Join the company of Broadway's The Who's Tommy for a two-show day as ensemblist Lily Kren takes over Playbill's Instagram April 13. Kren will be posting throughout the day, so make sure you're following @Playbill to keep up on all the action.
Kren is currently making her Broadway debut in the revival at the Nederlander Theatre, where the show officially opened March 28. The rock opera is back on Broadway in a reimagined production helmed by the musical's original director and co-book writer, Des McAnuff.
Ali Louis Bourzgui leads the cast in the title role, opposite Alison Luff as Mrs. Walker, Adam Jacobs as Captain Walker, John Ambrosino as Uncle Ernie, Bobby Conte as Cousin Kevin, and Christina Sajous as The Acid Queen. Sharing the role of Tommy, age four, are Cecilia Ann Popp and Olive Ross-Kline. Tommy, age 10, is shared by Quinten Kusheba and Reese Levine.
Along with Kren, the ensemble features Jeremiah Alsop, Ronnie S. Bowman Jr., Mike Cannon, Tyler James Eisenreich, Haley Gustafson, Sheldon Henry, Aliah James, Tassy Kirbas, Nathan Lucrezio, Alexandra Matteo, Mark Mitrano, Reagan Pender, Daniel Quadrino, Jenna Nicole Schoen, and Andrew Tufano. Rounding out the company as swings are Afra Hines, David Paul Kidder, Brett Michael Lockley, and Dee Tomasetta.
Based on The Who's 1969 rock opera Tommy, the musical follows the young Tommy Walker. After witnessing his father shoot his rival, Tommy is emotionally lost, and spends his time staring endlessly into the mirror. Then, an innate knack for pinball catapults him into celebrity status.
The work originally opened on Broadway in 1993, with a book by McAnuff and Pete Townshend of The Who, music and lyrics by Townshend, and direction by McAnuff. The pair have reunited to reimagine the story, with McAnuff returning to direct this new production, which played a run at Chicago's Goodman Theatre prior to the Broadway bow. Much of the cast, including the complete principal cast, are reprising their performances from that engagement.
The creative team also includes choreographer Lorin Latarro (Into the Woods), music supervisor Ron Melrose (Jersey Boys), musical director Rick Fox (Rent), set designer David Korins (Hamilton), projection designer Peter Nigrini (Here Lies Love), costume designer Sarafina Bush (for colored girls...), lighting designer Amanda Zieve (Escape to Margaritaville), sound designer Gareth Owen (Back to the Future), and wig and hair designer Charles G. LaPointe (Hamilton). The production also features orchestrations by Steve Margoshes, additional music arrangements by Melrose, and additional orchestrations by Fox. Casting is by Tara Rubin Casting's Merri Sugarman with additional Chicago casting by Lauren Port and Rachael Jimenez. Tripp Phillips is the production stage manager, and Bespoke Theatricals is general manager.
The original Broadway production of The Who's Tommy opened April 22, 1993, at the St. James Theatre, after beginning previews March 29. McAnuff had first staged the work in 1992 at California's La Jolla Playhouse, where he was artistic director, before the production moved to Broadway the following year. Prior to the Broadway version, an early stage adaptation of Tommy premiered in 1971 in Seattle featuring Bette Midler as both the Acid Queen and Mrs. Walker. A screen version followed in 1975.
Visit TommyTheMusical.com.
Alison Luff, Olive Ross-Kline, and Adam Jacobs
Haley Gustafson
Ali Louis Bourzgui
The company of The Who's Tommy
Bobby Conte
Ali Louis Bourzgui
Christina Sajous
John Ambrosino
Bobby Conte and company The Who's Tommy
Ali Louis Bourzgui and company of The Who's Tommy
Ali Louis Bourzgui and company of The Who's Tommy
Ali Louis Bourzgui in The Who's Tommy
John Ambrosino, Bobby Conte, Ali Louis Bourzgui, Alison Luff, and Adam Jacobs in The Who's Tommy
Adam Jacobs, Daniel Quadrino, Alison Luff, Olive Ross-Kline, and company of The Who's Tommy
Company of The Who's Tommy
Company of The Who's Tommy
