Tina Amazes Today’s Audiences Just as Tina Had Amazed Yesterday’s by Heather Sheedy

Heather Sheedy

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical

Tina Amazes Today’s Audiences Just as Tina Had Amazed Yesterday’s 

A child of two ‘80s teens, I had grown up hearing stories of their rock-fueled days of rebellion. And so, I walked into Tina: The Tina Turner Musical on March 10th wearing my dad’s leather jacket he wore to smoke his first cigarette. Ironically, the only drug I’d be near that night was the addictive substance known as Tina Turner’s voice and Parris Lewis’s stunning emulation of the icon. 

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical is a star-studded, show-stopping musical that expertly plays on the nostalgia of the ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s while showing that Tina’s life wasn’t as star-studded or show-stopping as her performances. Through dynamic digital screen imagery, on-stage costume changes and ensemble presence, and jukebox musical storytelling, Tina captures the inspiring story of Tina Turner as she breaks the expectations music and society have set for her. 

One of my favorite elements was the utilization of the ensemble. In a show focused on one woman’s life, the director Phyllida Lloyd found creative and impactful ways to include them throughout Tina’s story. Seeing Tina’s home townsfolk join her in the background of scenes where she is abused or moments when she overcomes it, brings another layer to her experiences where she is watched over and carried through by her past and roots. 

My same praise applies during the on-stage costume changes conducted by the ensemble to continue the focus on Tina’s transformation in that moment. Her overdose scene where the ensemble dressed as medical professionals to reduce her down from her glamour and wealth to a physical representation of her internal and external struggles was so much more heartbreaking than if she were to quick-change behind a set piece or offstage. It proves that incredible storytelling can be done through the ensemble even in intimate moments within the character’s mind and state of being. 

As for technical elements, this season of shows at the Orpheum continues to prove my hatred of digital screens wrong. Tina’s digital design was outstanding in its psychedelic and chaotic background for Tina’s emotional spirals. However, in its moments of replacement for physical settings, like when Tina records in a booth, it falls flat and sucks the audience out of the world created. Overall, the stunning visuals of the digital screen outweigh the lackluster ones, so I congratulate the technical team.

Unfortunately, the rise of digital sets eliminates some opportunities for artists to be involved in set creation with building, painting, and implementation. I recognize that these are unfortunate but necessary cutbacks to continue theatre during economic and social hardships. Though, I applaud the creativity that still transports audiences and elevates stories through technological means. 

I greatly enjoyed the overarching themes related to Tina’s spirituality throughout her journey. Beginning with the influences of indigenous spirituality from her grandmother and the religious Christianity from her father, we see how these conflicting ideals molded her into loving her fiery passion and voice. As she adopted Buddhism and began the tradition of ritual chanting for guidance and good luck, we see how the world molded her and how she has learned to ground herself in her identity through spirituality.

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical was a beautifully done tribute to Tina Turner. Including the concert at the show’s conclusion tied together her achievements and encouraged audience interaction as I had never experienced before. It perfectly captured Tina’s passion and brought the tale to a star-studded, show-stopping end.