Queer Voices
Queer Voices
January 22nd of 2025 - Adrienne Warren: Broadway Star!
Broadway World writer Brett Cullum got to sit down with Adrienne Warren and talked to her about her career and her upcoming show at the Hobby Center on February 1st. Adrienne originated the role of Tina Turner in TINA: THE MUSICAL. She was hand-picked by the icon herself to create a legacy on stage. She was the lead in the West London and Broadway productions. She got a Tony for TINA. Adrienne has appeared in several Broadway shows, and her answers about some of her favorites are a huge surprise! Adrienne is an amazing vocalist but an even better storyteller. You can also catch Adrienne on Netflix in the movie RUSTIN.
Tickets to her show are available at:
https://www.thehobbycenter.org/events/adrienne-warren-in-concert/
Her show is a part of the BEYOND BROADWAY series, where artists are brought in to do concerts of their favorite songs, giving them a chance to connect with you more intimately.
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Hey there, I am Brett Cullum, and today I am joined by the luminous Broadway star, Adrienne Warren. You may know Adrienne from her Tony Award winning turn as Tina Turner, both in the West End and on Broadway, or her role opposite Audra McDonald in Shuffle Along. She is coming to the Houston Hobby Center on February 1st. It's a one night only cabaret show that is part of the Beyond Broadway series. Adrienne, welcome to Queer Voices.
Speaker 2:Thank you, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1:Okay, right off the bat, because it's the elephant in the room for me, Tina Turner. Oh my gosh it says that she actually handpicked you to play her in that musical. How in the heck did that happen?
Speaker 2:I have no idea no I know they were looking for the girl to play her and I had done a very, very, very like the very first table reading the show, before they knew what it was, before any auditions took place. I was invited to read for her at a table read. She actually wasn't there, but it was the director was there and the writer was there and at that table read I we weren't singing any of the music, but then I thought you know what? Why not? So one of the songs, I think it was. We don't need another hero. I'm a big Tina Turner fan. So I said you know what, I'm just gonna go for it. And I just sang it at the table.
Speaker 2:I think it was we Don't Need Another Hero. I'm a big Tina Turner fan. So I said you know what, I'm just gonna go for it. And I just sang it at the table. And I remember everyone just kind of stopping and looking at me being like what just happened, and I didn't hear anything after that. And and then, next thing I know, I was invited to do the workshop in London. So it was a. It was a long process and and they were looking everywhere and I wasn't available at the time, and then all of the planets aligned and then I was available and next thing I know, I was living in London so did you get to work side by side with Tina on the initial project, or I?
Speaker 2:mean how?
Speaker 1:involved was she, because it feels like she was oh, she was very much so involved.
Speaker 2:her story has been told many times in many different mediums and this was her version of her story that she wanted out in the world. And this was kind of this show her being a part of. It was kind of like a love letter to all of her fans. It was a way sorry, it was a way of her. It was a way sorry, it was a way of her. It was a way of her telling the story that she wanted her way and and so because of that, I worked very closely with her. She taught me how to chant, because she's a Buddhist and I chanted in the show. She taught me how to chant. She taught me how, why she did the things that she did in her performance and performances and how she connected with the audience. She taught me everything. So I know that that's not normal to say Tina Turner was my mentor, but she was my mentor throughout that process and I'm incredibly grateful I learned so much from her that process and I'm incredibly grateful.
Speaker 1:I learned so much from her. I'm going to tell you, I feel like she's my mentor just through her music, but I am very, very envious of the fact that you got to be in that presence. I mean just, oh my gosh, I just I can't imagine. I've seen her in concert a couple of times, but I just can't imagine standing next to her and saying, hey, I'm going to do you and I'm going to sing your songs Exactly, exactly. Yes, yeah. So where did you grow up?
Speaker 2:I am originally from Chesapeake, virginia. Yeah, so I'm a Virginia girl and I moved to New York for college.
Speaker 1:Okay. How did you get into theater? What did you know?
Speaker 2:I fell in love with theater through the Hurrah Players in Norfolk Virginia. I was a community theater company at home and I started doing theater when I was six years old.
Speaker 2:And it was kind of just a hobby. It was probably my parents' way of sending me off to burn off some energy, because I was a very active kid and I just end up falling in love with the community that I had there at Hurrah Players and then just love telling stories with my friends and that's where I fell in love with it. But I didn't really get serious about theater being what I wanted to do in life until I was in high school.
Speaker 1:Yeah, wow, okay. And then what was that first show where you thought oh my gosh, this might actually all work out. I may have made it.
Speaker 2:Actually I was 10 years old and I was cast as the first Black Annie girl cast.
Speaker 1:Black.
Speaker 2:Annie in America at the time, and that was a moment where I realized that my talents because I was first off shocked that I got the role the first place and I just wanted to be an orphan and stay home with my wife and next thing I know I was Annie that was a moment where I realized my talents could take me farther than I could possibly imagine if I put in the work and I, you know, and I do my best. And that changed everything for me. From that moment on I was like, all right, here we go, this is what I want to do. So, let's, let's get a, let's, you know, work as hard as I can.
Speaker 1:This is so amazing. These are not the answers I was expecting. I noticed bring it on was in your background too, was that before Tina.
Speaker 2:Yes, bring it On, was actually my Broadway debut.
Speaker 1:Ah, that's where it is.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:How did it feel when you got Bring it On? Were you just like oh my gosh, I'm on Broadway? Was that like hard to fathom?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean, I will never forget the moment when they told us we were going to Broadway. I think there were like 38 Broadway debuts or something in our cast. It was crazy and that whole process of creating that show, bringing on it was my first time doing a new musical, it was my first time creating a role and also my first time starring on Broadway. So there were a lot of firsts with that show and first time working with Lin-Manuel Miranda and Andy Blankenbuehler and Tom Kitts and you know everybody that worked in that show. They were just legends and I got to learn so much at a very, very young age and yeah, I will, I will never forget that. And then also grateful to have my Broadway debut with all of those incredible people.
Speaker 1:My gosh Adrienne. Warren, you sound like you just jumped right into it, you know.
Speaker 2:I did, I really did. It was quite something yeah.
Speaker 1:Okay, so you are coming on February 1st to Houston and it's the Beyond Broadway series, and I love this series because it gives us a chance to see the stars that we've seen in shows and things like that. We've always seen you as a character, I mean whether it be Tina or Annie or yeah. So what can we expect, with you solo just on a stage doing your songs?
Speaker 2:You can expect to Hear my story here how I just was this girl with these big dreams from Chesapeake, virginia, and how I came to New York. And I'm telling my story through music and you will get to hear and learn about the music that inspired me to become the performer that I am today, this vocalist that I am today, performer that I am today, this vocalist that I am today. You can expect to learn a little bit about, about my experience with Tina. You'll get a little insight a little insight, I guess, behind the scenes, of how my career has developed and become what it is today. And I always love these moments where I get to tour and you know, to your point, share who I am. There are people who love coming to shows because they love my work and being other people and they love me telling other stories. But this is my time to tell you my story and you get to. Hopefully you'll get to learn a little bit more about me through music.
Speaker 1:Well, I'm excited. What kind of music do you listen to when you're not working? I mean like just your personal playlist.
Speaker 2:Yeah, oh, my gosh, I mean I listen to everything and that's mainly because my parents were huge music fans. I listen to everything from jazz music, like I mean Lena Horne to Ella Fitzgerald, to, you know, wynton Marsalis, to Stevie Wonder, to Tina Turner, to, depends on the day and the vibe to James Taylor, to yeah, I mean I kind of really listen to everything. It it depends, like Kendrick Lamar hip hop one day.
Speaker 2:You know I listen to everything and and it really has in, I think, influenced the artist that I am I don't like to pigeonhole myself. I I love singing jazz. You might hear me sing a little bit of jazz in the show as well. I mean, this is Broadway and Beyond series, so it's going to hear a little bit of Broadway and beyond that. And that's what I love about the taste of music that I have because of my parents, because they taught me so much about music.
Speaker 1:There are no rules for this one. I mean, I've seen other people come through on this series and they let it. They do everything. I love it. Have you ever been to Houston?
Speaker 2:before. Have you ever?
Speaker 1:been to Houston before.
Speaker 2:I have. I actually performed for the gala for the Hobby Center. Yeah, I know so I'm thrilled to come back. I wasn't expecting to come back so soon and I'm so happy to be back. I love Houston. I can't wait to be back.
Speaker 1:Yeah well, I'm glad you're back, because I missed that one, so now I don't have to feel like I missed out anymore. One thing that I always wanted to ask you, obviously, is just if you had one piece of advice to somebody that's trying to make it in this business, what piece of advice would you give, what little chunk of wisdom would you pass on to a young performer or somebody that says hey I really want to sing and act and become a triple threat, just like Adrienne Warren.
Speaker 2:I would say don't be just like me. Find the things that make you you. Those will be your superpowers. And I would say this journey, this career, this industry, your path in this industry is not linear and it is not a race, it's a marathon. I would say don't compare yourself to other people. Let your journey be what it is and learn to appreciate the lows and the highs, because there will be a lot of both. And as long as you love it, as long as it still brings you joy to tell stories, then you're exactly where you should be. But the moment it doesn't, make sure you can find your joy somewhere, because you deserve it and life is too short.
Speaker 1:I'm very well said. Well, after this gig, somebody told me something about a Jonas brother in your future. Can you tell me a little bit about what's coming up next for Adrian Warren.
Speaker 2:Not a Jonas brother in my future. That's hilarious there is a Jonas brother in my future.
Speaker 1:Yes.
Speaker 2:His name is Nick Jonas and we will be starring in the last five years on Broadway.
Speaker 2:So, I'm coming back to Broadway this spring, so Hobby Center will be one of my last concerts before I head back to Broadway. So because of that I'm very excited to. I guess it's almost like ending this concert tour that I've had this year of just doing concerts. So I'm really excited to end that with you all and then hopefully you guys can make your way to New York and come and see the last five years. Well, I will be the first Kathy on Broadway, so can't wait.
Speaker 1:Well, I can't wait either, Last five years. I'm excited to see it, and especially with you up there. And I'm a little bit curious with the Jonas up there too.
Speaker 2:He's amazing. Nick is a fantastic. It's gonna be. He's amazing. Nick is a fantastic. People don't know like how much theater he did and his and his youth like he's a theater kid. So it's exciting to see him and his element in that way and I'm a big cheerleader of his. I I just think he's a phenomenal talent and not only that, he's an amazing person. So I've got a great teammate and I can't wait to create this show with him.
Speaker 1:Oh, come on, bring it on cheerleader. Let's let him go.
Speaker 2:I know right, it's crazy.
Speaker 1:Adrian Warren February 1st at the Hobby Center. Tickets start at only like 4240 or something and they're available online at the hobbycenterorg. You can go in person and beg for them at the Hobby Centerorg. You can go in person and beg for them at the hobby center box office if you need to. But I am so thrilled to have spoken with you. I appreciate you giving me this time and break legs everything. We're so honored that this is going to be one of your final appearances before you head into rehearsals for your big yeah, thank you so much for covering this.
Speaker 2:I appreciate it.
