Latest news with #Tina:TheTinaTurnerMusical
ITV News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- ITV News
'The weight is heavy but the message is important': Fleur East on becoming Tina Turner
After seven sell out years in the West End, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical is to close in September, but not before one final embodiment of the Queen of Rock and Roll. The singer-turned-presenter Fleur East will make her theatrical debut next month when she steps into the stilettos of Tina Turner - all while presenting her 6am breakfast show on Hits Radio. "At first I felt like I was slotting into this iconic company that exists and this music that has been around for 7 years, but now I feel like I have a responsibility to go out with a bang and do Tina Turner's story justice" says Fleur. And that story is an important one. The musical charts the life and legacy of Tina Turner from her humble beginnings in Nutbush Tennessee, to her abusive relationship with the much older rock and roll musician Ike Turner in the 60's, to her iconic performance in front of 18,000 adoring fans at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil which would go on to make history for having the largest paying audience for a single artist at the time. "It's very heavy at times because there are some real serious scenes that I have to be involved in, and I can feel that and the weight of it is heavy, but it helps me realise how important the message is and why it's such an incredible role to play," Fleur says. Speaking at rehearsals in London, Fleur continues: "It opens with the scene of Tina at the bottom of the stairs, she's about to perform in Rio, it's an epic performance, she's got the red leather dress on and the iconic Tina hair. Then we go to the beginning where it all began and we see Tina's story and understand her background, her roots and what makes Tina the woman that she is... by the end it's a perfect journey because you learn every single facet of her." But in a saturated market where it can feel like every new musical is either based on the life of, or set to the music of, what makes Tina: The Tina Turner Musical special is that is was made in association with the woman herself. Today, the shows director, Phyllida Lloyd who also brought us blockbusters like The Iron Lady and Mamma Mia!, reveals how her story so nearly never made it to the stage. "Tina didn't want it to happen at first," Phyllida says. "She said she got so many letters from people saying what an inspiration she'd been to them, not just her music, but her life story and felt if she could go on inspiring people to make that blow for freedom that she made then it would be worth trying to make the musical." Since it's opening in the West End in 2018 - which Tina herself was present for - eight million people have watched eight women embody the music legend. Tina passed in 2023 aged 83 and today the musical serves as a homage to her strength and talent. But how do you know someone is cut out to play the Queen of Rock and Roll? "Spontaneity" says Phyllida, "You are looking for the most positive spirit you could possibly find, a triple threat, someone who can dance sing and act, so that's the miracle of Karis and Fleur who haven't come from this world of drama." Next month, when Fleur walks out on stage at London's Aldwych Theatre, she'll undoubtably be aware of the big boots she has to fill - she is sharing the role with performer Karis Anderson who has been playing the musical icon for the last five years. But, this is not the first time Fleur's world has collided with the Queen of Rock's. During her stint on The X Factor, where she first rose to prominence, Fleur performed Turner's A Fool in Love.A year later on her debut album Fleur penned a tribute to the singer in her song Kitchen writing "What's love got to do with it, Tina, Tina, Tina, turn it up". Then in 2023 following her participation in Strictly Come Dancing, Fleur returned to the dancefloor to perform a tribute to Tina alongside Beverly Knight and Laura Mvula. Today she says it feels like a full circle moment. "I feel like I've definitely channeled Tina over the years as a performer. I've studied Tina, her dynamic energy, just the way she would come alive on stage. I've watched so many performances of hers. So for me, it does feel like a full circle moment. It feels like Tina has always been with me as a performer and as a singer, it's a real honour." Fleur will perform in the musical from Tuesday 24 June to Saturday 13 September 2025 marking the end of its West End run.
Irish Independent
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Awkward Tina Turner musical makes you uncomfortable but still charms and thrills, like the star herself
Hovering uneasily between fun and ferocity, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre is crammed with rousing hits but has the compressed drama of a cage fight Tina: The Tina Turner Musical at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre is ambitious storytelling with a real edge; it hovers uncomfortably between a stark meditation on domestic violence in a black American context, and a redemptive feel-good story of the triumph of talent. The show opens with megastar Tina in her prime, about to go on stage at a monster concert. It then flashes back to her as a little girl in Nutbush, Tennessee, singing in church. Her mother, beaten by her father, flees the family home with Tina's sister, leaving Tina behind – a deep wound that haunts her life. Tina's own marriage to Ike Turner replicates this domestic violence scenario, in an intergenerational recycling of trauma. The script does not excuse Ike's violence, but does try to contextualise it among the major humiliations heaped on black male Americans in a deeply racist 1960s society.
Irish Independent
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
What's on for the June bank holiday weekend in Dublin – festivals, fairs, music events and family fun
But if you're looking for something a little different, there is no shortage of fun things to do across the city, come rain or shine. Here are just a few you wouldn't want to miss. Tina: The Tina Turner Musical After all the time spent roaming the city, you might want to rest your feet and enjoy some show-stopping entertainment. Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, is running at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre until June 14 as a part of its first Irish tour, featuring Ohene MacCarthy and Elle Ma-Kinga N'Zuzi's interpretations of the superstar's hits. The show chronicles the twelve-time Grammy winner's beginnings in Tennessee, before her meteoric rise to fame and hits such as Proud Mary, River Deep, Mountain High, What's Love Got to Do With It. and Private Dancer. Tickets from €41 to €63 are available from Ticketmaster. Drink and Draw Taking place at Dublin Pottery & Tufting and Dublin's Gen Bar, in Smithfield, on Friday May 30 and Saturday 31 May respectively, Alternative Dublin is hosting two two-hour Drink and Draw nights over the bank holiday weekend. Taking place at Dublin Pottery & Tufting on Friday, May 30, the night will be dedicated to painting like the late Picasso. Attendees will be able to try their hand at painting in the artist's unique style while sipping on their drink of choice. On Saturday, May 31, Dublin's Gen Bar will become an atelier for all those who wish to create art based on American pop singer Chappell Roan. No previous experience is required and the event is open to all who are legally permitted to drink alcohol. All the art materials necessary will be given during the session and an instructor will be available to provide assistance throughout. A custom playlist will accompany the evening and prizes are to be won throughout. The event is ticketed, with entry costing €25. Silent Disco Adventures In the mood to try something a bit eccentric with friends or family? Embark of a rhythmic journey throughout Dublin town with Silent Disco Tours. Visitors are invited to wear headphones and listen to music during the 60-minute tour. Spontaneous dancing in front of landmarks is encouraged throughout. Private and public tours are available for groups up to 10 people. Adults and children are welcome, the latter at a reduced fee. Silent Tours cost €18 and start in the city centre. Cheer on those who are running the Vhi Women's Mini Marathon The marathon returns for its 43rd year on Sunday, June 1, and will see over 25,000 women running and walking the 10km route through Dublin city centre. Since it first ran in Dublin in 1983, an estimated €226m has been raised for charity. Among the ambassadors for the Mini Marathon are broadcaster Katja Mia, businesswoman Aimee Connolly, health and fitness coach Nathalie Lennon and content creator Clóda Scanlon. Flynn Park Summer Launch To mark its grand re-opening for the summer, Flynn Park, in Balbriggan, Co Dublin, has announced a day full of tunes, games and giveaways on Monday, June 2. Friends and family will be able to enjoy a range of activities from aerial trekking to laser tag. All-access passes are available for those who wish to explore all of what the park has to offer. The wider park offers large-scale attractions for all ages including climbing, a water park, and even archery. The National Gallery Drop into the National Gallery on Saturday, May 31, to join the Gallery Youth Panel for a Youth Lab celebrating summer through postcard making activities in the Merrion Square Forecourt. Dedicated to those aged 16 to 15, it is a free creative drop-in space devised and delivered by young people, for young people. All materials will be provided, and activities are open to everyone. The Gallery Youth Panel is a collective of young people who work together to find, make, and share impactful experiences for their peers and communities at the Gallery. The Youth Lab starts at 12pm and wraps up at 4pm. On Sunday June 1, families are invited to join artist Jane Bowe in the Shaw Room to create a summer garden, using works by William Leech, Emil Nolde and Evie Hone as inspiration. Families with children of all ages are welcome and materials are provided for all artwork. Groups are welcome from 11.30am and can stay as long as they wish. Rewind Festival Rewind Festival returns to Dublin's St Anne's Park on June 1, with Love Really Hurts Without You singer Billy Ocean set to headline, alongside special guests The Boomtown Rats. The line-up for the one-day festival also includes Toyah, Tiffany, Boyzlife, ABC, Midge Ure and Matt Goss. Take a walk down memory lane while listening to familiar music. Gates open at 2pm and children under 16 must be accompanied in order to attend. Tickets are still on sale and prices range from €55 to €75. Catch up on Dublin City Inclusion and Integration Week This week aims to celebrate those who make up the diverse fabric of the city with inclusive events. Why not visit the Cabra Library Film Club on Friday, May 30, or try the Inclusive Dance and Fitness Workshop in Dublin 8 on Saturday, May 31? Dublin City Council has tailored an extensive list of activities during the Bank Holiday weekend. Attend a Celebration of New Irish Writing at The Crowbar Terrace Burgeoning Irish artists will be performing an intimate concert on Saturday, May 31, at The Button Factory. The Crowbar Terrace will host a night of theatrical readings and poetry from upcoming Irish writers such as Matthew O'Leary, Shauna Brady, Ceara Carney and Niamh Murphy. Tickets are €10 and all proceeds made are in aid of the Palestine Red Crescent Society. There will also be a pop-up shop from These People who will be donating their profits.
Chicago Tribune
07-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Review: ‘The Last Five Years' on Broadway stumbles with its casting
NEW YORK — At its core, Jason Robert Brown's two-character musical 'The Last Five Years' is about the difficulty of maintaining a relationship while working in high-pressure creative fields. Its score, provocative and beautiful, is filled with songs about loneliness, insecurity and isolation and about how hard it can be to sustain a power balance within a marriage when one partner's career is on the rise and the other's is stuck perpetually in the weeds. It's also a show about early-career artists, those years when big breaks have to be grabbed by the horns but also when the agonizing realization first dawns that they might never happen. (One chills out either way, as one ages.) And that's the first disconnect with the disappointing new Broadway production at the Hudson Theatre, featuring the truly bizarre casting of Nick Jonas, the pop star of Jonas Brothers heritage and fame, playing the rising novelist Jamie and Adrienne Warren as struggling summer-stock actress Cathy. Warren is best known for playing the title role in 'Tina: The Tina Turner Musical,' a character that is about as far away from Cathy as Jupiter is from Mars. Both of these performers are whopping musical talents and their mutual vocal prowess is very much on display — to the obvious delight of the many Jonas fans in the house. But you simply cannot believe that Warren is a hard-working but everyday young actress stuck in Ohio, doing shows no one of importance comes to see, any more than you can believe Jonas is a writer who is new to the temptations of fame, and also young enough to be excited by a New Yorker review of his book, rather than the reality, which is that he is an accomplished and experienced star. More importantly, you also cannot believe these two are in love. Rather, they seem stuck both invulnerable to each other and stuck in two completely different worlds. That's always a risk with this 90-minute show, which I first saw in its lovely premiere at the Northlight Theatre in Skokie in 2001, where it starred Lauren Kennedy and Norbert Leo Butz working with director Daisy Prince. That's because Brown structured the show so that the five-year relationship between Jamie and Cathy unspools in opposite directions. Jamie's story is told in chronological order. But Cathy's story is recounted in reverse, akin to 'Merrily We Roll Along'; in the first scene, her song mourns the end of her marriage. Think that structure through and you'll realize that the two have to meet in the middle. In the previous productions I've seen, that's been the core of the experience and, metaphorically, an observation about how a two-career marriage, although shot through with expectations and pressures of perpetual unity, typically has only a very limited amount of time when both parties could actually be said to be in the same place. The show's excellent advice is to grab it while you can, because the rest of a marriage is hard work. Brown came to some early wisdom on that particular topic. But in a musical, if you're not pulling for said relationship to survive and if you don't believe you are watching a real partnership that could live or die before your eyes, nothing works. And so it goes here. The pivotal meeting in the middle feels much like any other scene in director Whitney White's production, a show that delivers beautifully sung treatments of Brown's score, which on Broadway features some newly enriched orchestrations from the composer. Indeed, the whole experience feels as if you are watching two very different cabaret performers smushed together on a single bill, not two characters fighting for their marital lives. Frankly, the set design by David Zinn doesn't much help, either; it seems to reflect ambivalence of scale and purpose. I'll forever be deeply fond of this score and, indeed, the show's willingness to probe one of the trickiest aspects of a relationship, which is who has to give up what and when, and whether one party ever has a responsibility to rescue another. (Sure they do). 'The Last Five Years' also is uncommonly wise when it comes to explaining how skillfully some people rationalize marital difficulties as being seated entirely with the other person. You may be familiar. But with all due respect for their formidable talents, Jonas and Warren just aren't right for the piece, either individually or together.
