Broadway at the Marcus presents TINA: THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL

Zurin Villanueva AND Ari Groover as Tina Turner in TINA: THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

By Mary Boyle

Tina Turner was undoubtedly a pioneer in the musical world.  One of the world’s best-selling artists, selling more concert tickets than any other solo performer, she was the first female artist and the first black artist to appear on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine, and one of only three women to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice.  Her life story, which is one of overcoming a long stream of tragedy and hardships, has been recounted in books, films, and even on Broadway.  TINA: THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL was unveiled in the West End in 2018 and was nominated for 12 Tony Awards after its premier on Broadway in 2019. Now, the North American Tour, one of eight tours of the production around the world, has made its way to Milwaukee thanks to the Broadway at the Marcus Center series, where fans of all ages can experience the life of this amazing artist for themselves.

As a child of the 80s, I remember in real time the rise of Tina Turner, but didn't have a concept of all that she had risen from.  Born Anna Mae Bullock in Brownsville, TN in 1939, the young girl did her first singing in church while being bounced back and forth between the parents and grandparents who raised her.  Eventually, she made it to St. Louis where she met Ike Turner, an up-and-coming R&B artist who only had to hear Bullock sing once before he brought her into his band.  Rebranding Anna Mae as Tina Turner, the duo married in 1962 and spent the next 14 years in a tumultuous relationship that produced a lot of popular music, but also became so physically abusive, Tina had to escape to a nearby hotel with nothing but 36 cents where, thankfully, she was given the room that quite possibly saved her life.  Through hard work and providence, Turner was able to rebuild a solo career that began in earnest with her 1984 album, Private Dancer, which went on to win 3 Grammy Awards and achieve 5X Platinum status.

With book by American playwright Katori Hall, with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins, TINA is a jukebox musical featuring all of Turner’s greatest hits, from her time with the Ike and Tina Turner Revue, to her rise to solo stardom in the 80s, including “Shake a Tailfeather,” “Better Be Good To Me,” “River Deep – Mountain High,” “Proud Mary,” “What’s Love Got to Do With It,” “We Don’t Need Another Hero,” “(Simply) The Best,” and more.  Most of the music is performed with a live band, directed by Dani Lee Hutch, and the show becomes a full-on concert by the end, which has audience members leaving on a high note after going through Turner’s hardships.

In the North American tour, Tina is played alternately by Ari Groover and Zurin Villanueva and, when you see how much energy this performance takes, you’ll understand why.  I saw Villanueva, and though she has the physical energy required for this part, she missed the mark on recreating Turner’s iconic, raspy voice, which she seemed to be exerting a lot of energy trying to replicate, resulting in an overall harshness.  By the end of the show, I felt that she would surely blow out her voice by the end of the tour.  One of the highlights of the production is Young Anna Mae, who is also double cast as Brianna Cameron or Symphony King.  I saw Cameron, and she stole the show – that kid has a voice!  Notable performances also for Deon Releford-Lee, who is well cast and believable as Ike Turner, and Roz White as Turner’s mother, Zelma.

Tina Turner passed away nearly a year ago on May 24th, 2023, after suffering a lengthy fight with intestinal cancer and kidney disease; assisting in the making of this musical was one of her final projects.  While the musical highlights much of the struggle of Turner’s life, it would be impossible to fit in all the triumphs, from the many amazing musical collaborations she’d made over her lifetime, to all the good work she contributed to, and to all the doors she broke down as a black, female artist.  Tina Turner was truly an icon who deserves to be remembered, and what better tribute than a musical?

TINA: THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL runs through April 28th at the Marcus Performing Arts Center’s Uihlein Hall, located at 929 N. Water Street in Downtown Milwaukee. Tickets may be purchased online at www.MarcusCenter.org, calling 414-273-7206 or by visiting the MPAC Box Office.  Groups of 10 or more can secure their seats by calling 414-273-7207.

About Marcus Performing Arts Center
A mission-based non-profit organization located in downtown Milwaukee, the Marcus Performing Arts Center (MPAC) brings high-quality arts and cultural programming to Southeastern Wisconsin. MPAC strives to act as an energizing force that connects the community to the world through collaboration, innovation, social engagement, and the transformative power of the performing arts. Through multiple performance series, community events, and educational experiences, MPAC brings a diverse range of celebrated artists to the region. A fixture in Milwaukee for over 50 years, MPAC is proud to be part of the Milwaukee Theater District, as well as a dedicated War Memorial facility. Learn more at www.MarcusCenter.org.

Johnson Financial Group, with offices in Wisconsin and Minnesota, is a privately owned financial services company offering banking, wealth and insurance solutions through its subsidiaries, Johnson Bank, Johnson Wealth, and Johnson Insurance Services.  For more information visit johnsonfinancialgroup.com.
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Broadway Across America (BAA) is part of the John Gore Organization family of companies, which includes Broadway.com, The Broadway Channel, BroadwayBox.com, Group Sales Box Office and Broadway Brands. Led by 20-time Tony-winning theater producer John Gore (Owner & CEO), BAA is the foremost presenter of first-class touring productions in North America, operating in 48 markets with over 400,000 subscribers. Presentations include Disney’s The Lion King, Wicked, The Book of Mormon, and Hamilton. Current productions include & Juliet, Hadestown, Hamilton, Kimberly Akimbo, MJ: The Musical and Moulin Rouge! The Musical.