Ari Groover as Tina Turner  (in photo) and her backup singers mesmerized the audience opening night at the Fabulous Fox.

“Tina”  Simply the Best–

Especially to St. Louisans  

          by Pat Lindsey

Seeing Ari Groover portray Tina Turner in “Tina–The Tina Turner Musical” is almost like witnessing reincarnation. There are times in this intense, heart-wrenching, electrifying show when we forget who is really gyrating and belting out those songs on stage. She has the pipes, the legs, and a wild mane of hair. She’s all wrapped up in a Broadway-style show that will grip you from the first scene and keep you in the palm of its hand through the explosive finale.

Many St. Louisans have been waiting for this show to come to The Fabulous Fox, because we have a special kinship with Tina Turner. In our youth, we went to listen to her at neighborhood clubs and we claimed her as our own. She might not have been born in St. Louis, but she got her start here, married Ike Turner, and became the star of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue. With Ike, she sang “Proud Mary,” “River Deep–Mountain High,” “I Want to Take You Higher,” and many more hits. They should have been rolling in success, but she wasn’t happy. Sixteen years in an abusive marriage to Ike Turner made it impossible for her to stay in St. Louis any longer.

Tina Turner and Edwin Bach were the executive producers of this jukebox bio-musical that requires two alternating actresses, Ari Groover and Parris Lewis, to keep up with the vocal and acting demands of this tour. It’s difficult to believe that anyone could play the Tina role, let alone two talented actresses.

Ari Groover mesmerized me on opening night when it was her turn to portray Tina. She was supported by a super-charged cast that included Brianna Cameron as the young Anna-Mae Bullock; Deon Releford-Lee as Ike Turner; Wydetta Carter as Gran Georgeanna; Roz White as Zelma; Antonio Beverly as Roger Davies; and Max Falls as Erwin Bach. The team of Director Phyllida Lloyd, Choreographer Anthony Van Laast, and Set and Costume Designer Mark Thompson enlisted these talents and many others to create a sensational feast for the senses that pays homage to one of the greatest icons of our time.

The narrative follows chronological order beginning in Nut Bush, Tennessee when Anna-Mae Bullock (a.k.a. Tina) was a young girl being raised by her grandmother. When Gran Georgeanna decides it’s time for Anna-Mae to spread her wings, they sing an emotional goodbye with “Don’t Turn Around.” Gran sends Anna-Mae to St. Louis to find her mother and sister. In all, 23 songs substitute for much of the dialogue.

In St. Louis, Anna-Mae’s older sister, Alline (Gigi Lewis) introduced her to new friends and night spots in St. Louis. One night it didn’t take much coaxing for Ike Turner to get her to sing on stage with him and the Kings of Rhythm. In no time at all, Ike asked her to sing with his band and change her name to Tina–Tina Turner. That was the beginning of their abusive marriage, during which time Tina didn’t even get a paycheck. Ike was the boss in every sense of the word.

When Tina finally got the courage to leave Ike, she struggled to make ends meet for herself and her two sons. She played dives in Las Vegas and eventually got her second break when she met Phil Spector. A trip to London changed her trajectory when a visionary named Roger Davies redesigned Tina’s look and song catalog. Tina was middle-aged before she won her first Grammy. Hits such as “Private Dancer,” “I Can’t Stand the Rain,” and “What’s Love Got to Do With It” just kept coming one after another.

The finale is a welcomed relief after experiencing some of the hardships Tina endured to become “simply the best.” Don’t leave early. By the end of the show, you’ll be on your feet feeling like a kid again during the finale . There will be no doubt in your mind why Tina Turner is the “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll.” (To prove how much St. Louis still loves Tina Turner, a proclamation was presented to the cast by a representative from Mayor Jones’ office in the City of St. Louis declaring November 2023 as Tina Turner month.)

“Tina–The Tina Turner Musical” is playing at The Fabulous Fox now through Nov. 26. Tickets are available through Metrotix at 314-534-1111 or visit The Fox box office.

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