The Who's Tommy officially opened at the Nederlander Theatre March 28 after beginning previews March 8—and the reviews are in! The work is back on Broadway in a reimagined revival 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.
The ensemble features Jeremiah Alsop, Ronnie S. Bowman Jr., Mike Cannon, Tyler James Eisenreich, Haley Gustafson, Sheldon Henry, Aliah James, Tassy Kirbas, Lily Kren, 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.
Read the reviews below.
CitiTour NYC (Brian Scott Lipton)
Entertainment Weekly (Emlyn Travis)
Exeunt Magazine (Loren Noveck)
New York Post (Johnny Oleksinski)
New York Stage Review (Bob Verini, David Finkle)
New York Theater (Jonathan Mandell)
New York Theatre Guide (Joe Dziemianowicz)
The New York Times (Jesse Green)*
The Wall Street Journal (Charles Isherwood)*
The Washington Post (Elizabeth Vincentelli)*
*This review may require creating a free account or a paid subscription.
Playbill will continue to update this list as reviews come in.
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.
Stephen Gabriel and Ira Pittelman lead the producing team.
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
