by Michele Schmidt

We recently chatted with Deon Releford-Lee who plays the role of “Ike” in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical. You can catch Releford-Lee in Tina at Bass Concert Hall from January 9 -14, 2024.

Austin 101 Magazine: What were the main influences in your life that brought you to performing?

Deon Releford-Lee: I grew up in the age of Disney Channel and Nickelodeon and I always thought I could do what I saw kids my age doing. Now that I am older, I want to show other offbeat black kids that they can do whatever they want. We are actors and the way you present in your day to day does mean you can’t tell stories that seem far from your person.

Austin 101 Magazine: What are your favorite types of roles to perform?

Deon Releford-Lee: The “plot pusher” characters and the villains.

Austin 101 Magazine: What steps did you take to understand and get into the role of Ike Turner?

Deon Releford-Lee: I believe that you have to have a connection to your own personal truth in order to tell someone else’s (another character). For Ike, my process involved copious research and learning as much as possible about the human so that I could make sense of, not excuse, moments in the show that do not align with my morals.

Austin 101 Magazine: What is your favorite scene or song in the show?

Deon Releford-Lee: Favorite scene: Motel Mississippi monologue.
Favorite song: “What’s Love Got to do With it”.

Austin 101 Magazine: We’ve heard that the show is like a rock concert. How does the audience interaction affect your performance?

Deon Releford-Lee: Certain shows are call and response, and this is definitely one of them. Hearing people gasp or talk back or lean forward and engage pulls more out of us. It actually helps us on days when we are feeling a little fatigued.

Austin 101 Magazine: What has been the most challenging role you’ve ever played?

Deon Releford-Lee: Soap Head Church in the “Bluest Eye”.

Austin 101 Magazine: What role do you hope to play at some point in your career?

Deon Releford-Lee: It hasn’t been created yet.

Austin 101 Magazine: What do you hope that audience members will gain from seeing “TINA:The Tina Turner Musical”?

Deon Releford-Lee: “YOU AINT SEEN IT LIKE THIS!” Tina is the DEFINITION of an icon and had music over multiple genres. Most people have only experienced one part of her life, and here we get to explore the vastness of her story from the most popular to the lesser known moments in her life. I want lovers of Tina to leave the theater with a new sense of nostalgia and admiration. Maybe thinking of where they were in their lives when the first heard their favorite
Tina song. I’d like newcomers to have a good time and get curious about a force that has given us so much.

More about Deon Releford-Lee:
MASHALLAH!!! HBCU Grad, Artist, Food Maker, Rump
Shaker and Generational Curse Breaker. Broadway: TINA-The Tina Turner Musical (Ike u/s), Broadway National Tour: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Drifter) Off-Broadway: The Bandaged Place (Roundabout) Regional: Jelly’s Last Jam (Jelly). Matthew in “For The Boys”, (Slay TV) and Head Producer and Creator of FREE BLACK MILLENNIALS; a production company and podcast.

More about Tina: The Tina Turner Musical can be found at https://tinaonbroadway.com/