Review: TINA - THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL, US National Tour - Kimmel Cultural Campus
Photo credit: Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade
Tina - The Tina Turner Musical is a jukebox musical celebrating the life of the Queen of Rock herself and in true spirit, it ends with a full-blown, chandelier shaking, floor pulsing, dance party and concert. The first 40+ years of this icon’s life were full of pain and violent suffering but her story is one of reinvention, passion and triumph.
Tina - The Tina Turner Musical pulse-pounding book was written by the immensely talented Katori Hall, with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins. The original Tina - The Tina Turner Musical premiered on the West End in 2018 and the Broadway version opened in 2019, with the timing of the openings and Covid both productions were short lived. This isn’t all bad because now people all over the world get to enjoy the production as it has toured in many countries around Europe and cities in the United States.
Tina - The Tina Turner Musical follows the life of Anna Mae Bullock (aka Tina Turner) as she grows up in rural Nutbush, Tennessee before and during the Civil Rights movement in America. As a black woman who grew up as a sharecropper, picking cotton, she learned that she had to obey certain social laws or risk the consequences. The one rule that she could never control herself with was to fit into the choir, even as a small child (as adorably portrayed by Ayhah Johnson), her singing was exuberant. She later moved to the big city and met Ike Turner who was blown away by her vocals and immediately made her part of his group. Together they achieved great acclaim for their live performances and catalogue of hits, however his massive temper and abusive ways were legendary and eventually Tina left him. She was destitute as a single mother but never stopped believing in herself. She finally met a music producer who helped her transition from a “has-been” soul singer to the Queen of Rock n Roll. You will cheer for her as her dreams come true.
Naomi Rodgers is electrifying in her role as Tina and the energy that she exerts can light up Philly for a week! Garret Turner ironically plays the devious and brutal Ike Turner so perfectly, he both charms and horrifies with his dark charisma. Other main characters include: Roz White as Zelma Bullock (Tina’s mother), Ann Nesby as Gran Georgeanna (Tina’s grandmother), Lael Van Keuren as Rhonda (Tina’s friend and manager), Lillian Charles as Young Alline (Tina’s sister), Max Falls as Erwin Bach/ ensemble (Music Sales turned Tina’s lover), Zachary Freier- Harrison as Roger Davies/ ensemble (Music Producer) and Parris Lewis as Alline/ Ikette (Tina’s sister and a backup singer). There are many, many more talented actors in the cast that also deserve a standing ovation.
Tina - The Tina Turner Musical is only here for a short while but it has several other stops on its United States tour. There are not many people who are willing to take big chances and keep fighting for big dreams in their 40’s and seeing this pay off for Tina will make you believe in second chances and love. Go and see Tina- The Tina Turner Musical for half a century chart top hitting hits wrapped up in just under 3 hours.
Irresistible and jubilant.
***** Five stars
Reviewed by: Jamie Flowers
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical plays at the Academy of Music until 4 December with tickets available here.