Composer and Co-Writer

ruben estevez

Ruben Estevez is a songwriter and musical-theater creator whose work blends music, storytelling, and emotional depth. His latest project, Plane Jane, features Ruben as composer and co-writer, telling the story of two flight attendants navigating personal transformation amid the upheaval of a newly rebranded airline. The piece highlights his gift for vivid characters and narrative-driven music.

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After relocating from Houston to Nashville, Ruben built a successful career as a songwriter, earning a publishing deal with Word Records and writing for both the Contemporary Christian and Country markets. His song “Lie” appeared on Tracy Lawrence’s Headlights, Taillights and Radios and was released as a single in 2014.

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In recent years, Ruben has expanded into musical theater. His first musical, Marcos, draws from his experience growing up as a closeted gay man in Texas in the 1970s and ’80s. His second, HAUNT (2024), is a whimsical mystery about a young woman who unknowingly moves into a haunted apartment.

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Currently, alongside Plane Jane, Ruben is composing music for Daze of Discovery, a queer reimagining of history, myth, and fantasy centered on Kamehameha the Great’s first encounter with the outside world. Across genres and mediums, Ruben continues to explore the powerful intersection of music and narrative.

Writer and Co-Composer

charles royce

Charles Royce’s latest endeavor, Plane Jane, marks his foray into the world of musical storytelling as both the writer and co-composer. Collaborating with his longtime friend Ruben Estevez, Charles was selected to bring his expertise to the script for this heartfelt musical about two flight attendants on a journey of self-discovery. 

Thanks in part to Royce’s contribution, Plane Jane blends humor and emotional depth as it navigates themes of personal transformation and resilience. “It’s my favorite and most rewarding work I’ve been a part of thus far in my career, and I love Ruben for asking me to join him,” says Royce.

Beyond his work on Plane Jane, Charles has built a successful career as an author, screenwriter, and creative director. Best known for his mystery and suspense trilogy, The Naive Series, he has also worked as a creative director at Variety Magazine in Los Angeles. His versatility extends to screenwriting, where he has co-written five screenplays, including Pretense, a legal thriller based on his debut novel, and Reel, the magical story of a family fractured by tragedy and reunited through the imagination of a seven-year-old boy.  Reel is currently in pre-production.

Residing in Nashville, Tennessee, with his partner of ten years, Charles continues to explore new creative horizons, with Plane Jane representing a natural evolution of his storytelling talents across multiple mediums.

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Creative Consultant

Tim riffle

Tim Riffle serves as Creative Consultant for Plane Jane, bringing a rare blend of artistic instinct, musicality, and big-picture vision to the project. A Nashville-based singer and multidisciplinary creative, Tim has become the show’s guiding “North Star,” helping shape its emotional clarity, character arcs, and overall trajectory.

His insight has been instrumental in refining not just individual moments, but the larger story the musical is telling, pushing Plane Jane into braver, more resonant territory than the creators initially imagined. Tim’s perspective consistently bridges story and sound, helping align musical intention with emotional truth.

Beyond the stage, Tim’s creative work spans floral design for celebrity clients, interior and home design, and real estate development, reflecting a sensibility rooted in beauty, storytelling, and atmosphere. His ability to see the whole, while elevating the smallest details, has made him an essential creative partner in bringing Plane Jane fully to life.

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