Review by Ron Fassler . . .
When it came time for the acclaimed musical theatre actress Adrienne Warren to end her one-night only concert at 92NY Monday evening, her encore was a deeply personalized version of “The Impossible Dream.” After a thrilling version of “River Deep – Mountain High,”which she performed nightly as Tina Turner in her Tony-Award winning turn in Tina (2019), Warren was emotionally spent. Tearfully, she told the audience, “You have no idea how much you helped me by being here tonight.” She meant it, too, making this song an inspired choice in how to get through this especially tough period in American history. However, while listening to it I felt an eerie sense of déjà vu. Then it came clear: Laura Benanti, another spellbinding stage performer, closed her 92NY show last January with the same song. Are these artists in sync, or what?
A Virginia native, Warren first made her Broadway debut in the musical Bring it On and earned her first Tony nomination for her second, Shuffle Along, a musical that deserved a much longer run but got lost in the shuffle during the season in which Hamilton dominated the theatre scene. Everything changed for Warren with Tina and, until she gets the opportunity to do another musical, she is taking to the concert stage for the first time. “I’ve never done a show like this,” she confided in us as she began her set. With able support from a strong trio led by musical director, Michael O. Mitchell (a charismatic presence and superb pianist), Warren was on fire from the get-go. It takes some daring to open with one of Broadway’s great closing numbers, “Home” from The Wiz. And she pulled it off! Special mention to her superb bass player Chelton Grey and Lonnie Christian on drums.
Describing for us how she would sing in front of the mirror as a little girl, Warren gave what once upon a time must have been hilarious 5-year-old renditions of “Cabaret” and “Fly Me to the Moon.” How she managed Billie Holiday’s “Good Morning, Heartache” at that age must have been something. Suffice to say, her grown-up rendition of it, particularly due to accompanist Mitchell’s jazz riffs at the piano, was sensational. She paid tribute to other inspirations like James Taylor, Lee Becker, and Al Green and, in keeping with teenage influences, sang Ti Moune’s lovely “Waiting for Life” from Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty’s flavorful score of Once on This Island; a role she got to play at age six.
A teenage basketball star, a life in the theatre wasn’t even on the wish list. Warren’s goal was to play for the Tennessee Lady Vols and then the WNBA (both her parents were high school coaches). But, as it has for many, continuing that track proved impossible when she realized she’d achieved her maximum height and that it wouldn’t cut it professionally. Basketball’s loss, musical theatre’s gain.
From the Broadway songbook, Warren’s “It’s Easy as Life” from Aida was a standout, as was “I’m Changing,” from Dreamgirls. For a change of pace, her quiet and introspective singing of the Gershwins’ “Someone to Watch Over Me” and Stephen Sondheim’s “Send in the Clowns” were close to perfection.
“What’s Love Got to Do with It” was a highlight due to her insistence on audience participation, with which the 92NY crowd was only too happy to comply. And, as already mentioned, “River Deep – Mountain High,” was a dramatic finale. God, that song is magnificent (credit to its composers Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich, and Phil Spector).
Although this one-night only event made one yearn to see Warren in a musical catered to her special talents, she hasn’t been wanting for work. She’s been making some excellent feature films such The Woman King, and Rustin for Netflix, and has made her mark on quality TV series like Apple TV’s The Diplomat and ABC’s limited series Women of the Movement. At the end of June, she is going into the quartet that comprise the hit Broadway revival of the Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning Proof. She won’t be singing, so if you need your fix, you can always listen to her on the Original Broadway Cast Recording of Tina—highly recommended.
Adrienne Warren appeared at 92NY, located at 1395 Lexington Avenue, NYC. For further information on programming, click here.
Photos by Richard Termine.
Headline photo: Adrienne Warren and Lonnie Christian.
