‘Twist’ Songwriter Tena Clark Dishes On Her ‘Dessert’ Project

Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Being a Southern belle growing up playing music in New Orleans, famed songwriter Tena Clark was the obvious choice to score the ambitious modern-day Broadway adaptation of the beloved tale of Oliver Twist in Debbie Allen’s new production Twist.

With the story’s setting in depression-era New Orleans, Tena had the expertise to highlight the blues, hot jazz and gospel music of the time, but at first she was hesitant to take on the project. Tena stopped by The WAVE to detail on what made her decide to become involved with one of the most critically acclaimed new musicals and her key part writing all the sensational music for the show!

Even though you might not be familiar with her name, you’re most surely familiar with her work. Songwriter Tena Clark has penned hits for a number of artists including Chaka Khan, Dionne Warwick and Patti LaBelle just to name a few, and now she has taken on the new role as the songwriter for the hot new musical, Twist.

When first approached to take on the project, Tena resisted because she’s never been involved with Broadway plays before. But after reconsideration, she took a meeting with the producers, took the treatment for the play and wrote six songs while on vacation. And the rest she says “is history.”

“I always called Twist my ‘dessert’ project, because it’s this project sitting on the side all these years that I’d go away and write. We actually put it on the shelf for 12 years,” explains Tena.

But the project really went into motion after her “sister and partner in crime” Debbie Allen learned about this little dessert project that was just waiting to be revealed.

Tena showed Debbie the treatment for the play and “she listened to it, she read it, she flipped out over it and said ‘we gotta do this.’ And we started on this journey,” said Tena.

After years of being pushed to the side, Twist fell into the right hands and was put into production. This show-stopping musical is currently running at the Pasadena Playhouse through July 24th until it moves onto the grand stage of Broadway. Catch this intriguing, inspirational production while you still can and buy your tickets at the Pasadena Playhouse!

Listen to our extended interview with the lovely and talented Tena Clark about her role with the play and creating all the amazing music for the play!

Re-listen to our interview with Twist’s director Debbie Allen here.