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Adrienne Warren on How She's Prepping for Her Role as Tina Turner in Biopic Musical

Adrienne Warren was one of many Broadway talents on stage who were part of an all-star female lineup at the Double Standards concert this past Sunday night in New York. The show was a one-night-only big band Jazz concert benefiting women's rights, health, and empowerment with 100% of proceeds donated to the ACLU, National Breast Cancer Coalition, and Planned Parenthood NY. Other performers included Sara Bareilles, Liz Callaway, Jessie Mueller, Orfeh, Ana Gasteyer, Lena Hall, Denee Benton, Ingrid Michaelson, Eden Espinoza, Lesli Margherita, Linda Hart, Judy Kuhn and Sierra Boggess.

Photo:  Bruce Glikas

Warren opened the show with host Laura Bell Bundy, singing “Sisters are Doing it for Themselves.” She then came back later on in the concert for a Glee-style mashup duet with Morgan James of “If I Were a Bell”/ “If I were a Boy.”

The actress was last seen on Broadway in 2016’s Shuffle Along, Or the Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed, which earned Warren a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. In January, she is headed to the West End to star as Tina Turner in a biopic of the 11-time Grammy Award winning singer.

When Warren was first offered the role, the first thing she thought was, “I need to go to the gym, tomorrow,” she jokes in a promotional video for the show. “It’s such a responsibility because I am Tina Turner fan first. I was incredibly honored and humbled honestly,” Warren says about being cast. Right now, she’s in very extensive training to get ready for the role. “I am doing boxing, Body by Simone, [and] working with Liz Caplan on my voice,” Warren reveals to Leigh Scheps on the red carpet for Double Standards.

She even met superstar, Tina Turner, 77, in person during a big launch for the musical a few weeks ago. “It’s been a whole to-do. I am very excited. She came out of retirement and sang "Proud Mary" with me. It was incredible,” she says of the night. As for Tina’s advice for Warren? “There is no trick to her trade. It’s just about doing the work and working hard.”

The musical will make its World Premiere in March 2018 at the Aldwych Theatre in London.

Photo: Bruce Glikas

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