Preparation pays off: Jayna Elise delivers the goods as ‘Tina’

By D. Kevin McNeir
Afro
https://afro.com/

Jayna Elise proved you can come home again this month when she returned to the District riding in the lead role of “TINA – The Tina Turner Musical. 

The 22-year-old actress spent her formative years in Prince George’s County and graduated from one of the nation’s most prestigious high schools for students interested in careers as actors, singers and musicians: The Duke Ellington School of the Arts (DESA) in Washington, D.C. 

During the musical’s recent three-day stint here in D.C. at the National Theatre – the latest leg of the production’s nationwide tour – Elise, who first began performing at the tender age of 4, showcased her acting prowess and shared her God-given vocal abilities, much to the delight of standing room only audiences. 

“Opening night in D.C. was amazing and with a lot of us from the cast originally from the area, our friends, family and classmates showed up and showed us so much love,” Elise said. 

Elise was careful to thank local television networks who helped promote the show and gave a special shoutout to Georgetown Cupcake, the D.C.-based “cupcakery” that provided tasty treats to the cast and crew on opening night, Jan. 24.

But she also paid tribute to the teachers who helped her secure the foundation that has helped catapult her to success in what she described as “the role of a lifetime.” 

“Duke Ellington was an amazing adventure and a place where so many of us learned that if you really want it, you have to work for it – you have to put in the time,” she said. “Still, this is very different for me because I see myself more as a songwriter than a singer. But the lessons I learned from Duke Ellington have paid off and it hasn’t been that hard changing my daily regiment from handling studio work to getting geared up for an almost three-hour show. 

“Talking, singing and acting take a toll on your body and your voice, so I have to exercise, rest and treat my voice with care,” she said. 

Elise is no stranger to the spotlight, having made notable appearances on hit television shows, such as “America’s Got Talent” and “American Idol” – both for which she was a finalist.

In September 2024, a few months after the May 2024 American Idol season 22 finale, Elise took on the lead role of the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Tina Turner, in the second national tour of “Tina -The Tina Turner Musical.”

But what is so impressive about her performance is the way she prepared for the role. 

“People often ask me if I have seen the movie ‘What’s Love Got to Do with It” and they’re surprised when I tell them I haven’t,” she said. “I have seen clips, but I’ve never watched the entire movie. I didn’t want to be tempted or to be accused of copying from it. The film and the actors deserve all the awards they received, but this musical is not like the movie.”

“For me, I wanted to be true to the integrity of our production,” said Elise.

And while Elise has been on plenty of stages and auditioned countless times, she said she had butterflies in her stomach for the first few performances when the tour kicked off last fall.

“I was very nervous because there are so many facets to the show,” she said. “I have to concentrate on my singing, I have to focus on the props, I have to watch the lighting and blocking. It’s a lot more than just signing a few lines. But the cast, crew and directors are fantastic, and I am so grateful for this opportunity,” said Elise. “I realize that I have some huge shoes to follow and fill, and I am honored to be able to pay tribute to the life, the legacy and the woman – Tina Turner.”