An apocalyptically divided America
Warring pulpits and gods
The Queen of England, the Emperor of Germany, an American President,
And the epic saga of the most unlikely warriors.
The year is 1871, the events are real
A Sweeping Epic
Based on Andrew Ward’s post-Civil War epic "Dark Midnight When I Rise," Steal Away is the true story of the legendary Fisk Jubilee Singers, a sensational choir of young former slaves fighting the KKK’s reign of terror against their schools — including the newly founded HBCUs — not with bullets or bombs but electrifying songs of faith and freedom. Steal Away follows the choir’s breathtaking rise from the darkness of slavery to the glittering ballrooms and throne rooms of England as they take the world by storm and become exalted celebrities — only to fall prey to their own demons and wage war on each other, plunging them into scandal and disgrace… before their unexpected redemption.
A sweeping music-filled saga, Steal Away will feature an outstanding international cast, a Tony-winning Broadway legend, a six-time Grammy-winning composer, and a thundering message of faith, courage, redemption, and hope that will leave audiences cheering from Boston to Beijing.
What Scriptapalooza and Coverfly are saying about the Script:
“Steal Away is a captivating true story brilliantly brought to life.”
“The characters are beautifully crafted, with poignant scenes and a vividly painted world. This is a deeply moving story that had me in tears.”
“Steal Away is Spielbergian, with romance, humor, heartbreak, and everything between.”
“Their story is epic, their journey is unforgettable. There’s a strong audience for Steal Away.”
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“Ella is a brilliant protagonist. This is an amazing role any young actress would love to play.”
-Scriptapalooza
Steal Away's Towering Heroine
Ella Sheppard
Haunted by the sins of her past and desperate for redemption, Ella Sheppard is indomitable — taking no prisoners and suffering no fools in her crusade to rescue hundreds of schools from destruction. Meanwhile, Ella and Wallace are star-crossed lovers from far-flung worlds. The KKK’s murder of Wallace’s family has made him a raging militant, while Ella is staking her life on race conciliation and a colorblind future. Their war-torn love is a powder keg set to explode.
Meet the Cast
You know many of Steal Away’s leads from major motion pictures, television, and gaming entertainment. Others are brilliant artists at the brink of blockbuster careers.
Eugene Simon
Brittany Shonka
Chakendra Fennell
Daniel Lench
Nina Toussaint-White
Michael Mau
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Bessie Holland
Brian Onaghinor
Trent Mason
Lauryn Ford
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Michael Emery
Jay Disney
Temi Adebajo
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Nicola Ransom
Jessica Graie
Gabriel Davenport
Paul Amos
Keith Walker
Jeremy Hill
Keivonn Woodard
Tongayi Chirisa
Jordan Salloum
Merryl Ansah
Jonathan Failla
With Broadway Legend
Joaquina Kalukango
Tony Award winner Joaquina Kalukango has brought down the house in Godspell, Ragtime, The Color Purple, Antony and Cleopatra, Into the Woods, Jelly’s Last Jam, Paradise Square, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Our Lady of Kibeho, The Wild Party, Hurt Village, and Holler If Ya Hear Me.
Watch Joaquina's showstopping Tony Awards performance of “Let It Burn”
And Six-time Grammy Composer
Billy Childs
Billy Childs’s acclaimed work spans collaborations with Sting, Alison Krauss, Renée Fleming, Wynton Marsalis, Yo-Yo Ma, Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard, and many others, as well as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, and Kronos Quartet. His Holocaust epic, The Voices of Angels, for choir, soloists, and orchestra premiered to widespread acclaim at Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Writer / Director
Stephen Ashley Blake
Stephen Ashley Blake is an award-winning, MTV-nominated filmmaker, producer, and director of photography whose career spans more than four decades and over 200 motion picture, television, commercial, documentary, and music video credits, both domestically and internationally. His work includes productions for Universal, Paramount, Warner Bros., Sony, HBO, ABC, Fox, USA Network, and Samuel Goldwyn Films, as well as music videos for artists including Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, Wu-Tang Clan, LL Cool J, Bono, Public Enemy, Kirk Franklin, Bell Biv DeVoe, Digital Underground, Neil Young, and Chris Rock.
Cast and production personnel subject to change
