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

By D. Kevin McNeir Particular to the AFRO

Jayna Elise proved you may come dwelling once more this month when she returned to the District using within the lead position of “TINA – The Tina Turner Musical. 

The 22-year-old actress spent her early life in Prince George’s County and graduated from considered one of nation’s most prestigious excessive faculties for college kids occupied with careers as actors, singers and musicians: The Duke Ellington College of the Arts (DESA) in Washington, D.C. 

Throughout the musical’s current three-day stint right here in D.C. on the Nationwide Theatre – the most recent leg of the manufacturing’s nationwide tour – Elise, who first started performing on the tender age of 4, showcased her appearing prowess and shared her God-given vocal skills, a lot to the delight of standing room solely audiences. 

“Opening night time in D.C. was wonderful and with plenty of us from the forged initially from the world, our mates, household and classmates confirmed up and confirmed us a lot love,” Elise mentioned. 

Elise was cautious to thank native tv networks who helped promote the present and gave a particular shoutout to Georgetown Cupcake, the D.C.-based “cupcakery” that supplied tasty treats to the forged and crew on opening night time, Jan. 24.

However she additionally paid tribute to the lecturers who helped her safe the muse that has helped catapult her to success in what she described as “the position of a lifetime.” 

“Duke Ellington was an incredible journey and a spot the place so many people realized that if you happen to actually need it, it’s a must to work for it – it’s a must to put within the time,” she mentioned. “Nonetheless, that is very completely different for me as a result of I see myself extra as a songwriter than a singer. However the classes I realized from Duke Ellington have paid off and it hasn’t been that onerous altering my day by day regiment from dealing with studio work to getting equipped for an virtually three-hour present. 

“Speaking, singing and appearing take a toll in your physique and your voice, so I’ve to train, relaxation and deal with my voice with care,” she mentioned. 

Elise is not any stranger to the highlight, having made notable appearances on hit tv exhibits, comparable to “America’s Acquired Expertise” and “American Idol” – each for which she was a finalist. 

In September 2024, a number of months after the Could 2024 American Idol season 22 finale, Elise took on the lead position of the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Tina Turner, within the second nationwide tour of “Tina -The Tina Turner Musical.”

However what’s so spectacular about her efficiency is the way in which she ready for the position. 

“Individuals usually ask me if I’ve seen the film ‘What’s Love Acquired to Do with It” they usually’re shocked after I inform them I haven’t,” she mentioned. “I’ve seen clips, however I’ve by no means watched your entire film. I didn’t need to be tempted or to be accused of copying from it. The movie and the actors deserve all of the awards they obtained, however this musical just isn’t just like the film.”

“For me, I wished to be true to the integrity of our manufacturing,” mentioned Elise. 

And whereas Elise has been on loads of levels and auditioned numerous occasions, she mentioned she had butterflies in her abdomen for the primary few performances when the tour kicked off final fall.

“I used to be very nervous as a result of there are such a lot of aspects to the present,” she mentioned. “I’ve to focus on my singing, I’ve to concentrate on the props, I’ve to look at the lighting and blocking. It’s much more than simply signing a number of traces. However the forged, crew and administrators are unbelievable, and I’m so grateful for this chance,” mentioned Elise. “I notice that I’ve some enormous footwear to observe and fill, and I’m honored to have the ability to pay tribute to the life, the legacy and the lady – Tina Turner.”