Tina – The Tina Turner Musical – Paramount Theatre

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Tina – The Tina Turner Musical with Broadway Seattle and Seattle Theatre Group at the Paramount Theatre starring Ari Groover. Dazzling lights and projections. Roz White was a delightful mom. Surprising amount of domestic violence in the 1st act!

Synopsis from the Theatre: THERE IS ONLY ONE. HER VOICE IS UNDENIABLE. HER FIRE IS UNSTOPPABLE. HER TRIUMPH IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER. An uplifting comeback story like no other, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical is the inspiring journey of a woman who broke barriers and became the Queen of Rock n’ Roll. One of the world’s best-selling artists of all time, Tina Turner has won 12 Grammy Awards and her live shows have been seen by millions, with more concert tickets sold than any other solo performer in music history. Featuring her much loved songs, Tina – The Tina Turner Musical is written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Katori Hall and directed by the internationally acclaimed Phyllida Lloyd.

Attended Performance Date: 9/12/23 (Opening Night)

Type: Jukebox Musical

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Several

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Several

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: Obviously, you’d probably enjoy this more if you’re familiar with Tina Turner’s hits. I’m surprised I was only familiar with two songs “Proud Mary” and “What’s Love Got to Do with It?”

Defined Plot/Storyline: Yes

Live Band/Orchestra: Yes

Equity Actors: All

Total Number of Actors: Too many to count

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium but a little slow in the beginning of the first act

Length (Including Any Intermission): 3 hours

Intermission Included: Yes

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show: Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now: No

Recommendation: See it if either 1) you’re a Tina Turner fan 2) or you watch Lifetime TV dramas with domestic violence.

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts

  • Mother: Roz White (as Tina Turner’s mom Zelma) was so delightful despite her character’s lack of maternal warmth. I actually thought she was a stepmom.
  • Projections: The projections seemed inspired by the psychedelic 1970s. They were especially mesmerizing immediately after the “Proud Mary” number.
  • Light Design: The lights were dazzling … even painful with the sudden spotlights in the Brazil concert scene!
  • Wigs: Ari Groover showcased a plethora of Tina Turner hairstyles throughout the show. My favorite was probably “the Farrah Fawcett” worn at the beginning of the second act.
  • Favorite Song: Other than the obvious recognizable hits “Proud Mary” and “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” I liked “Shake a Tailfeather” because the choreography reminded me of Hairspray.
  • Favorite Line: Regarding Tina’s signature hairstyle, her mom said something like “Looks like a cat’s been sucking on it.”

Rant(s)

  • Heat and Humidity: Let’s turn on the A/C or dehumidifier Paramount Theatre!
  • White Savior: Even though it might be historically accurate that Roger Davies (played by Zachary Freier-Harrison) was the catalyst for Tina’s icon status, it reminded me of the “white savior” trope like in the movies The Help and Hidden Figures.

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

  • Domestic Abuse: The first act was filled with domestic violence/abuse like a Lifetime TV drama! Maybe that’s why I enjoyed the second act more.
  • Chant: A mystic Buddhist mantra theme was woven throughout the musical. I honestly thought it was an indigenous tribal chant until I read about it the next day. The script should explain this mantra more.

Theatre Company: National Tour from Broadway Across America and Seattle Theatre Group

Venue: Paramount Theatre

Venue Physical Address: 911 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101

Price: Medium to Expensive

Ticket Affordability Options: Seattle Theatre Group might partner with an organization you’re affiliated with for discount tickets. For example, I believe UW employees and students are eligible for an organization discount.

Dates: September 12 to 17, 2023

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: Paid street parking and paid garage parking. The best parking garage is under the convention center w/ the entrance on Pike around the Pike and Terry intersection. Last I checked, this is one of the cheapest, least busy, and closest garages. Alternatively, you can probably find street parking as you move closer to the West Precinct (810 Virginia St, Seattle, WA 98101). Do NOT park where the Paramount subscribers park. Last I checked, they usually park in the garage attached to the Cheesecake Factory. It’ll take you at least 30 minutes to exit that garage after the show.

Like/Comment/Share my Social Media Posts About this Performance:
Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Threads

Buy a Ticket or Learn More:

Other Video +/- Pictures: See pictures in video and under video by MurphyMade.

@showsiveseen#Tina” jukebox #musical w/ Broadway Seattle and @Seattle Theatre Group at Paramount Theatre starring Ari Groover. Dazzling lights/projections. Roz White was a delightful mom. Surprising amount of #domesticViolence in 1st act! Review: showsiveseen.com/6480 #TinaTurner #theatre #showsiveseen ♬ Proud Mary (Cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival) – Glee Cast
Garrett Turner as ‘Ike Turner’ and Roz White as ‘Zelma’ in the North American touring production of TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL. Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade, 2022
Naomi Rodgers performing “River Deep – Mountain High” as ‘Tina Turner’ in the North American touring production of TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL. Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade, 2022
Naomi Rodgers performing “Proud Mary” as ‘Tina Turner’ and the cast of the North American touring production of TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL. Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade, 2022
Naomi Rodgers as ‘Tina Turner’ in the North American touring production of TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL. Photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade, 2022
Garrett Turner as ‘Ike Turner’ in the North American touring production of TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL. Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade, 2022
Garrett Turner as ‘Ike Turner’ in the North American touring production of TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL. Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade, 2022
Ayvah Johnson as ‘Young Anna-Mae’ and the cast of the North American touring production of TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL. Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade, 2022
Ann Nesby as ‘Gran Georgeanna’ in the North American touring production of TINA – THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL. Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade, 2022

Free Ticket – Tina – Paramount Theatre

Update 9/14/23: Congrats Merry!

Leave a comment mentioning your favorite Tina Turner song & why. I’ll chose a winner after 9/13 11:59 PM.

Post your comment submission on my Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Threads. This is a free SINGLE ticket courtesy of Shows I’ve Seen in price level F (worth about $60 if you include Ticketmaster fees) to any remaining Tina – The Tina Turner Musical performance which ends 9/17 at the Broadway Seattle and Seattle Theatre Group Paramount Theatre. Subject to seat availability. Stay tuned for my full review! #theatre #showsiveseen #musical #TinaTurner

Free Ticket – Six the Musical – Paramount Theatre

Update (7/20/23): Congrats to Rylie!

Leave a comment mentioning your favorite female monarch and why. She doesn’t need to be a British #queen. I’ll chose a winner after 7/19 11:59 PM.

Post your comment submission on my Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Threads. This is a free SINGLE ticket in “price level F” (worth about $60) to any remaining “Six” performance at Broadway at the Paramount Theatre and Seattle Theatre Group. The production run ends 7/23. Read my review at showsiveseen.com/6075. #theatre #six #showsiveseen #musical

Six The Musical – Paramount Theatre

Giveaway: I’m giving away a free ticket to this show. See details here. (Update 7/20/23: Congrats to Rylie!)

Elevator Thoughts (aka Tweet): Amazing seats to Six The Musical by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss at Seattle Theatre Group and Broadway at the Paramount Theatre. All-female cast/band portray the stories of King Henry VIII’s #six queen wives and find individual significance independent of a man. Packed energetic audience. Shoutout to the incredible Khaila Wilcoxon and Storm Lever! #musical #girlPower #Tudor

Synopsis from the Theatre: Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. From Tudor Queens to Pop Icons, the SIX wives of Henry VIII take the microphone to remix five hundred years of historical heartbreak into a Euphoric Celebration of 21st century girl power! This new original musical is the global sensation that everyone is losing their head over!

Reviewed Performance: 7/12/23 – Opening Night

Type: Concert-like Storytelling Musical

World Premiere: No

Several or Few Scenes: Storytelling several scenes

Several or Few Settings/Locations: Storytelling several locations

Prior Exposure/Knowledge Required: You might appreciate this more if you’re familiar with King Henry VIII’s wives. I personally only knew a little about Anne Boleyn.

Defined Plot/Storyline: Not really, it was 6 queens singing/telling their own separate stories

Live Band/Orchestra: Yes

Recommendation: See it if either you enjoy

  • Pop diva or girl group concerts
  • Or concert-like musicals similar to Striking 12, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and Pump Boys and Dinettes where the actors address the audience and tell stories (as opposed to acting out the stories)

Was This the First Time I Attended a Production of this Show: Yes

Would I See It Again 3 Years from Now: Probably not, but it was good

Rating Compared to Other Shows with the Same Production Value:
4 stars (Out of 5 Stars)

Equity Actors: The program didn’t mention this, but I’d be surprised if all the actors in a national tour show like this weren’t Equity.

Total Number of Actors: 6

Perceived Pace of the Show: Medium to fast

Length (Including Any Intermission): 1.5 hours

Intermission: No

Other Rave(s) Not Mentioned in Elevator Thoughts

  • Favorite Queen Divas: My favorite actress was Khaila Wilcoxon (Catherine of Aragon) for her animated expressions and attitude. For some reason, she also reminded me of Patina Miller. A close second was Storm Lever (Anne Boleyn), who wouldn’t stop mentioning her beheading. I recognized her voice from Summer The Donna Summer Musical as Duckling Donna. It’s good to see her back in Seattle!
  • Tinder: I loved how they incorporated catfishing and swiping in Anne of Cleves (Oliva Donalson) story.
  • Costumes: The metal-looking costumes were shiny, glittery, and brilliant. They sort of reminded me of samurai suits.
  • Quips: The biting repartee between the queens was delightful. I especially enjoyed when the witty remarks were cutting. Clap back!

Other Musing(s) and Observation(s)

  • Hype: As one of the most popular shows on-stage today, the excitement around Six The Musical show was palpable. The audience was enthusiastic and even a guy on the front row stood up and danced in the middle of a song. But like Hamilton, I feel like Six The Musical is overhyped. Both shows were obviously well-written and well-executed masterpieces, but the overhyped worldwide buzz around the two musicals made me expect more. That being said, if you ever have the opportunity, you should definitely see Six The Musical … it’s just no The Wiz, The Prom, or The Book of Mormon.

Theatre Company: National Tour with Broadway Across America

Venue: Paramount Theatre

Venue Physical Address: 911 Pine St, Seattle, WA 98101

Price: Medium to Expensive

Ticket Affordability Options: Seattle Theatre Group might partner with an organization you’re affiliated with for discount tickets. For example, I believe UW employees and students are eligible for an organization discount.

Dates: July 12 – 23, 2023

Seating: Assigned Seating

Parking: Paid street parking and paid garage parking. The best parking garage is under the convention center w/ the entrance on Pike around the Pike and Terry intersection. Last I checked, this is one of the cheapest, least busy, and closest garages. Alternatively, you can probably find street parking as you move closer to the West Precinct (810 Virginia St, Seattle, WA 98101). Do NOT park where the Paramount subscribers park. Last I checked, they usually park in the garage attached to the Cheesecake Factory. It’ll take you at least 30 minutes to exit that garage after the show.

Like/Comment/Share my Social Media Posts About this Performance:
Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | Threads

Buy a Ticket or Learn More:

Other Video +/- Pictures: See pictures in video and under video by Joan Marcus and Patrick Gray.

@showsiveseen Amazing seats to @SIX 👑 by Toby Marlow & Lucy Moss at @Seattle Theatre Group & Broadway at the Paramount Theatre. All-female cast/band portray the stories of King Henry VIII's #six #queen wives & find individual significance independent of a man. Packed energetic audience. Shoutout to the incredible @Khaila Anye Wilcoxon & @Storm Lever. Photos by Joan Marcus & Patrick Gray. Review: showsiveseen.com/6075 #musical #girlPower #theatre #Tudor ♬ Ex-Wives – SIX
The North American Six Aragon tour. Photo by Joan Marcus.
Storm Lever as Anne Boleyn (center) in the North American Six Aragon tour. Photo by Joan Marcus.
Olivia Donalson as Anna of Cleves (center) in the North American Six Aragon tour. Photo by Joan Marcus.
Khaila Wilcoxon as Catherine of Aragon (center) in the North American Six Aragon tour. Photo by Joan Marcus.
Gabriela Carrillo as Catherine Parr (center) in the North American Six Aragon tour. Photo by Joan Marcus.
Courtney Mack as Katherine Howard in the North American Six Aragon tour. Photo by Patrick Gray.
The North American Aragon tour of Six. Photo by Patrick Gray.