Devastating moment ‘Tina Turner Musical’ audience learns of legend’s death
The Broadway world is also mourning Tina Turner.
The legendary “The Best” and “What’s Love Got to Do With It” singer died in Switzerland on Wednesday at the age of 83 after longtime battles with illnesses including cancer, high blood pressure and kidney disease.
A towering, acclaimed musical based on her life has played in theater districts around the world since 2018.
London’s West End version was undergoing a performance Wednesday evening when the audience found out about Turner’s passing — and the moment was caught on video.
“Tina: The Tina Turner Musical” star Kristina Love — who plays the lead role — tearfully halted the production at Aldwych Theatre to pay tribute to the groundbreaking music giant.
In a TikTok video also shown on the chat show “Good Morning Britain” Thursday, Love addressed the audience.
“We’re here tonight because one woman boldly lived her life, from cotton fields to stardom,” she said in one of two videos shared on Thursday.
“You have all found yourself in her story, in her music, and we’re all here today. So tonight we’re gonna party because we know there’s a huge party in heaven right now,” Love said.
The audience gasped, clapped and cheered, with many shedding tears.
The audience member who filmed the moment, Hannah Brown, shared on social media that the “surreal” news of Turner’s death broke right after the show’s intermission.
“OH MY GOD. I went to watch the Tina Turner Musical in London’s West End and they announced the devastating news after the interval,” she told Newsflare. “What a show, the most emotional night, goosebumps, my biggest idol for singing…RIP Tina.”
“The cast did her so much justice what a tribute! RIP QUEEN!” she wrote, additionally telling Newsflare that the turn of events was “devastating.”
“The cast was extremely emotional and you could tell the cast and crew celebrated her life in the second half, it was raw emotion from all of them. I will never forget that night — it was indescribable,” she said.
She noted that the “atmosphere was chilling.”
Both the show’s London and Broadway Twitter feeds shared a tribute to the “Proud Mary” singer on Wednesday.
“We are deeply saddened to share the news that Tina Turner passed away yesterday,” the statement read.
“‘TINA: The Tina Turner Musical’ is a true celebration of this exceptional woman, and in our mourning we continue to celebrate her life, her talent and her joy.”
Actresses who have portrayed the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll onstage also commemorated her life and career.
Adrienne Warren — whose performance as Turner won a 2020 Tony Award for Best Performance By an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical — shared a sweet video on Instagram lauding the Tennessee native.
“Today we lost our Queen of Rock and Roll, an inspiration, an ICON. Today I lost a teacher and a mentor. Rest, my friend,” Warren wrote.
Nyassa Alberta, who has played the role in German and Dutch productions, posted her own farewell, writing: “It’s unbelievable how much one person can endure and survive all of it with so much grace and love.
“She inspired me to be stronger, fight harder and trust myself more and be braver than I ever thought I was,” Alberta shared. “Thank you, for all you meant to me and so many of us. Rest in peace, you will always have a special place in my heart and I know you will keep inspiring us.”
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