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As the rest of her castmates braced for another city’s cold temperatures while on tour, actress Morgan Lewis formed her to-do list: eat a chicken parmesan at Apizza Regionale, enjoy Pastabilities’ wine selection, go thrifting at 3fifteen and give her Syracuse University Drama “littles” a huge hug.

The 2024 College of Visual and Performing Arts alumna is returning to Syracuse for the first time since graduating in May as an Ikette in “TINA: The Tina Turner Musical.”

“Syracuse (University) shaped me into the performer that I am today,” Lewis said. “Honestly, I’m a little nervous. It’s really surreal and I’m super grateful.”

Broadway’s “TINA: The Tina Turner Musical” is playing at Syracuse’s Landmark Theatre from Jan. 28 to Feb. 1 as a part of the show’s second North American National Tour. The musical follows the “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll” from her early life in Tennessee through her career’s struggles and triumphs.

The show includes details of Turner’s strained relationship with her mother, and Turner’s turbulent marriage to fellow musical partner Ike Turner. Turner was deeply involved in the original script and Broadway production. Lewis said she feels a deep responsibility to tell an authentic story on stage to help preserve Turner’s legacy.

“We did a lot of work to make sure that we’re not tarnishing Tina’s name, but rather uplifting it,” Lewis said. “We are telling a story of resilience and empowerment, rather than just highlighting all the hard parts of her life.”

Elaina Walton, who plays Turner’s mother, Zelma Bullock, said this tour is the first time she’s played a real, historical figure. To make sure she “got it right,” Walton extensively researched Bullock to understand her motivations as both a person and a mother.

“Tina Turner left behind her legacy, her joy, all of her triumph,” Walton said. “We are each playing a small part in allowing her legacy to live on. None of us take that for granted.”

Actors connect to the people they portray each night by taking on new personas. The relationship is mutually beneficial, Lewis said. As Lewis tells the story of one of the Ikettes on stage, the character teaches her, too.

It’s hard work to play her character, but the lessons from the experience are invaluable and have made her stronger in the process, Lewis said.

Courtesy of Julieta Cervantes

For both longtime fans and newcomers to Turner’s story, “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical” brings newfound appreciation. The show encourages viewers to react vocally to the show’s story.

“TINA” is meant for both life-long fans and new generations of viewers with little knowledge of Turner’s influence. That’s part of the show’s charm, Walton said. Fans and fans-in-the-making can get a newfound appreciation for Turner’s legacy.

The strong relationships fostered between cast members has made traveling across the country and being away from family that much easier, Walton said.

“It’s never quiet,” Walton said. “Someone is always talking, laughing, singing, someone is having a random dance break and someone else is telling a joke. It really is a blessing.”

The performances feel different in every city, Lewis said. Based on the experiences of audience members and the culture of the place they perform, viewers respond differently to jokes and tender moments. Audiences in Tennessee and Alabama, close to Turner’s hometown, were especially reactive. Lewis said they felt connected to Turner’s experiences of misogynoir, having lived in areas similar to the show’s setting.

But some themes of the show were received universally, no matter where they toured. As she traveled the country, Lewis said she’s heard personal stories from audience members, especially women, who were deeply impacted after viewing Turner’s story of struggles, triumphs and strength.

“We are telling a story about how incredibly resilient women are,” Lewis said. “There’s so much more to them than the eye can see and that society sees. I hope that women are impacted to carry their heads high.”

Unlike other Broadway shows, which might expect theatre audiences to be polite and refined, the “TINA” cast wants its viewers to react to what they see on stage, Walton said. For longtime fans and newcomers to Turner’s story, the show is bound to make a splash.

“Be prepared to move. Be prepared to feel,” Walton said.

Published on January 22, 2025 at 10:22 pm

ehrosen@syr.edu