Tina - The Tina Turner Musical

                                                                        Naomi Rodgers

Tina – The Tina Turner Musical, part of the Kimmel Campus’ and The Shubert Organization’s Broadway series, is appearing at the Academy of Music through December 4, 2022. This extremely energetic show is double cast with Naomi Rodgers and Zurin Villanueva sharing the title role, starring in four performances each, every week. Naomi has phenomenal stage presence, and her voice resonates throughout every tier of the Academy of Music as she belts out number after number.  Ayvah Johnson, who portrays a young “Anna-Mae” has a powerful voice that belies her pint-size. Through an impressive amount of musical and dance numbers,  Tina – The Tina Turner Musical  reveals the heartache Tina endured from the time her mother abandoned her, through her 16 years of an abusive marriage to Ike Turner (Garrett Turner), through  her difficulties in getting established as a solo artist. The choreography is excellent not only for Tina, but for the Ikettes who accompany her, and for the ensemble dancers as well. Interestingly to note, that while there is a small orchestra on stage for several of Ike and Tina's song and dance numbers, local musicians are used to enrich the core orchestration. Costume and wig changes are brilliantly done. Tina frequently has one costume covering another which is stripped away while the audience’s attention is elsewhere. Projections are an important part of this production. They are innumerable and extraordinarily effective. The finale is nothing short of fabulous. It has people clapping, dancing in the aisle, and bringing forth two encores. For tickets to this excellent show, call 215-893-1999, visit online at www.kimmelculturalcampus.org or visit the Box Office of the Academy of Music,  240 S. Broad Street from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.