Following the recent passing of rock icon Tina Turner, the national tour of the Broadway hit "Tina — The Tina Turner Musical" makes its California debut this week, serving as a poignant tribute to the legendary singer.
The show opens at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre on Wednesday, a fitting location near Turner's Hollywood Walk of Fame star and former recording studio at Capitol Records. The production will run in Los Angeles until July 9th, before moving to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa for two weeks, and subsequently visiting San Diego, San Francisco, and San Jose later this summer.
Co-writer of the musical, Katori Hall, reflects on the significance of the timing, stating, "We always aimed to immerse the audience in Tina's presence, and this intention holds an even deeper meaning now that she's physically gone. However, her vibrant energy and spirit are deeply ingrained in our creative process, and I hope we can continue to share a piece of Tina with every audience member."
Turner, whose life story is one of resilience and triumph over adversity, including escaping a tumultuous marriage marked by domestic abuse, passed away last month at the age of 83 in Küsnacht near Zurich, Switzerland. Her powerful voice and electrifying performances propelled her to global stardom with hits like "What's Love Got to Do With It" and "Better Be Good To Me."
After its California run, the multi-year national tour will continue to 37 more cities across North America next season, building on its consistent touring since fall 2022. Productions are also ongoing in London's West End, Sydney, Australia, and Stuttgart, Germany.
The musical chronicles the remarkable journey of the two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, from her challenging early life to her rise as a celebrated solo artist with timeless anthems like "Private Dancer," "River Deep, Mountain High," "The Best," and "Proud Mary."
"Tina" garnered 12 Tony Award nominations, including a Best Actress win for Adrienne Warren in the title role. The book was penned by Hall in collaboration with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins. Recognizing the demanding nature of the role, particularly after witnessing Warren's powerful portrayal on Broadway, the touring production features two actors, Naomi Rodgers and Zurin Villanueva, sharing the role of Tina Turner, each performing four of the eight weekly shows. The cast also includes Roderick Lawrence, Roz White, Carla R. Stewart, and Lael Van Keuren.
Hall shared a touching anecdote about Turner attending a Broadway performance of "Tina," recalling the audience's heartfelt standing ovation. "Witnessing the outpouring of love and appreciation from the audience was a beautiful gift for Tina. Being present in that moment, sharing the same space and experiencing that collective affection, was truly special."
