5 Apr 2013
A Tommy for the 21st Century!
The Who’s Tommy is coming back 20 years after its Broadway premiere – in an electrifying production at Canada’s Stratford Festival by the original Tony-winning director, Des McAnuff, who created the show with Pete Townshend.
In 1993, McAnuff and Townshend transformed The Who’s 1969 concept album Tommy, into the most technically advanced musical Broadway had ever seen. Now, thanks to amazing advances in technology and stagecraft, this production promises to blow the roof off Stratford’s Avon Theatre, with huge hits like “Pinball Wizard”, “See Me, Feel Me”, “The Acid Queen” and “We’re Not Gonna Take It.”
Tommy swept the Tony Awards in 1993, winning Best Director for Des McAnuff, Best Score for Pete Townshend, Best Choreography for Wayne Cilento, Best Design for John Arnone and Best Lighting Direction for Chris Parry.
Now the team is back together again, to re-create Tommy for the 21st Century. It’s an experience you can’t miss!
With an incredible track record, Des McAnuff is known as one of the top directors of musicals in the world. His production of Jersey Boys is a global phenomenon. It won four Tony Awards, including Best Musical, has been playing on Broadway since 2005 and has toured North America. In addition McAnuff has directed Jersey Boys productions in London’s West End, Las Vegas, Chicago, Toronto, Melbourne, Sydney, Philadelphia, Auckland and Brisbane.
Des McAnuff’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar took Canada by storm in 2011, playing to sold-out houses in Stratford and winning praise from creators Sir Tim Rice and Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, as well as from Norman Jewison, director of the film version, all of whom visited Stratford because buzz about the show had reached far beyond Canada’s borders. The production moved on to successful runs in La Jolla, California, and on Broadway, taking its cast along for the ride of their lives.
Don’t miss Des McAnuff’s latest production. Book your tickets for Tommy at the Stratford Festival today. Call 1-800-567-1600 or visit www.stratfordfestival.ca.
I can’t believe it’s been 20 years since its Broadway premiere.
A production that, in spite its skeptics, was a major and also deserved success.
My, how time flies.
Residing in Milwaukee, I wish it was playing in Chicago –
I LOVE TOMMY!
TOMMY FOREVER
Thrilling that this will be playing at Stratford this year!!
I saw Tommy at the La Jolla Playhouse – with my Dad – the first time around, before it went to New York and all over, just knew it was going to be a hit, and now, again, I hope that Tommy finds a new audience
Hearing and watching the Who perform Tommy for the first time in ’69 was one of the most amazing events in my life but watching the play back in the ’90’s, I would have to agree with Pete… Tommy is a perfect fit for the stage with an orchestra. Hope to be able to see it this format again!
I saw this production in Toronto. Looking forward to making my way down to the beautiful town of Stratford this summer and seeing this version!
I saw the touring production of Tommy at the Saenger Theatre in New orleans and can’t wait to see this new version.
Looking forward to seeing the show for our first time. Hoping for a star siting like when Tim Rice showed up for a preview of Jesus Christ Superstar 2 seasons ago.
Tommy is timeless, as is all The Who’s music. It becomes more powerful and influential with time.
L’ALBUM E’ FANTASTICO, LO E’ SEMPRE STATO; POTRA’ ESSERE SENTITO E VISTO IN OGNI TEMPO PERCHE’ E’ SENZA TEMPO.E’ IMMORTALE E. COME PARECCHI ALTRI LAVORI DEGLI WHO E’ SEMPLICEMENTE UN OPERA ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope they bring it back to Broadway! I love the cast recording, it’s more coherent than the album or the film but I was only a baby when the show was in production.
Always glad when a new generation is turned on to Tommy but nothing will ever beat the original album or the Live at the Isle of Wight recording! Hope it tours and comes to Orlando
I’ve been a Who and Pete Townshend fan since childhood. As amazing as the original Tommy was musically, I always found the story a bit of a cop out and sometimes silly. The movie version, although reflective of that era, is even sillier, aimed at teenie boppers. Tina Turner, Elton and Ann Margaret were great. But Oliver Reed and Jack Nicholson signing?? They probably left the audience wishing THEMSELVES deaf, dumb, and blind!
I was lucky enough to catch the stage production of Tommy in La Jolla before it went to Broadway and felt that FINALLY Pete got the story right. Loose ends were tied up very neatly and the sensitive subject of child abuse was handled intelligently and not as a joke (movie) or as simple-minded sadism (original). Things left unexplained such as how Tommy found a pinball machine actually made sense, unlike the movie version where he simply stumbles onto a perfectly working (and AC powered) unit in a junk yard!
I don’t always buy into musical theater unless it’s very well done. Otherwise, the idea of people breaking into song to express their emotions makes me roll my eyes. The stage production: “The Who’s Tommy” is one of the exceptions in my book.
This was not meant to be “The Ten Commandments” or “Citizen Kane”; the entire premise is silly, of course, but it’s the music that we enjoy and The Who performing it.
Saw it on Broadway 20 years ago. In Toronto 18 years ago. Looking forward to Stratford this Tuesday.