Last Updated on December 27, 2023, 10:35 AM | Published: December 27, 2023
OKLAHOMA CITY — Based on the life and music of the one and only Tina Turner, “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical” is a celebration of all that she accomplished and overcame.
Turner, who died in May of this year at the age of 83, collaborated with Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Katori Hall to write the musical. This jukebox-style show features many of Turner’s iconic songs, including Proud Mary, Nutbush City Limits, What’s Love Got to Do With It, and more. The three-hour performance gives audiences a glimpse into an iconic career that spanned five decades and gave Turner the unofficial title of Queen of Rock ‘N Roll.
Tina: The Musical opened in London in 2018, followed by its debut on Broadway in 2019. The musical biography earned lead actress Adrienne Warren a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for her portrayal of the singer. The tour launched in the fall of 2022 with an all-new touring cast.
Turner is regarded as one of the most successful musical artists of all time. Throughout her fifty-year career, Turner won a dozen Grammy Awards, was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, played to record-breaking audience sizes, and broke countless barriers as a Black Female artist. Her life was as epic as her music, and both were as unconventional as they were unique.
Initially part of a duo, Turner endured years of abuse from her husband and business partner, the notorious Ike Turner. As depicted in the show, she finally left him, and it’s then that her music career really took off. A testament to the “second act success”, Turner became a household name in her forties. Her solo career solidified her legacy, and she finally achieved a number-one hit song after twenty years in the music business.
The touring cast of Tina: The Musical features Ari Groover as Tina Turner. Groover gives an impassioned performance, pulling at heartstrings and sparking powerful emotions. She channels the legendary singer, both in how she performs and in how she carries herself throughout the performance.
Groover’s portrayal of Turner’s emotional rise, fall, and comeback is full of heart and grit. The performance truly honors a figure who became larger than life but never forgot her humble beginnings.
Tina: The Musical is best for families with children aged 14 and up. Domestic violence, gunshots, drug use, and offensive language are depicted, but not gratuitous. These elements are necessary to convey all that Turner was up against in her life. The brutal yet truthful past is shown to help tell a story that is honest and unapologetic. The portrayal speaks to the timeframe in which the characters lived it. The show does not mince words and some elements could be shocking for younger viewers.
This musical is a story of resilience, with hope and a happy ending for someone who fought for everything she had and made a life for herself despite hardship.
One of the best moments of the show is the encore at the end of the main performance. After final bows, the cast comes back on stage with the band to perform two songs. In this moment, Turner’s iconic sparkling dresses, sky-high blonde hair, and wild dance moves come to life on stage. It’s an unforgettable moment in an already motivating story.
Tina: The Musical is a must-see for Oklahoma City audiences. It’ll leave you feeling inspired and warm your heart. It’s the perfect story to close out the holiday season and will bring a new appreciation for a trailblazing artist who lived an inspirational life.
Tickets to Tina: The Musical are still available but selling fast. This stop on the tour performs through New Year’s Eve. Visit okcbroadway.com.
Adrienne Proctor is a theater and arts writer in Oklahoma City. She's been contributing to the arts reporting space since 2017.
