Whitney Houston's Legacy Takes Center Stage in Slow Burn's Season-Closing 'The Bodyguard'

By Joanie Cox Henry

Summer is a season known for its sizzling excitement, and Slow Burn Theatre Company is set to close its 2024/2025 season with a bang, bringing the West End sensation The Bodyguard: The Musical to Fort Lauderdale's Amaturo Theater from June 7-22, 2025.

This breathtaking romantic thriller transforms the beloved 1992 film into a powerhouse musical experience, aiming to deliver both heart-pounding drama and show-stopping performances. At its core lies the story of Frank Farmer, a former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, who finds himself protecting superstar Rachel Marron from a dangerous, unknown stalker. What begins as a professional arrangement evolves into something neither anticipated—a love story that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

A Perfect Summer Show To Get "So Emotional"

For Artistic Director Patrick Fitzwater, the decision to program The Bodyguard: The Musical was driven by its irresistible appeal to summer audiences. "We selected this musical because we thought it was great for our summer audiences. It has a really nice sense of nostalgia," Fitzwater explains. "I've spent many summers in my car dancing away to Whitney Houston. This music in this—you couldn't ask for a better song book from an artist."

One Moment In Time: Slow Burn Theatre's Artistic Director, and Co-founder Patrick Fitzwater, is delighted to bring The Bodyguard to life for audiences this summer.

The musical showcases Houston's most beloved hits, including the iconic ballads and dance numbers that defined a generation. From the sultry "Queen of the Night" to the soaring "I Will Always Love You," audiences will experience a comprehensive journey through one of music's most celebrated catalogs.

What sets this production apart is its unique concert-like atmosphere. "While there are romance and thriller aspects to the show, the best part about this is the stadium concert feel," Fitzwater reveals. "It's going to feel, at times, like a Whitney Houston concert and not a lot of people, including myself, ever got to see Whitney Houston live in concert."

This approach promises to transform the Amaturo Theater into something resembling a concert arena, complete with the energy and excitement that made Houston's live performances legitmately legendary. "So to be able to go into a concert arena with a musical theater element is what people can expect," Fitzwater adds, "and they will get to take home a sense of joy, a sense of a different time—a sense of dancing in your seats."

Star Power and Fresh Perspectives

Leading the cast is Ta-Tynisa Wilson, an American Idol finalist who will take on the demanding role of Rachel Marron. Her casting came through Slow Burn's thorough audition process, which includes both local talent searches and video submissions from across the country. "We had Ta-Tynisa actually submit herself, and once we saw her, we realized we had found the right person to carry our show," Fitzwater notes.

Joining Wilson are Gabriell Salgado as Frank Farmer, Lillie Eliza Thomas as Nicki Marron, Timothy Davis as The Stalker, and Jaxon Compas as Fletcher, supported by a dynamic ensemble cast.

Interestingly, some cast members are discovering Houston's music for the first time. "Some of the actors in the show do not know the movie or even some of the Whitney Houston songs, so it feels fun to be introducing some Whitney songs to a new generation," Fitzwater observes, adding an unexpectedly fresh layer of discovery to the production process.

Visual Spectacle and Choreographic Innovation

The production promises to be a feast for the eyes as well as the ears. Choreographer Reynel Reynaldo is crafting what Fitzwater describes as a "commercial background dancer approach," bringing the slick, professional style of music videos and concert performances to the theatrical stage.

Costume-wise, audiences can expect glamour and style befitting a superstar's world, and Rick Peña is always ready to deliver a dynamic dose of droolworthy fashions. "I think you can expect a lot of promiscuous fashions at times," Fitzwater hints. The show will feature diverse musical styles, from a "huge salsa ballroom number" for "I'm Every Woman" to the "very metal and industrial" treatment planned for "Queen of the Night."

When pressed about his personal favorite moment in the show, Fitzwater points to he Mayan Medley—a sequence set in a club where Rachel performs. "There's a club called The Mayan she performs at in the show and they mashup about five Whitney songs in that from 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody' to 'Million Dollar Bill,'" he explains. "And the dancing is really fun, and Ta-Ty is such a sensational singer and performer."

This production also represents the continued evolution of Fitzwater as a director, building on his impressive track record of Carbonell nominations and wins. His approach has become increasingly collaborative over the years. "It's more of an internal process of trusting myself," he reflects. "My style has changed more over the last few years, and I've become more collaborative, and I'm listening to more answers in the room."

This philosophy extends to his casting strategy, which he considers one of his strengths. "I feel like if you can cast a show very, very well from the beginning, then 80 percent of doing the directing job is done. It's really about trusting the people in the room, and I think that's what makes it a success—in making them feel safe to make choices and even mistakes."

The production embraces the romantic elements that made the original film so compelling, with Fitzwater noting that "the show feels like a musical romance novel at times." This theatrical adaptation maintains the tension and passion of the source material while amplifying it through Houston's powerhouse soundtrack.

The Bodyguard: The Musical runs June 7-22, 2025, at the Amaturo Theater within the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, located at 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. The production includes an open captioned performance on Sunday, June 15 at 2 p.m., ensuring accessibility for all audience members.

Tickets are available through slowburntheatre.org.