Photos provided by MurphyMade / Broadway In Chicago

The tour de force known as Tina Turner, who’s been doubly inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, was so unbelievable as an entertainer before she retired from the road, there are not only one but two performers who alternate portraying her in “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical.”

When it came to Broadway In Chicago’s opening night at the James M. Nederlander Theatre, Zurin Villanueva took the lead and will do so four times per week, while Naomi Rodgers will evenly split the duties.

Each are stars in their own right with Villanueva quite uncannily transforming into every vocal and visual aspect of Turner, which should seal the deal for this jukebox regenerator to be a smash.

However, “Tina” is much more than merely a rundown of the titular character’s enormous body of work, but a probing look into an abusive upbringing, getting discovered by and reluctantly marrying Ike Turner (played by the fiery Garrett Turner), followed by additional abuse from his hands, belt and more mental anguish than many might imagine.

Even so, there’s no denying their collaborative chemistry as a soulful duo or the fact their revue is the vehicle to Tina’s immense fame well beyond the segregated South, though eventually, all the private drama and surrounding drug culture take a toll that’s no longer manageable.

With mere pennies to her name, Tina empowers herself to escape, and in turn, becomes slowly reborn as a solo artist who insists on only being granted use of her name in the divorce settlement, meaning she’s not allowed to sing such knockouts as “Proud Mary” and “River Deep – Mountain High,” but thankfully, they and scores of others are ingeniously interwoven throughout two acts.

As the 1960s and ‘70s blur into the ‘80s, Tina finds favor in Britain with the unlikely combination of a young manager, the new wave band Heaven 17 and a surprising love interest from a record executive, none of which is enough to shield her from another round of racism and now ageism.

Nonetheless, the superstar gets the last laugh as “What’s Love Got To Do With It” tops the charts, jumpstarting a fresh chapter as both a pop goddess and the “Queen Of Rock ‘N’ Roll,” despite the weight of some shocking family news and additional tests of her spiritual foundation.

But as she steps out on a Rio De Janeiro stage in front of 180,000 people and into the “Guinness World Book Of Records” to belt out “The Best,” there’s simply no better descriptor for this remarkable artist, woman, show and cast.

“TINA: The Tina Turner Musical” continues at the James M. Nederlander Theatre through Sunday, April 2. For additional details, visit TinaOnBroadway.com and BroadwayInChicago.com.

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