TJ HEMPHILL PRESENTS

Writer/Director/Composer, T.J. Hemphill brings to the theater world a myriad of talent. He is a gifted and talented playwright, as well as an accomplished songwriter and musician. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Hemphill graduated from Wayne State University with a degree in Education. He worked as an educator in the Detroit Public School system where he voluntarily took over the music and theater programs after state and city funding was eliminated. From his work with inner city youth, he discovered his love for theater.

Hemphill co-founded The Thomas Whitfield Company, one of the Nation’s top gospel choirs. He subsequently has developed and managed some of the brightest and most respected names in contemporary gospel music, including: Vickie Winans, Thomas Whitfield, William Murphy III, and others. His massive resources and tremendous success in the gospel industry led him to launch the nation’s first nationally published gospel magazine, Totally Gospel.

 A talented musician and lyricist, Hemphill has penned over one hundred songs including the musical score of Detroit’s longest running gospel musical , which features the emotionally climatic masterpiece, . Hemphill’s stage play, , recently on national tour, featured R&B singers Regina Bell and Denise Williams, actors Carl Payne ( ) and  A.J. Johnson () and gospel great  Carvin Winans. Ticket Master distinguished the play as one of the “top ten ticket sellers” in the nation.  Along with his signature play , Hemphill is also the writer and producer of several other hit plays which , all of which are soon to be released in video format.

In February 2005, he was awarded the 2005 Agape Gospel Eagle Award out of Los Angeles, for extraordinary achievement in directing and writing. Currently, Hemphill specializes in teaching children the power of a healthy vocabulary. His play, exemplifies his love for words and his desire to educate more formally the children of Detroit. “It is sheer joy for me when I see their faces light up when they command the words I teach them”.

 Hemphill, who is now focusing on the film industry, has already converted two of his plays to made-for-tv movies. He directed and produced Loin 2010, which aired on BET. The movie starred Vivica A. Fox, Christian Keyes, Elise Neal, and Johnny Gill.  Many of the nation’s great musical and theater talents have been featured in T.J. Hemphill productions including: Tommy Ford, Tevin Campbell, Michael Collier, Vickie Winans, Karen Clark Sheard, Shirley Murdock, Yolanda Adams, Fred Hammond, CeCe Winans, Melba Moore, Flex Alexander, Elder Goldwire McClendon, Clifton Davis, Shanice, Lisa Page-Brooks, Cherelle, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Cynda Williams, Freddie Jackson, and William Murphy III, just to name a few.

There is much more to be said of TJ Hemphill and certainly much more to come from his creative genius.