Q-Tip Joins the Creative Team of New Musical Ali

Grammy-winner Q-Tip has joined the creative team of Ali, a new musical celebrating the life and legacy of the heavyweight boxing champion and humanitarian Muhammad Ali, as music producer and co-lyricist. Also joining the musical’s composer Teddy Abrams are Grammy Award-winning saxophonist and vocalist Casey Benjamin as associate music producer and Sean Mayes (Hadestown) as music supervisor.

Ali will premiere in Ali’s hometown of Louisville, at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, in the fall of 2024. Clint Dyer, the show’s book writer, will direct.

Q-Tip is known as one of the co-founders of A Tribe Called Quest and as a solo artist, music producer, DJ, actor, film producer, curator, advocate, and ambassador of hip hop culture.

Ali’s creative team also includes choreography/fight choreography by Rich + Tone Talauega, set design by Tony nominee Anna Fleischle, costume design by Tony nominee Emilio Sosa, lighting design by Tony nominee Jen Schriever, video/projections/media design by Tony nominee Tal Yarden and Gino Ricardo Green, sound effects design by Ben Grant, and associate direction by Asmeret Ghebremichael. The creative dramaturge is Fred Carl and former middleweight champion Michael “Silk” Olajide, Jr. will serve as special boxing consultant and fight coordinator. Additional members of the creative and design teams and casting will be announced soon.