The life and hits of Tina Turner have rolled (and shimmied, and ponied) onto Broadway as Tina: The Tina Turner Musical celebrated its official opening November 7. The show began October 12 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.
Tony Award nominee Adrienne Warren (Shuffle Along...) leads the cast in the title role, having earned an Olivier Award nomination earlier this year for her work in the London world premiere of the musical. Nkeki Obi-Melekwe plays Tina at select performances.
Directed by Phyllida Lloyd and written by Katori Hall with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins, the musical charts the life of Turner from humble beginnings in Nutbush, Tennessee, to her transformation into the global Queen of Rock-and-Roll, with myriad trials and tribulations along the way. Incorporated into her story are several of her hits, including "River Deep Mountain High," "Proud Mary," "Private Dancer," and "(Simply) The Best."
Find out what critics thought of the new show below.
Playbill will continue to update this list as more reviews come in.
The cast also includes Daniel J. Watts as Ike Turner, Dawnn Lewis as Zelma, and Myra Lucretia Taylor as Gran Georgeanna.
Rounding out the company are Steven Booth, Nick Rashad Burroughs, Gerald Caesar, Holli’ Conway, Kayla Davion, Leandra Ellis-Gaston, Charlie Franklin, Judith Franklin, Matthew Griffin, Sheldon Henry, David Jennings, Ross Lekites, Robert Lenzi, Gloria Manning, Rob Marnell, Mehret Marsh, Jhardon DiShon Milton, Destinee Rea, Mars Rucker, Jessica Rush, Allysa Shorte, Carla Stewart, Jayden Theophile, Antonio Watson, and Katie Webber.
The production features choreography by Anthony van Laast, sets and costumes by Mark Thompson, musical supervision, additional music and arrangements by Nicholas Skilbeck, lighting by Bruno Poet, sound by Nevin Steinberg, projection design by Jeff Sugg, and orchestrations by Ethan Popp. Casting is by Telsey + Company.
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Inside Opening Night of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical on Broadway
Inside Opening Night of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical on Broadway
67 PHOTOS
Jelani Alladin
Joseph Marzullo/WENN
Denise Rich
Jelani Alladin, David Zippel, Jamie deRoy, and Charles Busch
Deborah Cox
Joseph Marzullo/WENN
Lori Stokes
Britton Smith and guest
Eric Anderson
Thalía and Tommy Mottola
Jocelyn Bioh
Theo Germaine
Matthew Lopez
Spike Lee and Satchel Lee
Ariana DeBose
Rosanna Scotto and guest
Judy McLane
Derrick Baskin
Christine Baranski
BeBe Winans
Martha Stewart
Martha Stewart
Alan Tumusiime and Katori Hall
Annette Van Laast and Anthony Van Laast
Candy Spelling
James L. Nederlander and Margo MacNabb Nederlander
Cush Jumbo
Phyllida Lloyd
Gayle King
Oprah Winfrey, Tina Turner, and Erwin Bach
Adrienne Warren
Joseph Marzullo/WENN
Adrienne Warren
Joseph Marzullo/WENN
Cast of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical
Adrienne Warren
Joseph Marzullo/WENN
Adrienne Warren
Joseph Marzullo/WENN
Adrienne Warren
Adrienne Warren
Phyllida Lloyd, Katori Hall, and cast of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical
Joseph Marzullo/WENN
Tina Turnerwith the cast and creative team of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical
Tina Turnerwith the cast and creative team of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical
Tina Turner and Adrienne Warren
Joseph Marzullo/WENN
Tina Turner, Adrienne Warren, and the cast and creative team of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical
Tina Turnerwith the cast and creative team of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical
Krystina Alabado
Joseph Marzullo/WENN
Ross Lekites
Rob Marnell
Robert Lenzi
Krystina Alabado and Robert Lenzi
Brian Stokes Mitchell and Allyson Tucker
Daniel J. Watts
Justin Schuman
Jessica Rush
James Harkness and Jawan M. Jackson
Gerald Caesar
Joseph Marzullo/WENN
Mars Rucker
Sheldon Henry
David Jennings
Cast of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical
Jhardon Dishon Milton
Judith Franklin
Nick Rashad Burroughs
Myra Lucretia Taylor
Joseph Marzullo/WENN
Holli' Conway
Dawnn Lewis
Joseph Marzullo/WENN
Greg Louganis, Dawnn Lewis, and Deborah Cox
Skye Dakota Turner, Gloria Manning, Jayden Theophile, Mehret Marsh, Dawnn Lewis, and Antonio J. Watson
Skye Dakota Turner, Gloria Manning, Jayden Theophile, Mehret Marsh, and Antonio J. Watson