Alexandra Burke Set to Take the Stage in I’M EVERY WOMAN

A new musical celebrating the life and music of legendary singer Chaka Khan is preparing to make its debut, with Alexandra Burke in the title role.

The production, which charts the extraordinary career of the Grammy Award–winning artist, will premiere in London before embarking on a short UK tour. With a score packed with some of Khan’s most iconic songs and a creative team drawn from across the contemporary musical theatre landscape, the show aims to bring the story of one of popular music’s most influential voices to the stage.

I’M EVERY WOMAN is set to begin performances with a London premiere at Hackney Empire from 20 to 25 March. Following its initial run in the capital, the musical will travel to the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry from 1 to 4 April and then to the Congress Theatre in Eastbourne from 7 to 11 April.

Leading the cast is Alexandra Burke, the chart-topping singer and stage performer who rose to international fame after winning The X Factor. Burke has built a significant career in theatre alongside her music success, appearing in productions including THE BODYGUARD, SISTER ACT, CHICAGO and JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT. I’M EVERY WOMAN, she steps into the role of Chaka Khan, portraying the artist’s journey from young activist to global music icon.

The musical explores Khan’s life story, tracing her rise to fame in the 1970s with the funk band Rufus before launching a hugely successful solo career. Through the highs and lows of her personal and professional life, the show aims to reveal the woman behind the legend, highlighting her resilience, artistic ambition and influence on generations of musicians.

Khan first gained international attention as the lead singer of Rufus, whose hit Tell Me Something Good became a defining track of the funk era. She later transitioned into a celebrated solo career, releasing chart-topping songs such as I Feel for You, Ain’t Nobody, Sweet Thing and the anthem that gives the musical its title, I’m Every Woman. Many of these songs will feature prominently in the stage production, forming the backbone of the musical’s score.

The production promises to combine biography and spectacle, using Khan’s music to explore the defining moments of her life and career. The narrative spans her early years as a politically engaged young artist, her breakthrough in the music industry, and the personal struggles she faced along the way, including the pressures of fame and the challenge of balancing career and family life.

Joining Burke in the cast is Jordan Frazier, known for appearing in HAMILTON, who will serve as the alternate Chaka Khan. Paige Peddie, whose credits include THE LION KING, will play Khan’s sister Taka Boom. The ensemble also features Chanice Alexander-Burnett as Tammy Michelle and Paulette McWilliams, Charlotte St Croix as Milini Khan and Whitney Houston, and Maryla Abraham as Sandra Stevens.

Additional cast members include Chrissie Bhima as Marie Stevens, Sophie Earl as singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, Duane-Lamonte O’Garro as Hassan Khan and Luther Vandross, and Miles Anthony Daley as Richard Holland and Prince. The musical also introduces characters inspired by a number of legendary figures who intersected with Khan’s career, including Stevie Wonder and Miles Davis, reflecting the breadth of her influence across the music world.

The show features a book by Nia T. Hill, with direction by Racky Plews and choreography by Ebony Clarke. Musical supervision is by Mark Crossland, while the design team includes Sara Perks on set design and Natalie Pryce on costumes. Sound design is by Chris Whybrow, with hair, wigs and make-up design by JJ Wigs.

Producer Adrian Grant, best known for the long-running hit THRILLER LIVE, is behind the production. With Grant’s experience in developing music-based stage shows and the involvement of Chaka Khan herself in the project, the creative team hopes to create a theatrical celebration that captures both the energy of her music and the complexity of her life story.

Like many jukebox musicals, I’M EVERY WOMAN aims to appeal to both dedicated theatre audiences and fans of the artist’s music. The genre has proven increasingly popular in recent decades, with productions built around the songs of artists such as Tina Turner, ABBA and Carole King finding major commercial success on stages around the world.

However, the creators of I’M EVERY WOMAN have emphasised that the musical is intended to be more than simply a concert-style tribute. Instead, it seeks to present a narrative portrait of Khan as both an artist and a cultural figure. The show explores her role as a pioneer for women in the music industry and as a voice for social justice, themes that continue to resonate today.

For Alexandra Burke, the role represents another significant step in her theatrical career. Having previously played WhitneyHouston-inspired roles in THE BODYGUARD, Burke now takes on a different kind of musical icon, bringing her powerful vocal style to a score that blends funk, soul and pop influences.

With rehearsals underway and audiences already getting their first glimpse of the production through newly released images, I’M EVERY WOMAN is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated music-driven theatre premieres of the year. As the show prepares to open its initial run in London before touring to regional venues, theatre lovers and music fans alike will soon have the chance to experience the story and songs of Chaka Khan brought vividly to life on stage.