Tina the Musical announces full cast for London reopening in July

The full cast has been revealed for Tina – The Tina Turner Musical – which  reopens at the Aldwych Theatre on 28th July 2021

Joining the previously announced  Aisha Jawando and Jammy Kasongo as Tina and Ike will be Chanel Haynes, who plays the role of Tina at some performances, Joe Evans as Phil Spector and Terry Britten, Irene Myrtle Forrester as Tina's Grandmother GG, Francesca Jackson and Alice Bailey Johnson as Rhonda Graam, Rhianne-Louise McCaulsky as Alline Bullock, Matt Mills as Richard Bullock, Posi Morakinyo as Raymond Hill, Garmon Rhys as Roger Davies, Joseph Richardson as Erwin Bach and Madeline Appiah as Zelma.

They will be joined by  Lori Barker, Kelly Hampson, Chris Grahamson (Carpenter), Paul Mukembo who plays Tina's son Craig and Alex Okoampa who plays Tina's son Ronnie. The Ikettes are played by Samara Casteallo, Mia Musak and Anu Ogunmefun with swings Derek Aidoo, Joshua Da Costa, Livvy Evans, Raquel Jones, DeeArna McLean, Michael Thomas, Saran Webb and Samuel J Weir.

Tia Murrell , Rae Ann Quayle, and Poppy Cunningham  share the role of Young Anna Mae; Shai Codrington , Sophia Anne Angiama  and Mia Jones  share the role of Young Alline and Elias Agbodan George , Remi Dabiri-McQuaid  and Romell Barrocks-Bedeau  share the role of Young Craig. 

Aisha Jawando to take over the lead role in Tina — The Tina Turner Musical

Aisha Jawando (the current Tina alternate) is to take over the lead role in Tina — The Tina Turner Musical at the Aldwych Theatre from October 8th. The current lead  American Nkeki Obi-Melekwe, will join the Broadway company of of the show, playing her at  certain performances. Ashley Zhangazha will stay on in London as Ike Turner, Tina’s abusive first husband.

Ms Jawando played Turner’s sister Alline Bullock when the show first opened and  was later promoted to play the singer at some performances.

Jawando's theatre credits include: Cinderella in Cinderella (Hackney Empire), Pilar in Legally Blonde (Monaco), Carmen in The Life (Southwark Playhouse), Martha Reeve in Original London Cast of Motown (Shaftesbury Theatre), Original London Cast of Beautiful (Aldwych Theatre), Book of Mormon (Prince of Wales), Original London cast of Fela! (National Theatre), The Lion King (Lyceum theatre) and Ikette in Soul Sister (Savoy/ UK tour).

Cast change announced for Tina the Musical

It has just been announced that Nkeki Obi-Melekwe and Ashley Zhangazha will join the cast of  Tina the Musical  as Tina and Ike Turner taking over from Adrienne Warren and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith who  will continue in the roles until 13th April 2019.  As previously announced,Warren is to play the lead of Tina when it opens on Broadway. They will join the show from 15th April.

Obi-Melekwe is currently making her off-Broadway debut in Alice By Heart, a new musical by Duncan Sheik.  

Zhangazha was the  Winner of the 2018 UK Theatre Award for Best Performance in a Musical for his portrayal of Skye in the Royal Exchange production of Guys & Dolls.

Aisha Jawando will play the role of Tina at some performances each week and the rest of the cast will include Irene-Myrtle Forrester as Tina's Grandmother GG, Howard Gossington as Record Producer Phil Spector and Lyricist Terry Britten.

Francesca Jackson continues to play Ike and Tina's manager Rhonda Graam, Jammy Kasongo will play Tina's father Richard Bullock and Tina's first love Raymond Hill, Edward Bourne will play record company marketing manager Erwin Bach and Oscar Batterham will play Tina's manager Roger Davies. Maria Omakinwa joins the company to play the role of Tina's mother Zelma until 22 June 2019, when Madeline Appiah will rejoin the company in that role. Final casting will be announced shortly.

They are joined by ensemble members Daniella Bowen, Chloe Chambers, Joelle Dyson, Sia Kiwa, Lejaun Sheppard, Kibong Tanji, Cameron Bernard Jones who also plays Tina's son Craig and Ashlee Irish who plays Tina's son Ronnie and Joseph Richardson, and swings Gavin Alex, Derek Aidoo, Joshua Da Costa, Amandla Elynah, Hannah Jay-Allan, Angela Marie Hurst, Leisha Mollyneaux and Samuel J Weir.
 

Adrienne Warren to play Tina on Broadway

Adrienne Warren who is currently playing  the title role of Tina in London's West End until April 13th, will reprise her  performance when the show premieres on Broadway later this year. The theatre and dates are still to be confirmed.

Tina Turner said: "I'm so proud of everything that Adrienne has achieved over the last year in the West End. She has given it everything she's got, she has poured her soul into it, and she deserves every success. I am thrilled she will be reprising her role in New York, and I cannot wait to see her on that Broadway stage on Opening Night".

Adrienne Warren said: "Working on this show has been a life-changing experience for me. Tina's unshakable courage, grace and determination have been our constant inspiration, and I am honored to have had the opportunity to be part of this telling of her story. It has been an amazing year in London, working with the incredible Phyllida Lloyd, Katori Hall and the creative team, in a city that has welcomed me with open arms. Returning home to Broadway, in this role and in this show, is a dream come true".

The Tina Turner Musical  and Ghostlight Records have just released the first single from the upcoming cast album, featuring Adrienne Warren .  Click here to watch her recording and performing  "River Deep - Mountain High"

Children announced for Tina the Musical

The Producers of Tina the Musical  which premieres in London's Aldwych Theatre later this month have just announced the children who  will join the company:  

• Reya-Nyomi Brown, 10 years old from Greenwich, Claudia Elie, 10 years old from Brent and Serena Mukuna, 10 years old from Camden,will play the role of Young Anna Mae  
• Athea Andi, 9 years old from Richmond, Nicole Dube, 23 years old from Essex and Arianna Duffus, 12 years old from Harrow will play the role of Young Alline 
• Rohan Beckford, 9 years old from Enfield, Caelan Edie, 8 years old from Lewisham, and Khylan St Paul Mark, 7 years old from Brent will play the role of Young Craig.

Full cast announced for Tina the Musical

Full casting has just been announced for Tina The Musical based on the life and career of  Tina Turner.

As previously announced, Adrienne Warren will take the lead in the musical portraying Tina Turner with Kobna Holbrook Smith (pictured) as singer and music arranger Ike Turner, who controlled Tina physically, mentally and legally for over two decades. He is best known for his work in films such as Doctor Strange, Paddington 2 and  will also be seen in the upcoming films Mary Poppins Returns and Justice League. Tina said It might be painful having to watch him on stage,but I know he’s being played by an actor and he can’t hurt me. Once she rid herself of Ike, she never spoke to or saw him again before he died in 2007. 

Madeline Appiah plays Tina’s mother Zelma Bullock and Jenny Fitzpatrick will play the alternate Tina. Gerard McCarthy has been cast as marketing executive Erwin Bach who later became very significant to Tina, with Ryan O’Donnell playing her astute manager Roger Davies, and Lorna Gayle will play Tina's Grandmother GG, Tom Godwin plays record producer Phil Spector and lyricist Terry Britten, Francesca Jackson plays Ike and Tina's manager Rhonda Graam and Aisha Jawando is Tina's sister Alline Bullock, Aisha J, Sia Kiwa, and Tanisha Spring play the iconic Ikettes who were the backing vocalists for the Ike and Tina Turner Revue and also recorded discs in their own right. Natey Jones will play Tina's father Richard Bullock and Tina's first love Raymond Hill

They are joined by ensemble members Tsemaye Bob-Egbe, Keisher Downie, Kit Esuruoso who also plays Tina's son Craig Hill, Jammy Kasongo, Sia Kiwa, Jason Langley, Kayleigh McKnight, Baker Mukasa and Tanisha Spring and swings Derek Aidoo, Gavin Alex, Edward Bourne, Candace Furbert, Hannah Jay-Allan and Rodney Vubya.

New Tina Turner Musical heading for West End

Updated 10th January: Tina the Musical is  on track for a Spring 2018 premiere in the  West End. This new production is not the first to be inspired by Tina Turner’s amazing career and often tumultuous personal life. In 2012 Soul Sister, the musical based on Tina’s rocky relationship with Ike Turner hit the stage.

News has just broken that Phyllida Lloyd (Mamma Mia!) is to direct a new musical currently under development about the life of Tina Turner.

Stage Entertainment are collaborating on this world premier with writer  Katori Hall, Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins,with set and costume designer Mark Thompson, choreography Anthony Van Laast and musical supervisor Nicholas Skilbeck.

Turner said : "We have been working on the musical for over a year now and today I am delighted to be able to share our news as we begin the next chapter of our journey.It has been wonderful to collaborate with Katori and Phyllida and to have my story nurtured by such an amazing creative team is thrilling. London has always had a very special place in my heart and it's wonderful to be back."

Tali Pelman, Group Creative Director, Stage Entertainment said: "It's been an honour for us all to collaborate so closely with Tina Turner on this project. Tina is a music legend and her iconic songs are matched only by the power and inspiration of her remarkable and moving story. We are delighted to be working with Katori Hall, whose writing has a heart and humour that beautifully captures Tina's life story, and to have the extraordinary director Phyllida Lloyd at the helm of such a talented creative team. It's been exciting today to see the project move into its next phase."

Tina Turner, the creative and producing teams met earlier this week in the UK  to present a workshop of the piece.More details to follow.