Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts Nederlander National Markets Broadway Comes To Reno proudly presents
Dear Season Subscribers and Broadway Fans:
Welcome to another exceptional Broadway season, beginning with TINA – The Tina Turner Musical – the true story of a woman who broke barriers to become the Queen of Rock n’ Roll. You’ll recognize her beloved hits including “What’s Love Got to Do with It”, “The Best”, and “Proud Mary” while celebrating the woman who dared to dream fiercely and conquer the world – against all odds.
The Broadway Backstory Newsletter is created by Pioneer Center Education to share insight about the shows in our Broadway Comes To Reno series. Inside you will find information and links [in blue] to websites, videos, and articles about the history and creators of the show. Don’t forget to forward this article to the other subscribers and Broadway lovers attending the show with you.
During the run of TINA – The Tina Turner Musical, the Pioneer Center is proud to spotlight the work of The Children’s Cabinet, a Nevada nonprofit striving to keep children safe and families together by providing a variety of programs and services at no charge. We are collecting patron donations of hygiene items including bar soap, body wash, laundry soap, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, diapers, and wipes to be distributed to families in need. Collection bins will be located on the E.L, Cord Plaza as you enter the theater at every performance. To learn more about The Children’s Cabinet, please visit their website.
Your tickets to TINA – Tina Turner Musical were emailed to you on September 12th. We look forward to seeing you at the Pioneer Center very soon!
Get the backstory on the Broadway hit
TINA - The Tina Turner Musical
• TINA – The Tina Turner Musical is a jukebox musical following the life of Tina Turner, from her small-town beginnings in Nutbush, Tennessee to her early career as the Ike & Tina Turner Revue to international stardom as the “Queen of Rock n’ Roll.” Tina Turner herself served as a producer and collaborator on this original production.
• TINA is written by award-winning playwright Katori Hall (with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins). Hall received a Tony Award nomination for “Best Book of a Musical” for her work. Her additional plays include The Mountaintop, Hurt Village (currently in development as a feature film), and The Hot Wing King (2021 Pulitzer Prize winner).
• TINA is directed by Phyllida Lloyd, best known for the smash hit Mamma Mia! for Broadway, West End, and the feature film. Additional film credits include The Iron Lady and Herself.
• Choreographer, Anthony van Laast, was Tony nominated for “Best Choreography” for TINA. Other credits include Mamma Mia!, Sister Act, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and feature films What’s Love Got to Do With It? and Harry Potter & the Deathly Hollows.
• Set and Costume Designer Mark Thompson has been recognized in the theater with two Critics’ Circle, five Olivier Awards, and nominated for seven Tony Awards.
• TINA was commissioned by global theater producer Stage Entertainment. After a workshop in 2016, the musical had its world premiere in London’s West End, opening April 17, 2018 at the Aldwych Theatre, breaking box office records. A German-language production followed, opening in Hamburg in March 2019.
• The Broadway production opened at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on November 7, 2019. Although it paused March 2020 to October 2021 during the pandemic, the production received 12 Tony Award nominations, with original star Adrienne Warren winning “Best Actress in a Musical” for originating the title role. The show closed in August 2022 after 27 previews and 482 performances.
• TINA has seen additional productions in The Netherlands, Spain and Australia. The US National Tour playing the Pioneer Center opened September 11, 2022. This tour will continue to play in 36 major cities across the United States this season. All actors and stage managers in this national tour are members of Actors’ Equity Association.
Learn More About the History and Cultural Significance of TINA – The Tina Turner Musical
• One of the world’s best-selling artists of all time, 12-time Grammy Award winner, Tina Turner, was an international superstar. Like other famous Black female American artists, from Josephine Baker to Nina Simone, Turner found a different level of success in Europe than she did in America, as explored in this PBS News Hour report.
• This musical is not the first biopic piece about Tina Turner’s life. Turner first shared her story in a 1986 autobiography I, Tina, later adapted for the hit 1993 feature film What’s Love Got to Do With It? starring Angela Bassett.
• Book writer, Katori Hall, shares her process of writing the Broadway musical in this NPR “Fresh Air” interview. Hall strives to showcase Turner’s strength and vulnerability and provide the audience with a window into Turner’s resiliency overcoming difficult times throughout her life.
• Choreographer Anthony van Laast shares his background and process for creating dance for musical theatre in this video interview.
• Not familiar with Tina Turner’s iconic songbook? Check out the Broadway Original Cast Recording on Spotify.
• To learn more about TINA –The Tina Turner Musical, visit the production’s YouTube, Facebook, or Instagram pages.
Broadway Behind the Curtain
The Pioneer Center is excited to continue our “Broadway Behind the Curtain” education program with the TINA – The Tina Turner Musical touring company. High school theatre students and educators from across our region come to the Pioneer Center to observe part of the technical load in process, including a Q&A with touring technical crew and stage managers, Pioneer Center staff members, and other local theatre makers. This opportunity is only open to high school performing arts students and educators. Interested students should contact their high school theater teacher to ask about attendance.
