Adrienne Warren

With powerhouse vocals and a commanding stage presence, American singer and actress Adrienne Warren steadily rose through the 2010s, receiving her first Tony Award nomination for 2016's Shuffle Along and securing an Olivier Award Nomination for Best Actress for her starring role in 2018's Tina: The Tina Turner Musical. Born in Hampton Roads, Virginia, in 1987, Warren got her first taste of Broadway when she saw a production of The Lion King in New York. Years later, she moved to the city to attend Marymount Manhattan College. During her sophomore year, she was cast by Jennifer Holliday as part of the ensemble for an Atlanta production of Dreamgirls. While in school, she also performed with the Dream Engine and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, which inspired her to record a soul-rock EP primarily influenced by her idol, Tina Turner. Following a small part in The Wiz, she graduated from ensemble to starring role as Lorrell Robinson in a 2009 touring production of Dreamgirls. Making her next move in 2012, Warren made her Broadway debut with Bring It On, an adaptation of the '90s cheerleader film that featured music by Tom Kitt and Lin-Manuel Miranda. For her follow-up role in Shuffle Along, she received her first Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. That same year, she received a fortuitous invitation to read a script for a bio-musical based on the life of Tina Turner. She secured the role and began training, coached by Turner herself. In April 2018, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical premiered in London. For her star turn in the jukebox musical, Warren received an Olivier Award nomination for Best Actress. The following year, she returned home to Broadway for the U.S. production premiere. ~ Neil Z. Yeung