GLAMoms had the exciting opportunity to speak with a cast member from the hit broadway show, TINA- The Tina Turner Musical! Roz White plays the fiery role of Zelma Bullock, Tina Turner’s mom.
Learn more about Roz- how she prepares herself mentally and physically before each show, how she balanced motherhood while traveling and how the pastime-rock, paper, scissors game has come full circle in her life.
TINA: The Tina Turner Musical begins at the Wharton Center tomorrow and runs through Sunday.
Welcome to Greater Lansing Area Moms, Roz! 😊
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Washington, D.C. and live outside D.C. in Temple Hills, Maryland now.
Tell us about your family-
I have two sons! My oldest son Anthony is 23 and my younger son, King, is 20. My older son lives with me in Temple Hills and my younger son lives with his dad in Massachusetts.
When did you know you would be an actor?
I was four years old and my step dad took me to an outdoor concert with Indigenous people in traditional costumes and drumming- I was captivated! I looked at him and said “I want to do that!”
I then was in drama club, glee club and dance club. I also was with a Young People’s Performing Arts Group at age 12, that started my professional career, we would be doing shows all over the Washington, D.C. area. Then I went to Duke Ellington School of the Arts and that really solidified my training as an actress and a vocalist. I performed all over the country by the time I was 20.
I then went on to Howard University and earned a degree in Musical Theatre. I have been performing professionally now for 39 years!
Did you have a mentor that helped lead you into this career?
SO many! Carol Foster, a dance icon in the D.C. area and a youth advocate. Mike Malone, who founded Duke Ellington School of the Arts was my mentor as well. He called me to be a part of reviving the Musical Theatre program when I arrived in 1990.
I have had so many mentors throughout my life. The list is long!
How did you become a part of the TINA: The Tina Turner musical?
This particular musical has been years in the making and the running. I first heard about TINA a few years ago when I got an email from the casting agency to submit a self tape. And when I found out I was submitting for the role of the mother, I remember going to see What’s Love Got to Do With It and being in love with Jenifer Lewis and her performance as Zelma Bullock. I thought it would be so great to get that part. Time went by and then I started getting calls that they were offering me the role, it’s a pretty amazing journey! I have loved Tina Turner since she was a kid, I have her vinyls at home. So me playing this role is definitely a dream come true!
Tell us all things TINA: The Tina Turner Musical-
It’s amazing! The show is taking us through Tina’s life beginning with her childhood, growing up in Tennessee and then moving to St. Louis at age 17. And then meeting Ike Turner and becoming a star through his band, The Kings of Rhythm. And then breaking away from him and the abusive relationship that she had and moving on to discover her own talent as a solo artist, playing in Vegas for a while and then going to Europe and dealing with those record executives and how they imposed ageism, sexism and racism on her, but she still persevered.
And she found that right song which was “What’s Love Got to do with It” which propelled her to super stardom. And then selling out stadiums all while navigating the life of wife, mother and a difficult relationship with her own mom. It’s a full, full story and it is one that is inspirational and you get to know about this artist- not just the dancing and singing, but the person.
My role as Zelma Bullock, Tina’s momma- she is not a soft woman, she is one that grew up in the 1920’s in Tennessee. She traveled back and forth to Knoxville to try and find a better life than picking cotton. She was also in an abusive relationship that she eventually picked a fight to leave.
Through the years of navigating having a superstar daughter and not having that close relationship. She is that mom that just didn’t have the “equipment” to raise a gifted child but she did the best that she could with what she had. And you get to see a layered person that has flaws and faults.
That must be such an emotional role to play?
For me, absolutely. I lost my mom in 2021 right before I started this role. It was a sign that I was supposed to keep going and keep pushing forward. For me to be able to play out that relationship because my mom and I had some great, amazing days and we had some rough days. It is very informative of the last few years of my life to push me into this particular place where I am -it shows that you are exactly where you are supposed to be when you are supposed to be there.
How did you become a part of the TINA musical?
This particular musical has been years in the making and the running. I first heard about TINA a few years ago when I got an email from the casting agency to submit a self tape. And when I found out I was submitting for the role of the mother, I remember going to see What’s Love Got to Do With It and being in love with Jenifer Lewis and her performance as Zelma Bullock. I thought it would be so great to get that part. Time went by and then I started getting calls that they were offering me the role, it’s a pretty amazing journey! I have loved Tina Turner since she was a kid, I have her vinyls at home. So me playing this role is definitely a dream come true!
Have you been to Michigan before?
Yes, the show was in Detroit in December right before Christmas. I am looking forward to visiting a different part of Michigan and not having it be winter.
What is your pre show routine?
A lot of my castmates wonder why I get to work early and I jump into costume and makeup right away. I think it is because I need to be immersed in that world and in that character so I am not distracted by things outside of the world that we are in. Zelma’s journey in the show is very, very fast. You get to see her in the rough part of her life and then as her life starts to change and get better, then all of a sudden her daughter is a star and you don’t see her anymore.
So I come in early and try to have something delicious to eat before I do the show. I have gotten into the habit of really pampering myself before the show because my first scene is a fight scene and because my character endures so much trauma. My character actually dies so when I go into that theater I am going into some rough terrain -I need to take care of myself emotionally and physically. I try to see something beautiful outside and burn off some steam in the gym- all these things help me to be in a better mindset. I have zen music playing and I used to have a little mini fountain, but it broke 😉 I just need peace and zen before the show!
What are some must haves while you travel to make it feel more like home?
Traveling for me, I love my skincare and I am reupping all my facial masks. I love soaking in epsom salt baths when possible. What is most important is what I can see in the city- that is my must have. I have to be able to go somewhere high up and have a view! It’s very important to me and I look for that in every city. And of course some cities are more famous for their views than others. For instance, we were in Chicago recently and it was absolutely spectacular to be able to see the entire city from the 95th floor. So my signature thing is to find a view, water and now that the weather is starting to get nice, i’ll be outside for a couple of hours before the show and that really helps to still my mind.
Favorite activities to do with your kids when they were growing up?
New Orleans had 24 hour daycare and when I was signing on Bourbon Street, they would go to daycare from 10p-2a and then we would go home and get some sleep. During the day I would take them to these beautiful playgrounds over on the West end and the zoo, museums and anything that was pretty outside.
The boys both loved seafood growing up, so when we were in D.C., we would go down to the Wharf, sit by the water and eat crabs, shrimp and amazing food. They loved to dress up and go out to dinner. They also loved to ride the subway in D.C. – go from one end to another and they knew all the stops. For a while I thought they were both going to be train operators! I love being the fun and adventurous parent!
Rock, paper, scissors was always our favorite pastime when we were traveling long hours on the bus. Now that I am in the show, the crew members who bring in my bed for my final scene play rock, paper, scissors with me to cheer me up before I have to play this heavy scene. Life has come full circle!
NOW SOME FUN ONES:
Favorite beauty or skincare products- My favorite products that I have to have all the time are Neutrogena facial scrub, Fenty Skincare by Rihinna Fat Water Toner and Moisturizer with SPF, and Kiehl’s night time serum. I love things that smell like a spa!
Favorite place to vacation? Negril, Jamaica, St Kitts, Amsterdam. I have a few!
Messy or neat? I am a neat person in my dressing room and everything is in its place, but my quiet storm is packing day! I tear everything up and reorganize. I am horrible at packing! I love to collect things – sweatshirts, t shirts and hats- so being on the road is horrible for me because I’m always saying “I need that!” Just recently at the airport, my suitcase literally exploded from being too full! I usually end up sending a huge box of things home.
Text or Call? Text usually, I talk on the phone to my grandmother when I get into a new town.
Movie night- candy or popcorn? It’s got to be a mixture of Raisinets with popcorn. Or the mixed popcorn with cheddar and caramel.
Thank you so much for your time, Roz! We loved learning more about you and the TINA: The Tina Turner Musical!
