The Tina Turner Musical Is Finally Here, and We’re Not Worthy
In ‘Tina,’ playwright Katori Hall shows the legend’s complex reality and legacy
The theater has an inclusivity problem, especially people of color. Not only in theatergoers, but also in casts and creative teams. Reports from the Broadway League say 75% of patrons are White. The Asian American Performers Action Coalition states that in the 2016–2017 season both on and off Broadway, Black playwrights were represented at 4.1%.
Thanks to the diligent work of trailblazers like Olivier Award-winning playwright Katori Hall, that’s slowly starting to change.
Hall is best known for her plays The Mountaintop and Hurt Village, but she’s stepped into new territory with Tina: The Tina Turner Musical. Tina navigates the life of this beloved singer and survivor with hits like “Proud Mary” and “Private Dancer.” On the heels of opening night, Hall spoke to ZORA about her conversations with Turner, representation in theater, and her TV show P-Valley, which will premiere on Starz next year.
ZORA: What was your entry point to Tina Turner’s world?
Katori Hall: The first point is the fact that I grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, and she grew up in Nutbush. I didn’t have her…
