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Tina (musical)

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Tina
The Tina Turner Musical
Broadway promotional poster
MusicVarious
LyricsVarious
BookKatori Hall
Frank Ketelaar
Kees Prins
BasisSongs
by Tina Turner
Premiere17 April 2018 (2018-04-17): Aldwych Theatre, London
Productions2018 West End
2019 Hamburg
2019 Broadway
2020 Utrecht
2021 Madrid
2022 US Tour
2023 Sydney

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical is a jukebox musical featuring the music of Tina Turner and depicting her life from her humble beginnings in Nutbush, Tennessee, to her transformation into a rock 'n roll star. Directed by Phyllida Lloyd with a book by Katori Hall, Frank Ketelaar, and Kees Prins, the musical had its world premiere on 17 April 2018 at the Aldwych Theatre in London. The Broadway production opened on 7 November 2019.[1]

Synopsis

Act I

The musical opens with Tina preparing to go on stage, as she recites a Buddhist chant, nam myoho renge kyo.

In 1950s Nutbush Tennessee, a young Anna Mae Bullock sings exuberantly at a community church gathering ("Nutbush City Limits"). Her mother Zelma is embarrassed at her loudness and reprimands her. Anna Mae's parents have a difficult relationship, and after being physically assaulted, Zelma walks out with her eldest daughter Alline. Anna Mae is left alone to be brought up by her grandmother, Gran Georgeanna.

Some years later, Gran Georgeanna encourages Anna Mae to go to Memphis and record an album. With Gran Georgeanna's encouragement, Anna Mae leaves to go join her mother and sister, Alline, in St. Louis ("Don't Turn Around"). In St. Louis Alline gives Anna Mae a makeover and introduces her to the nightlife ("Shake a Tail Feather"). At a nightclub, Anna Mae sees Ike Turner and his band, the Kings of Rhythm ("The Hunter"). Anna Mae is encouraged to sing on stage with Ike ("Matchbox"). Realizing her potential, Ike persuades Zelma to let Anna Mae join his band ("It's Gonna Work Out Fine").

Ike changes the name of the band to the "Ike and Tina Turner Revue", and gives her the stage name "Tina Turner". An attraction is sparked between Tina and Raymond Hill, the band's saxophonist. Although Tina enjoys performing with Ike and the Ikettes, she becomes increasingly aware of his vicious temper and possessiveness ("A Fool in Love"). Ike is physically violent towards her, and leaves with a female stranger. While he is gone, Raymond confesses his love for Tina, despite her attempts to end the love affair ("Let's Stay Together").

The band is refused accommodation at a motel because of their race, with Ike telling the band that the new civil rights haven't changed people's attitudes. As the band sleeps in the bus, Ike tells Tina about his father who was brutally assaulted for having a relationship with a white woman. In addition, Ike is resentful that his first hit, Rocket 88, was credited to someone else. He has Tina make a promise that she will never leave him, and asks Tina to marry him. Tina agrees, despite being pregnant with Raymond's child. As they are about to leave, two white police officers intimidate them and Ike is forced to pay them to avoid harm.

Raymond finds out about the engagement, and after warning Tina about Ike, he leaves. Rhonda Graam is introduced as the band's new manager, and Tina reveals she is pregnant with Raymond's child ("Better Be Good to Me"). As they continue touring, Tina becomes increasingly isolated from Ike as he begins taking drugs and sleeping with other women. She continues performing with Ike and his band, even while pregnant and eventually giving birth to her son, Craig. Tina still keeps performing with Ike and his band, despite Ike's infidelities, increasing violence, and demands of Tina's health despite her having another child, Ronnie ("I Want to Take You Higher"). The Ikettes leave the band because of Ike's behavior, and unsuccessfully try to convince Tina to leave as well. They introduce her to a Buddhist chant nam myoho renge kyo, to help give her strength. Rhonda admits to Tina she is only staying to help protect Tina and begs Tina to leave Ike, but she refuses because of her children.

Ike and Tina meet with Phil Spector, who offers them a recording deal. Ike is angered when Phil wants to record Tina as a solo artist. Phil guides Tina through a song he wrote for her, and Tina begins to find her "voice" ("River Deep Mountain High"). Despite the success of her new single, Ike is dismissive of Tina's ability as a solo artist. During an argument, Ike assaults her son, Craig. Tina threatens to leave Ike, but he apologises and begs for her forgiveness ("Be Tender with Me Baby"). Tina overdoses and is sent to a hospital, but is forced to check out for a performance ("Proud Mary"). Zelma tells Tina that she must teach Ike a lesson.

Tina and Ike get into another violent fight, causing Tina to run away. Bruised and bleeding, she asks a hotel clerk for a room to stay, using only her stage name as a promise to pay later since she doesn't have any money ("I Don't Wanna Fight").

Act II

Divorced from Ike, Tina is in debt and forced to perform in Las Vegas bars with the help of Rhonda, now her manager. They're struggling to make ends meet because no record label wants to sign a black woman who's nearing forty years old, and Ike has claimed copyright over all songs from the "Ike & Tina Revue", preventing her from singing the songs she's known for ("Private Dancer").

As they drop off a demo tape at Capitol Records, they meet Roger Davies, a young Australian music producer who is a fan of Tina. Roger watches Tina perform in Las Vegas ("Disco Inferno"), and becomes her manager. Despite being upset about being put aside, Rhonda understands Tina needs to try something new. Tina tells Rhonda she needs her more as a sister, and Rhonda promises to stand by Tina's side ("Open Arms"). When Tina arrives in London, she meets Erwin Bach, who was sent to pick up Tina at the airport. Tina struggles with Roger's advice as she wants to reinvent herself. Tina feels lonely and isolated, and dreams of Ike watching her ("I Can't Stand the Rain"). Erwin comes to her hotel room and comforts her, and they share a kiss.

While preparing for a showcase for the record label, Tina becomes upset at Roger's instructions and does not want to be anyone's puppet. Tina prepares her Buddhist mantra to calm herself, and has visions of her younger self and Gran Georgeanna encouraging her ("Tonight"). Despite the showcase's success, the record label refuses to sign Tina because of her age, gender, and race. Furious, Roger quits the label and decides to promote her himself in the United States. Erwin declares his love for her and asks her to stay in London with him, but Tina rejects him. Tina successfully performs in New York City ("What's Love Got to Do with It?"). Capitol Records begs her to sign with them, but Tina agrees only on her own terms.

Alline arrives with news Zelma is dying. Tina visits Zelma at the hospital, who admits she struggled raising Tina. Ike also visits, and Zelma encourages them to reconcile. Tina is hurt her mother can't see Ike's abusive behavior, and Ike refuses to apologize. Tina and Alline mourn their mother ("We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome)"). Tina realizes she is surrounded by people who form her own version of a family.

Riding high, Tina prepared for a concert in front of 180,000 people in Brazil. Roger and Tina share excitement. Erwin suddenly appears, having flown to be with her. They reconcile and share a kiss. Tina ascends the stairs for the concert ("The Best").

Encore: Tina and her band perform a mini-concert of "Nutbush City Limits" and "Proud Mary".

Principal casts

Adrienne Warren portrayed Tina Turner in the West End and Broadway production of Tina
Character West End Broadway Hamburg Utrecht[2] Madrid North American Tour[3] Sydney
[4]
2018 2019 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Tina Turner Adrienne Warren Kristina Love Nyassa Alberta Kery Sankoh Naomi Rodgers
Zurin Villanueva 		Ruva Ngwenya
Ike Turner Kobna Holdbrook-Smith Daniel J. Watts Mandela Wee Wee Juneoer Mers Rone Reinoso Garrett Turner Tim Omaji
Zelma Bullock Madeline Appiah Dawnn Lewis Adisat Semenitsch Noah Blindenburg Juno Kotto King Roz White Ibinabo Jack
Erwin Bach Gerard McCarthy Ross Lekites Simon Mehlich Dieter Spileers Oriol Anglada Max Falls Matthew Prime
Gran Georgeanna Lorna Gayle Myra Lucretia Taylor Adi Wolf Jeannine la Rose Ileana Wilson Ann Nesby Deni Gordon
Roger Davies Ryan O’Donnell Charlie Franklin Nikolas Heiber Steven Roox Pedro Martell Zachary Freier-Harrison Mat Verevis
Rhonda Graam Francesca Jackson Jessica Rush Sarah Schütz Liss Walravens Anna Lagares Lael Van Keuren Nadia Komazec
Alline Bullock Aisha Jawando Mars Rucker Denise Lucia Aquino Gaia Aikman Aisha Fay Parris Lewis Jayme-Lee Hanekom
Phil Spector / Terry Britten Tom Godwin Steven Booth Alex Bellinkx Jasper Kerkhof Carlos Báez Geoffrey Kidwell John O’Hara
Raymond Hill Natey Jones Gerald Caesar Anthony Curtis Kirby Owen Playfair Yefry Xander Taylor A. Blackman Rishab Kern
Richard Bullock David Jennings Kristofer Weinstein-Storey Marlon David Henry Kevin Tuku Carlton Terrence Taylor Augie Tchantcho
Carpenter / Martyn Ware Jason Langley Robert Lenzi Marlon Wehmeier Danny Houtkooper Nico Baumgärtner Chris Stevens Blake Erickson
Craig Hill Kit Esuruoso Matthew Griffin Michael B. Sattler Giovanni van Gom Marcos Oli Andre Hinds David Mairs-McKenzie
Ronnie Turner Baker Mukasa Jhardon Dishon Milton Dinipiri Etebu Lorenzo Kolf Hansel Moya Antonio Beverly Abu Kebe

Notable replacements

West End

  • Tina Turner: Nkeki Obi-Melekwe,[5] Aisha Jawando,[6] Kristina Love[7]
  • Ike Turner: Ashley Zhangazha[8]

Broadway

  • Tina Turner: Nkeki Obi-Melekwe[9]
  • Ike Turner: Nick Rashad Burroughs[10]

North America 2023

  • Ike Turner: Roderick Lawrence[11]

Musical numbers

  • Songwriters in parentheses

Background

On 16 December 2016 a workshop presentation was held with Tina Turner in attendance, announcing that a biographical musical about Tina's life had been in development by Stage Entertainment for over a year.[12] The creative team of the musical consists of Katori Hall, with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins as writers of the book, Phyllida Lloyd as the director, Mark Thompson as set and costume designer, Anthony van Laast as choreographer and Nicholas Skilbeck as musical supervisor. Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins wrote the early draft of the book, with Katori Hall taking over partway through development.[13]

Productions

West End (2018–present)

The show began previews on 21 March 2018 at the Aldwych Theatre, officially opened on 17 April. Adrienne Warren played the title role, with Jenny Fitzpatrick alternating in the role in some performances.[14] The production was nominated for three Laurence Olivier Awards, including Best Musical. After Warren's departure, the title role has been played by Nkeki Obi-Melekwe,[15] Aisha Jawando,[16] and Elesha Paul Moses.[17]

Germany (2019–present)

The first non-English production opened in March 2019 at the Stage Operettenhaus in Hamburg, Germany.[18][19] In March 2023, the German production was transferred to the Apollo Theater Stuttgart.[20]

Broadway (2019–2022)

The show began on Broadway in previews at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on 12 October 2019 and officially opened on 7 November 2019. Warren reprised the title role in the Broadway production, with direction by Phyllida Lloyd and choreography by Anthony van Laast.[21][22][23] The show was suspended on 12 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed performances on 8 October 2021.[24][25] In June 2022, it was announced that the production is slated to close on 14 August 2022 after 27 previews and 482 regular performances.[26]

Netherlands (2020–2023)

On 9 February 2020, the show opened at the Beatrix theater in Utrecht, the Netherlands.[27] After the suspension of the show a little more than a month after its opening, performances resumed on 14 July 2021.[28] The show closed in February 2023.[29]

Spain (2021–2023)

A Spanish production ran from 30 September 2021 to January 8 2023 at the Teatro Coliseum in Madrid.[30][31]

North American National Tour (2022–present)

On 11 September 2022, the show embarked on a North American tour opening at the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) in Providence, Rhode Island.[32]

Australia (2023–present)

An Australian production opened in May 2023 at the Theatre Royal, Sydney.[33]

Critical response

The musical received generally positive reviews from the critics, with particular praise reserved for Adrienne Warren in the title role as Tina Turner. Michael Billington of The Guardian described the "whirlwind performance" of Warren as "astonishing", and concluded on the production: "As bio-musicals go, this is as good as it gets."[34] Similarly Dominic Cavendish of The Daily Telegraph described Warren's performance as a "tour de force" and considered the show "slickly choreographed, beautifully designed and roof-raisingly well-sung".[35] Adam Mattera in Echoes noted "the production plays fast and loose with catalogue chronology... it's a crowd-pleasing decision meaning all the solo mega-hits aren't squeezed into the final act, but simultaneously it derails the dramatic reveal of Tina's 80s rock'n'roll reinvention," while concluding "it's so resounding joyous you don't care."[36]

Will Gompertz of the BBC criticised the script as "rather disappointingly two-dimensional", but thought the musical "elegantly staged" with Warren a "24-carat, all singing, all dancing, bona fide star".[37] Stephen Dalton of The Hollywood Reporter noted that while its grand finale contains "stilted, corny elements", "the production becomes a full-blooded rock show that is "roof-raising" and "life-affirming", with a climax that "swept the crowd to its feet. Pure button-pushing melodrama, maybe. But irresistibly uplifting entertainment, too."[38]

Awards and nominations

Original West End production

Year Award Category Nominee Result
2018 Evening Standard Theatre Award[39] Best Musical Performance Adrienne Warren Nominated
Best Director Phyllida Lloyd Nominated
Stage Debut Award[40] Best West End Debut Adrienne Warren Nominated
2019 Laurence Olivier Award[41] Best New Musical Nominated
Best Actress in a Musical Adrienne Warren Nominated
Best Actor in a Musical Kobna Holdbrook-Smith Won
Black British Theatre Award[42] Best Musical Production Nominated
Best Male Actor in a Musical Kobna Holdbrook-Smith Nominated
WhatsOnStage Award[43] Best New Musical Nominated
Best Actress in a Musical Adrienne Warren Nominated
Best Actor in a Musical Kobna Holdbrook-Smith Nominated
Best Show Poster Nominated
2020 Black British Theatre Award[44] Best Musical Nominated
Best Female Actor in a Musical Aisha Jawando Nominated

Original Broadway production

Year Award Category Nominee Result
2020 Tony Awards[45] Best Musical Nominated
Best Book of a Musical Katori Hall, Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins Nominated
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical Adrienne Warren Won
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical Daniel J. Watts Nominated
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Myra Lucretia Taylor Nominated
Best Direction of a Musical Phyllida Lloyd Nominated
Best Choreography Anthony Van Laast Nominated
Best Orchestrations Ethan Popp Nominated
Best Scenic Design of a Musical Mark Thompson and Jeff Sugg Nominated
Best Costume Design of a Musical Mark Thompson Nominated
Best Lighting Design of a Musical Bruno Poet Nominated
Best Sound Design of a Musical Nevin Steinberg Nominated
Drama Desk Awards[46] Outstanding Actress in a Musical Adrienne Warren Won
Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical Mark Thompson Nominated
Outstanding Lighting Design of a Musical Bruno Poet Nominated
Outstanding Wig and Hair Design Campbell Young Associates Won
Drama League Awards[47] Outstanding Production of a Musical Nominated
Distinguished Performance Award Adrienne Warren Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding New Broadway Musical Honoree
Outstanding Choreographer Anthony Van Laast Honoree
Outstanding Actress in a Musical Adrienne Warren Honoree
Outstanding Featured in a Musical Daniel J. Watts Honoree
Outstanding Costume Design Mark Thompson Honoree

References

  1. ^ "Tina - The Tina Turner Musical". LondonTheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  2. ^ "TINA - De Musical". TINA de Tina Turner musical (in Dutch). Retrieved 2019-12-10.
  3. ^ "Cast & Creative | TINA – The Tina Turner Musical | Official Broadway Site". TINA – The Tina Turner Musical. Retrieved 2022-09-03.
  4. ^ "Further cast announced for TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL". Arts Review. March 1, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  5. ^ Gans, Andrew (15 April 2019). "Alice by Heart's Nkeki Obi-Melekwe Joins Cast of London's Tina—The Tina Turner Musical". Playbill. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  6. ^ Wood, Alex (24 May 2022). "New Tina – The Tina Turner Musical West End cast announced". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  7. ^ Gans, Andrew (12 October 2022). "Kristina Love Steps Into Title Role of London's Tina—The Tina Turner Musical Beginning October 12". Playbill. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  8. ^ Bowie-Sell, Daisy (15 February 2019). "Nkeki Obi-Melekwe and Ashley Zhangazha to replace Adrienne Warren and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith in Tina – the Tina Turner Musical". WhatsOnStage. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  9. ^ Gioia, Michael (29 March 2022). "Why 'Tina Turner' Musical Star Nkeki Obi-Melekwe Gave Her First Broadway Paycheck to Her Family". People. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  10. ^ Gans, Andrew (18 January 2022). "Nick Rashad Burroughs is Ike in Broadway's Tina—The Tina Turner Musical Starting January 18". Playbill. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
  11. ^ Thomas, Ivan (8 May 2023). "Roderick Lawrence to Play Ike Turner on "Tina" Broadway Musical Tour". Its Only Entertainment. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  12. ^ "TINA TURNER MUSICAL IN DEVELOPMENT". OfficialLondonTheatre.com. 2016-12-16. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  13. ^ Brown, Mark (2018-03-05). "Katori Hall, writer of Tina Turner musical, on #MeToo, diversity and inclusion". TheGuardian.com. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
  14. ^ "West End production of TINA extends bookings to February 2019". BestofTheatre.co.uk. 2018-04-18. Retrieved 2018-04-18.
  15. ^ "Alice by Heart's Nkeki Obi-Melekwe joins cast of London's Tina". April 15, 2019.
  16. ^ "Tina announces West End extension to December 2022 and partnership with Refuge | WhatsOnStage".
  17. ^ "Production images and a new cast for Tina – The Tina Turner Musical". July 13, 2022.
  18. ^ Gans, Andrew. " Tina—The Tina Turner Musical Will Open in Germany in 2019; Broadway Plans Also Underway" Playbill, September 21, 2018
  19. ^ "BWW Review" broadwayworld.com, March 8, 2019
  20. ^ http://www.stage-entertainment.de [bare URL]
  21. ^ Fierberg, Ruthie. "Tina, the Tina Turner Musical, Will Arrive on Broadway in Fall 2019" Playbill, October 3, 2018
  22. ^ McPhee, Ryan. "Watch Tina: The Tina Turner Musical Scribe Katori Hall Greet the Cast on the First Day of Broadway Rehearsals" Playbill, September 9, 2019
  23. ^ McPhee, Ryan. " Tina: The Tina Turner Musical Begins on Broadway October 12" Playbill, October 12, 2019
  24. ^ Clement, Olivia (May 12, 2020). "Check the Statuses of Broadway Shows During the Coronavirus Shutdown". Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  25. ^ Huston, Caitlin (May 11, 2021). "Tina will reopen on Broadway Oct. 8". Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  26. ^ Gans, Andrew. Tina—The Tina Turner Musical Will Close on Broadway This Fall Playbill, June 7, 2022
  27. ^ "WEST END HIT TINA – DE TINA TURNER MUSICAL KOMT NAAR NEDERLAND". Stage Entertainment (in Dutch). 2019-03-08. Retrieved 2022-09-03.
  28. ^ "TINA – De Tina Turner Musical vanaf 14 juli terug in het Beatrix Theater". Musicalweb.nl (in Dutch). 2021-06-07. Retrieved 2022-09-03.
  29. ^ "TINA - De Tina Turner Musical | Archief musicals". Stage Entertainment (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  30. ^ Meyer, Dan (May 11, 2021). "Tina: The Tina Turner Musical Sets Sights on October Reopening". Playbill. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  31. ^ Martínez Paneque, José Germán (Dec 29, 2022). "Tina ofrece sus últimas funciones en Madrid". broadwayworld.com. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
  32. ^ "Tina Announces Multiyear North American Tour | TheaterMania". www.theatermania.com. 10 February 2022. Retrieved 2022-02-10.
  33. ^ Mitchell, Thomas (2022-08-01). "Start practising the Nutbush: The Tina Turner Musical is heading to Sydney". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2023-02-20.
  34. ^ Billington, Michael (17 April 2018). "Tina review – whirlwind Turner tribute leaves you breathless". The Guardian.
  35. ^ Cavendish, Dominic (18 April 2018). "Tina The Musical at Aldwych, review - this joyful, lungs-bursting show is simply the best". The Daily Telegraph.
  36. ^ Mattera, Adam (20 April 2018). "Tina: The Musical". Echoes.
  37. ^ Gompertz, Will (21 April 2018). "Will Gompertz reviews Tina: The Musical at London's Aldwych Theatre". BBC.
  38. ^ Dalton, Stephen (17 April 2018). "'Tina': Theater Review". The Hollywood Reporter.
  39. ^ "Read the Evening Standard Theatre Awards 2018 shortlist in full". www.standard.co.uk. 2018-11-16. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  40. ^ "Stage Debut Awards 2018 – Winners |". WestEndTheatre.com - London Theatre Tickets. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  41. ^ McPhee, Ryan (2019-03-05). "2019 Olivier Award Nominations: London's Company and Come From Away Lead the Pack". Playbill. Retrieved 2019-03-06.
  42. ^ Longman, Will (2019-09-19). "Shortlist for first Black British Theatre Awards 2019 announced". London Theatre Guide. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  43. ^ "Shortlisted nominees announced for 2019 WhatsOnStage Awards". West End Wilma. 2018-12-05. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  44. ^ Thomas, Sophie (2020-10-26). "2020 Black British Theatre Awards winners announced". London Theatre Guide. Retrieved 2020-12-03.
  45. ^ Libbey, Peter (October 15, 2020). "Full List of the 2020 Tony Award Nominees". The New York Times. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  46. ^ "PBreaking: 2020 Drama Desk Awards Nominations- The Full List!". Broadway World. April 21, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  47. ^ "Breaking News: Drama League Announces 2020 Nominations". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2020-05-01.
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