Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
Hey there, I am Brett
Cullum, and today I am joined
by the luminous Broadway star,Adrienne Warren.
You may know Adrienne from herTony Award winning turn as Tina
Turner, both in the West End andon Broadway, or her role
opposite Audra McDonald inShuffle Along.
She is coming to the HoustonHobby Center on February 1st.
It's a one night only cabaretshow that is part of the Beyond
(00:25):
Broadway series.
Adrienne, welcome to QueerVoices.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Thank you, thanks for
having me.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Okay, right off the
bat, because it's the elephant
in the room for me, Tina Turner.
Oh my gosh it says that sheactually handpicked you to play
her in that musical.
How in the heck did that happen?
Speaker 2 (00:45):
I have no idea no I
know they were looking for the
girl to play her and I had donea 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 herat a table read.
(01:08):
She actually wasn't there, butit was the director was there
and the writer was there and atthat table read I we weren't
singing any of the music, butthen I thought you know what?
Why not?
So one of the songs, I think itwas.
We don't need another hero.
I'm a big Tina Turner fan.
So I said you know what, I'mjust gonna go for it.
And I just sang it at the table.
I think it was we Don't NeedAnother Hero.
I'm a big Tina Turner fan.
So I said you know what, I'mjust gonna go for it.
And I just sang it at the table.
(01:28):
And I remember everyone justkind 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 andthey were looking everywhere and
I wasn't available at the time,and then all of the planets
(01:50):
aligned and then I was availableand next thing I know, I was
living in London so did you getto work side by side with Tina
on the initial project, or I?
mean how?
Speaker 1 (02:00):
involved was she,
because it feels like she was oh
, she was very much so involved.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
her story has been
told many times in many
different mediums and this washer version of her story that
she wanted out in the world.
And this was kind of this showher being a part of.
It was kind of like a loveletter to all of her fans.
It was a way sorry, it was away of her.
It was a way sorry, it was away of her.
(02:26):
It was a way of her telling thestory that she wanted her way
and and so because of that, Iworked 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 didthe things that she did in her
(02:46):
performance and performances andhow she connected with the
audience.
She taught me everything.
So I know that that's notnormal to say Tina Turner was my
mentor, but she was my mentorthroughout that process and I'm
incredibly grateful I learned somuch from her that process and
I'm incredibly grateful.
Speaker 1 (03:06):
I learned so much
from her.
I'm going to tell you, I feellike 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 justI can't imagine.
I've seen her in concert acouple of times, but I just
can't imagine standing next toher and saying, hey, I'm going
to do you and I'm going to singyour songs Exactly, exactly.
(03:29):
Yes, yeah.
So where did you grow up?
Speaker 2 (03:35):
I am originally from
Chesapeake, virginia.
Yeah, so I'm a Virginia girland I moved to New York for
college.
Speaker 1 (03:41):
Okay.
How did you get into theater?
What did you know?
Speaker 2 (03:45):
I fell in love with
theater through the Hurrah
Players in Norfolk Virginia.
I was a community theatercompany at home and I started
doing theater when I was sixyears old.
And it was kind of just a hobby.
It was probably my parents' wayof sending me off to burn off
some energy, because I was avery active kid and I just end
(04:06):
up falling in love with thecommunity that I had there at
Hurrah Players and then justlove telling stories with my
friends and that's where I fellin love with it.
But I didn't really get seriousabout theater being what I
wanted to do in life until I wasin high school.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
Yeah, wow, okay.
And then what was that firstshow where you thought oh my
gosh, this might actually allwork out.
I may have made it.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Actually I was 10
years old and I was cast as the
first Black Annie girl cast.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
Black.
Speaker 2 (04:40):
Annie in America at
the time, and that was a moment
where I realized that my talentsbecause I was first off shocked
that I got the role the firstplace and I just wanted to be an
orphan and stay home with mywife and next thing I know I was
Annie that was a moment where Irealized my talents could take
(05:00):
me farther than I could possiblyimagine if I put in the work
and I, you know, and I do mybest.
And that changed everything forme.
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 (05:18):
This is so amazing.
These are not the answers I wasexpecting.
I noticed bring it on was inyour background too, was that
before Tina.
Speaker 2 (05:29):
Yes, bring it On, was
actually my Broadway debut.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Ah, that's where it
is.
Speaker 2 (05:33):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
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 (05:41):
Yeah, I mean, I will
never forget the moment when
they told us we were going toBroadway.
I think there were like 38Broadway debuts or something in
our cast.
It was crazy and that wholeprocess of creating that show,
bringing on it was my first timedoing a new musical, it was my
first time creating a role andalso my first time starring on
Broadway.
So there were a lot of firstswith that show and first time
(06:04):
working with Lin-Manuel Mirandaand Andy Blankenbuehler and Tom
Kitts and you know everybodythat worked in that show.
They were just legends and Igot to learn so much at a very,
very young age and yeah, I will,I will never forget that.
And then also grateful to havemy Broadway debut with all of
those incredible people.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
My gosh Adrienne.
Warren, you sound like you justjumped right into it, you know.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
I did, I really did.
It was quite something yeah.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
Okay, so you are
coming on February 1st to
Houston and it's the BeyondBroadway series, and I love this
series because it gives us achance to see the stars that
we've seen in shows and thingslike that.
We've always seen you as acharacter, I mean whether it be
Tina or Annie or yeah.
So what can we expect, with yousolo just on a stage doing your
(06:54):
songs?
Speaker 2 (06:56):
You can expect to
Hear my story here how I just
was this girl with these bigdreams from Chesapeake, virginia
, and how I came to New York.
And I'm telling my storythrough music and you will get
to hear and learn about themusic that inspired me to become
(07:18):
the performer that I am today,this vocalist that I am today,
performer that I am today, thisvocalist that I am today.
You can expect to learn alittle bit about, about my
experience with Tina.
You'll get a little insight alittle insight, I guess, behind
the scenes, of how my career hasdeveloped and become what it is
(07:39):
today.
And I always love these momentswhere I get to tour and you
know, to your point, share who Iam.
There are people who lovecoming to shows because they
love my work and being otherpeople and they love me telling
other stories.
But this is my time to tell youmy story and you get to.
Hopefully you'll get to learn alittle bit more about me
(08:00):
through music.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
Well, I'm excited.
What kind of music do youlisten to when you're not
working?
I mean like just your personalplaylist.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
Yeah, oh, my gosh, I
mean I listen to everything and
that's mainly because my parentswere huge music fans.
I listen to everything fromjazz music, like I mean Lena
Horne to Ella Fitzgerald, to,you know, wynton Marsalis, to
(08:31):
Stevie Wonder, to Tina Turner,to, depends on the day and the
vibe to James Taylor, to yeah, Imean I kind of really listen to
everything.
It it depends, like KendrickLamar hip hop one day.
You know I listen to everythingand and it really has in, I
think, influenced the artistthat I am I don't like to
pigeonhole myself.
(08:52):
I I love singing jazz.
You might hear me sing a littlebit of jazz in the show as well
.
I mean, this is Broadway andBeyond series, so it's going to
hear a little bit of Broadwayand beyond that.
And that's what I love aboutthe taste of music that I have
because of my parents, becausethey taught me so much about
music.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
There are no rules
for this one.
I mean, I've seen other peoplecome through on this series and
they let it.
They do everything.
I love it.
Have you ever been to Houston?
Speaker 2 (09:18):
before.
Have you ever?
Speaker 1 (09:19):
been to Houston
before.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
I have.
I actually performed for thegala for the Hobby Center.
Yeah, I know so I'm thrilled tocome back.
I wasn't expecting to come backso soon and I'm so happy to be
back.
I love Houston.
I can't wait to be back.
Speaker 1 (09:40):
Yeah well, I'm glad
you're back, because I missed
that one, so now I don't have tofeel like I missed out anymore.
One thing that I always wantedto ask you, obviously, is just
if you had one piece of adviceto somebody that's trying to
make it in this business, whatpiece of advice would you give,
what little chunk of wisdomwould you pass on to a young
performer or somebody that sayshey I really want to sing and
(10:00):
act and become a triple threat,just like Adrienne Warren.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
I would say don't be
just like me.
Find the things that make youyou.
Those will be your superpowers.
And I would say this journey,this career, this industry, your
path in this industry is notlinear and it is not a race,
it's a marathon.
I would say don't compareyourself to other people.
(10:28):
Let your journey be what it isand learn to appreciate the lows
and the highs, because therewill be a lot of both.
And as long as you love it, aslong as it still brings you joy
to tell stories, then you'reexactly where you should be.
But the moment it doesn't, makesure you can find your joy
somewhere, because you deserveit and life is too short.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
I'm very well said.
Well, after this gig, somebodytold me something about a Jonas
brother in your future.
Can you tell me a little bitabout what's coming up next for
Adrian Warren.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
Not a Jonas brother
in my future.
That's hilarious there is aJonas brother in my future.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Yes.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
His name is Nick
Jonas and we will be starring in
the last five years on Broadway.
So, I'm coming back to Broadwaythis spring, so Hobby Center
will be one of my last concertsbefore I head back to Broadway.
So because of that I'm veryexcited to.
I guess it's almost like endingthis concert tour that I've had
(11:28):
this year of just doingconcerts.
So I'm really excited to endthat with you all and then
hopefully you guys can make yourway to New York and come and
see the last five years.
Well, I will be the first Kathyon Broadway, so can't wait.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
Well, I can't wait
either, Last five years.
I'm excited to see it, andespecially with you up there.
And I'm a little bit curiouswith the Jonas up there too.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
He's amazing.
Nick is a fantastic.
It's gonna be.
He's amazing.
Nick is a fantastic.
People don't know like how muchtheater he did and his and his
youth like he's a theater kid.
So it's exciting to see him andhis element in that way and I'm
a big cheerleader of his.
I I just think he's aphenomenal talent and not only
that, he's an amazing person.
(12:14):
So I've got a great teammateand I can't wait to create this
show with him.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Oh, come on, bring it
on cheerleader.
Let's let him go.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
I know right, it's
crazy.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
Adrian Warren
February 1st at the Hobby Center
.
Tickets start at only like 4240or something and they're
available online at thehobbycenterorg.
You can go in person and begfor them at the Hobby Centerorg.
You can go in person and begfor them at the hobby center box
office if you need to.
But I am so thrilled to havespoken with you.
I appreciate you giving me thistime and break legs everything.
(12:47):
We're so honored that this isgoing to be one of your final
appearances before you head intorehearsals for your big yeah,
thank you so much for coveringthis.
Speaker 2 (12:55):
I appreciate it.