everything in between. The Ten will wonderfully alter what our ideas of what a modern musical can be. So be prepared for a thrilling ride.”

“I am thrilled to be working with Ken Davenport, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Future Cut, and Emily Phillips on our reimagination of the Moses story through the lens of a Black woman,” added writer Kelley. “As a Black woman, I'm excited to put our perspective at the center of this epic narrative to theatricalize how Black women are truly the catalyst for change across the world and through time.”

Producers include Ken Davenport, Primary Wave Music, and Sandi Moran.