NaTasha Yvette Williams succeeds original cast member Dawnn Lewis as Zelma, Tina Turner's mother, in Broadway's Tina: The Tina Turner Musical February 4. Lewis played her final performance January 30.
Williams was last seen on Broadway in Chicken and Biscuits and has been a long-time Matron "Mama" Morton in Chicago. She starred as Becky during the original run of Waitress, and also appeared on Broadway in A Night With Janis Joplin, Porgy and Bess, and The Color Purple. Williams will appear in Netflix's series Partner Track, and in the upcoming historical thriller Alice, the latter set to open in movie theaters March 18.
The current Broadway cast also includes Nkeki Obi-Melekwe as Tina, Nick Rashad Burroughs as Ike, Kayla Davion as Tina (at some performances), 2020 Tony Award nominee Myra Lucretia Taylor as Gran Georgeanna, and Jessica Rush as Rhonda, with an ensemble comprising Juliet Benn, Steven Booth, Gerald Caesar, Julius Chase, Ayla Ciccone-Burton, Holli’ Conway, Leandra Ellis-Gaston, Charlie Franklin, Judith Franklin, Josiah Gaffney, Matthew Griffin, Ari Groover, Sheldon Henry, David Jennings, Ross Lekites, Robert Lenzi, Rob Marnell, Jhardon DiShon Milton, NaTonia Monét, Phierce Phoenix, Deon Releford-Lee, Justin Schuman, Allysa Shorte, Eric Siegle, Carla R. Stewart, Skye Dakota Turner, Eric A. Walker Jr., Katie Webber, and Michelle West.
Written by Katori Hall with Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins, Tina is directed by Phyllida Lloyd with choreography by Tony nominee Anthony van Laast, set and costume designs by Mark Thompson, musical supervision by Nicholas Skilbeck, lighting by Bruno Poet, sound by Nevin Steinberg, projection design by Jeff Sugg, orchestrations by Ethan Popp, wigs, hair and makeup design by Campbell Young Associates, music direction by Alvin Hough Jr., and casting by The Telsey Office.
