'Tina Turner Musical' depicts powerhouse singer finding new life after domestic abuse
“Tina - The Tina Turner Musical” combines a jukebox full of rousing songs with a harrowing story of surviving domestic abuse. At times that makes for a rough mix.
But fans of the dynamic singer, who died in 2023, will surely revel in this musical's high-energy re-creations of Turner's stage performances.
The national touring company of "Tina" began its Milwaukee run Tuesday night at the Marcus Performing Arts Center. The role of Tina Turner is so physically and vocally demanding that two performers rotate in it; Tuesday's performance featured the spirited Zurin Villanueva.
An oversimplified summary: Born poor and from a broken family in Tennessee, the teenage Anna-Mae Bullock was plucked by early rock pioneer Ike Turner (Deon Releford-Lee) into his band and renamed Tina Turner. They married and toured constantly with a high-energy show; their memorable version of "Proud Mary" was a Top 5 hit in 1971.
But Ike was also an abusive husband, which this musical dramatizes with several scenes of his character slapping, grabbing, punching or choking Tina until the night she finally fights back, kicking him several times in a delicate place (and winning applause from the audience for doing so). The "Tina" fight direction was by Sordelet Inc.
The calmer second act depicts the solo Tina's incredible and entirely unpredicted rise to the top of the music world in 1984 with the "Private Dancer" album and hit single "What's Love Got to Do With It."
Award-winning playwright Katori Hall ("The Hot Wing King," "The Mountaintop") wrote the musical's book with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins. Including encore, the show ran nearly three hours Tuesday night. Hall and company pack a lot in here, but even at that length, some elements, such as Tina's Buddhist practice, are only cursorily developed.
OK, you came here for the music, and in this show you will get it. Villanueva has a powerful voice and a feel for Tina's growls, rasps and embellishments. She also has the legs to simulate many of Tina's classic poses. To the delight of the audience, Brianna Cameron, as young Anna-Mae, has a big voice, too.
Tina's allies along the way include her loyal sister Alline (Gigi Lewis) and manager turned friend Rhonda (Sarah Bockel), both given warm portrayals here. The Ikettes (Brittny Smith, Kendall Leshanti, Amahri Edwards-Jones and sometimes Gigi Lewis) are a recurring treat.
Phyllida Lloyd directed the show, with outstanding choreography by Anthony Van Laast. Jeff Sugg designed the groovy video projections.
Be sure to stay for the encore, which turns into a mini-concert bringing everyone back onstage.
If you go
"Tina - The Tina Turner Musical" continues through April 28 at the Marcus Performing Arts Center, 929 N. Water St. For tickets, visit marcuscenter.org or call (414) 273-7206. A talkback follows the April 25 performance.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 'Tina Turner Musical' depicts singer thriving after domestic abuse
