ST. LOUIS — The world lost rock n' roll legend Tina Turner in May, but she left behind her life story in a musical, featuring her biggest hits, a project she and her husband helped produce. Now the show “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical,” is coming to the Fox Theatre in St. Louis on Nov. 14, back to the town that launched her career.

What You Need To Know

  • “TINA- The Tina Turner Musical” stars Naomi Rodgers (“Frozen”) and Ari Groover (“TINA” Broadway, “Head Over Heels,” “Holler If Ya hear Me,” “Little Shop of Horrors”) who evenly share the role of Tina Turner, each playing four out of the eight performances per week

  • The show is stopping in St. Louis months after Turner died in May 2023, from a stroke and a battle with intestinal cancer

  • The musical debuted on Broadway Nov. 7, 2019, and was nominated for 12 Tony Awards, including Best Musical

“TINA- The Tina Turner Musical” stars Naomi Rodgers (“Frozen”) and Ari Groover (“TINA” Broadway, “Head Over Heels,” “Holler If Ya hear Me,” “Little Shop of Horrors”) who evenly share the role of Tina Turner, each playing four out of the eight performances per week, according to a press release.

Also starring are Roderick Lawrence as Ike Turner, Roz White as Zelma Bullock, Wydetta Carter as Gran Georgeanna and Sarah Bockel as Rhonda.

Born Anna Mae Bullock in Tennessee in 1939, Turner moved to St. Louis when she was 16. She grew up in the Ville neighborhood and graduated from Sumner High School in 1958. Areas of St. Louis are depicted in the musical, including Club Manhattan, Turner's mother's house and a hospital. 

Roz White is playing Zelma Bullock, Tina Turner’s mother.

“She is a very complex character, but a lot of fun to play because she has a lot of layers,” White said. “I get to have a great arc and a great journey and be a catalyst for an iconic rise to stardom, which is of course Tina Turner.”

Turner’s recording of “A Fool in Love” became a hit in 1960. Ike and Tina became the singing duo, Ike & Tina Turner Revue. The two had a 20-year relationship that left her physically battered, emotionally devastated, and financially ruined.

Turner and her mother’s relationship was “extremely” complicated and at times strained, White said. She brings to the role some of her experience in complex relationships, observations of mother and daughter relationships and her background in playing mothers in other shows.

White read Turner’s autobiography, “I, Tina: My Life Story,” watched her documentary, among other research, to prepare for the role.

“There’s a lot of preparation that goes into this type of character,” she said.

So far, White has enjoyed portraying Turner’s mother, Zelma, a character who viewers may love to hate.

“It is very, very rewarding to see audiences come and say, ‘I didn’t like you, but I loved your work,’” she said. “It’s really great to play this role.”

White is looking forward to coming back to St. Louis as she has performed at Fabulous Fox in “Dream Girls” and worked at The Black Rep, performing arts theater in University City.

“It is definitely a coming home, a full circle. I love St. Louis,” she said.

The musical debuted on Broadway Nov. 7, 2019, and was nominated for 12 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, according to the press release.

“We can’t wait for America to see the two megawatt superstars—Naomi Rodgers and Ari Groover— who share the role of Tina, Roderick Lawrence in the role of Ike, and the incredibly talented company who are on the road in this tour,” the producers, Tali Pelman from Stage Entertainment and Jimmy Nederlander, said.

For tickets and show information, click here.