At the launch of Tina Turner’s new musical Tina, the legendary rock
‘n’ roll singer revealed that she doesn’t ‘need a musical’ as she
approaches her seventh year of retirement.
The Simply The Best hitmaker was a special unannounced guest at
today’s launch of Tina, a musical about the star’s life, which opens in
the West End in March 2018.
The musical will document the 77-year-old singer’s rise to fame, from
working on the farms of her hometown in Tennessee to making it as one
of the greatest rock stars of a generation.
‘This is gonna be a little difficult: I don’t need a musical or another show,’ the legend said when asked by director Phyllida
Lloyd about her involvement in a show about her life in her retirement
years.
Tina, the musical, will attest that the singer is a guiding beacon of
light to legions of fans, particularly those that are female and black,
and that her story is a positive message.
‘I get cards and letters, you can’t believe what people think about me, the legacy I left,’ she said.
‘People say I give them hope, it meant so much to people, I have to pass it [her message of empowerment] on.’
Tina’s musical, which opens at the Aldwych theatre in April, will be
flanked by three short films about the star’s life; American
actress Adrienne Warren will play Tina in the show, making her West End
debut.
Her past stage credits include Shuffle Along at the Music Box Theatre on Broadway.
At the launch Tina introduced Adrienne to a waiting audience by
announcing that ‘I think we should try and do something together’ before
the duo began a medley of Tina’s tracks which included Simply The Best.
Tina however took the back seat and supported Adrienne from the side
of the stage for the most part in a clear message that the musical was
the chance for another Tina to shine.
Tina has been written by Katori Hall, Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins, and will be directed by Phyllida Lloyd.
Tina opens at Aldwych Theatre on March 21.