The Who’s TOMMY to open on Broadway March 28, 2024

THE WHO’S TOMMY
on Broadway

A New, Reimagined Production from the
Original Tony Award®-winning Creators
Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff

Previews Begin March 8, 2024
Opening March 28, 2024
At the Nederlander Theatre

Tickets On Sale Today
www.TommyTheMusical.com
www.BroadwayDirect.com

The Amazing Journey begins –
Teaser Link
Teaser Download Link


New York - Producers Stephen Gabriel and Ira Pittelman announce that the newly reimagined production of The Who’s TOMMY will open on Broadway in the Spring of 2024.

Three decades after the epic pop-culture musical theatre sensation first bowed on Broadway, original Tony Award®-winning creators Pete Townshend (music, lyrics, book) and Des McAnuff (book, direction) have reunited to bring the story of Tommy Walker to today’s audiences.

Following a critically acclaimed, award-winning, run at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre (where it was the highest grossing production in the history of the Goodman), The Who’s TOMMY will open on March 28, 2024 at the Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41st Street). Preview performances will begin March 8, 2024.

Casting for The Who’s TOMMY on Broadway will be announced soon.

With music and lyrics by Pete Townshend and book by Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff, The Who’s TOMMY is directed by Des McAnuff.

The Who’s TOMMY creative team includes choreographer Lorin Latarro (Into the Woods, Mrs. Doubtfire and Waitress); music supervision and additional arrangements by Ron Melrose (Jersey Boys on Broadway, London and National Tour); musical direction and additional orchestrations by Rick Fox (Rent, Jesus Christ Superstar); set design by David Korins (Hamilton, Beetlejuice, Here Lies Love ); projection design by Peter Nigrini (Here Lies Love, MJ and Dear Evan Hansen); costume design by Sarafina Bush (for colored girls..., Pass Over on Broadway); lighting design by Amanda Zieve (Broadway associate on Escape to Margaritaville and Allegiance); sound design by Gareth Owen (Back to the Future, & Juliet and MJ); and wig and hair design by Charles LaPointe (Hamilton, Beautiful). Casting is by Tara Rubin Casting/Merri Sugarman, CSA. Additional Chicago Casting by Lauren Port, CSA and Rachael Jimenez, CSA. Tripp Phillips is the Production Stage Manager and Bespoke Theatricals is General Manager.

“In many ways, I think the world has caught up to Tommy Walker, which makes it exciting to revisit The Who’s TOMMY for a new generation who, possibly more than any other, has a broad appetite for all kinds of music and story-telling,” said Des McAnuff, who originated the acclaimed production of The Who’s TOMMY at La Jolla Playhouse, followed by its long-running Broadway engagement (1993-1995).”

“While the music remains as glorious as ever, our world years later is unimaginably and irrevocably changed. As a result, there’s so much more we all can recognize—and celebrate—in our protagonist’s evolution, as a collective deeper understanding of mental health has sharpened our lens. Tommy Walker’s triumph over devastating childhood trauma, to enlightened leadership, to ultimately recognizing the folly in which he’s surrounded himself is an ‘Amazing Journey’ to discover anew.”

“In 1969, when I originally wrote TOMMY with The Who, nobody had ever written popular music songs about trauma, nobody talked about bullying, domestic sexual abuse was a subject that was virtually censored,” said Pete Townshend.

“Then, in 1993, working with Des on the staged theatre piece, we broke the established rules for a musical show. Now, the current generation is breaking all of those rules again—and what Des has achieved with this incredible new production honors them and their courage and audacity. I can’t wait to see how this newly empowered show connects with younger Broadway audiences today. I hope the younger ones come, for they will identify in an entirely new and important way with Tommy’s tumultuous life. Meanwhile, longtime fans of TOMMY, The Who and all their music will be blown away by this new show."

“Being asked to join the creative team of TOMMY is a dream come true. It’s the OG rock musical. Des and Pete are visionaries,” said Lorin Latarro. “I’m focused on creating a contemporary movement vocabulary that feels like it could be from any era. I am interested in pushing story inside the dances, and still building to dance breaks that have high velocity. I’m also a mother and I see the domestic aspects of this family as both brutal and profound. The work of motherhood without the joy of a hug from your child is sobering.”

"It is an honor and privilege to bring TOMMY to New York”, said producers Stephen Gabriel and Ira Pittelman. "We're looking forward to sharing this unique new production with the countless fans who have loved TOMMY through the years and to introducing the iconic rock opera to the next generation of theatergoers.”

Myth and spectacle combine in The Who’s exhilarating 1969 rock opera, TOMMY—including the unforgettable anthems “I’m Free,” “See Me, Feel Me,” “Sensation” and “Pinball Wizard.” After witnessing his father shoot his rival, the young Tommy Walker is lost in the universe, endlessly and obsessively staring into the mirror. An innate knack for pinball catapults him from reticent adolescent to celebrity savior.

The Goodman production of The Who’s TOMMY recently won 9 Joseph Jefferson “Jeff” Awards, the most for any show this season, including Best Director for Des McAnuff and Best Production.

Pete Townshend’s prior awards for The Who’s TOMMY include a Grammy Award (1993) for the Original Broadway Cast Recording, Tony Award for Best score (1993), Toronto’s Dora Mavor Moore Award (1995) and the UK’s Olivier Award (1997). For directing The Who’s TOMMY, Des McAnuff received previously, the Tony and Drama Desk Awards (1993), Toronto’s Dora Mavor Moore Award (1995) and the UK’s Olivier Award (1997).


The Who’s TOMMY – a critical timeline

1969

“Pete Townshend has finally written a full-scale pop opera, a project he’s been threatening for years, and it’s brilliant.”
--Nik Cohn (New York Times critic) Rock from the Beginning

1993

"TOMMY" is the first musical in years to feel completely alive in its own moment. No wonder that for two hours it makes the world seem young.
--Frank Rich, New York Times

2023

“What Broadway needs right now!”
--Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune


TICKET ONSALE INFORMATION

As the official card sponsor of The Who’s TOMMY, American Express® Card Members have Early Access to presale tickets before the general public beginning Thursday, October 26 at 10am ET through Thursday, November 2 at 9:59am ET at www.TommyTheMusical.com and www.BroadwayDirect.com (terms apply).

American Express® Card Members continue to have access to presale tickets for The Who’s TOMMY during the Audience Rewards® Presale beginning Thursday, November 2 at 10am ET through Friday, November 10 at 9:59am (terms apply). It's free and fast to join at www.AudienceRewards.com. A fan presale for those who sign up on www.TommyTheMusical.com will begin Wednesday, November 8 at 10:00am ET through Friday, November 10 at 9:59am. General Onsale begins Friday, November 10 at 10am ET.

Audience Rewards is the Official Rewards Program of Broadway, providing membership benefits and rewards for 3 million members and representing more than a quarter of all Broadway tickets purchased through authorized ticketing systems. Free and easy to join, Audience Rewards allows buyers to earn ShowPoints on every ticket purchase, to be redeemed for free tickets, theater collectibles, unique experiences, and more. Founded in 2008 by a unique coalition of prominent theater owners, including Nederlander, Shubert, and Jujamcyn, major national presenters, and key performing arts centers from across the country, Audience Rewards has offered members first access presales to more than 100 Broadway shows and 200 VIP experiences and events, which have included a meet and greet with Jake Gyllenhaal and Tom Sturridge, a walk-on role in Rock of Ages, a cooking class with Gavin Creel & Celia Keenan-Bolger, celebrity Q&As, backstage tours and much more.


ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM

Pete Townshend (Music, Lyrics, Book) is known principally as the lead guitarist and composer for The Who, as well as for his own solo career. His career with The Who spans over fifty years, during which time Townshend wrote well over a hundred songs for The Who’s eleven studio albums, including the rock operas Tommy and Quadrophenia and the well-regarded rock radio staple Who’s Next. From early classic singles, such as ‘My Generation’ and ‘Substitute’ to ‘Tommy’, ‘Lifehouse’ and ‘Quadrophenia’, Townshend has always been at the forefront of his profession. Though known mainly as a guitarist, he is an accomplished singer and keyboard player, and has played many other instruments (banjo, accordion, synthesizer, piano, bass guitar and drums) on his solo albums and on certain Who albums. As an author, he has written Horse’s Neck, a collection of short stories (Faber & Faber, 1985); Who I Am, a memoir (Harper Collins, 2012), and his latest artistic project, The Age of Anxiety, is simultaneously a novel and a rock opera about passion and ambition, good drugs and bad drugs, and loves lost and found (the novel was published by Hodder & Stoughton, 2019). His numerous awards for The Who’s Tommy include a Grammy Award (1993), Tony Award for Best Score (1993), Dora Mavor Moore Award (1994) and Olivier Award (1997). Other awards include Classic Rock Award (2011); Ivor Novello Award (1981); British Phonographic Industry Lifetime Achievement Award (1983); BRIT Award for contribution to British Music (1988); Living Legend Award, International Rock Awards (1991); Q Lifetime Achievement Award (1997); Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement Award (2001); Kennedy Center Honor, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (jointly with Roger Daltrey, 2008); Rock Honor, VH1 (2008); Honorary Doctorate, West London University (2010); Les Paul Award, TEC Foundation (2012). The most recent Who album, WHO, was released on December 6, 2019.

Des McAnuff (Book, Director) is a two-time Tony Award-winning director and former Artistic Director of Canada’s Stratford Festival. He is also Director Emeritus of La Jolla Playhouse, whereas Artistic Director he staged over 30 productions of classics, new plays and musicals. He’s co-founder of Broadway’s Dodgers. Broadway: Ain’t Too Proud; Summer; Doctor Zhivago; Jesus Christ Superstar; Guys and Dolls; Aaron Sorkin’s The Farnsworth Invention; Jersey Boys (Tony and Olivier Awards: Best Musical); Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays (Tony Award: Best Special Theatrical Event); Dracula the Musical; How to Succeed...; The Who’s Tommy (Tony and Olivier Awards: Best Director, Olivier Award: Best Musical), A Walk in the Woods; and Big River (Tony Awards: Best Director, Best Musical). Selected New York: Fetch Clay, Make Man (NYTW); multiple productions at The Public and BAM. Stratford highlights: A Word or Two; Caesar and Cleopatra; and The Tempest (all with Christopher Plummer), Twelfth Night (with Brian Dennehy). Opera: Faust (The Met, ENO). TV: 700 Sundays (HBO). Film: Cousin Bette (with Jessica Lange, director); The Iron Giant (producer, BAFTA Award); and Quills (executive producer). He has an honorary doctorate from Ryerson University, and in 2012, he was awarded Canada’s Governor General’s National Arts Center Award and the Order of Canada.

Lorin Latarro (Choreographer) Broadway: Into the Woods, Waitress, Mrs. Doubtfire, Les Liaisons Dangereuses with Janet McTeer and Liev Schreiber, Waiting for Godot with Sir Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart, Merrily We Roll Along-Roundabout, La Traviata-Metropolitan Opera. Lorin directed Candace Bushnell’s Is There Still Sex in the City? (Daryl Roth Theatre - NY Times Critic’s Pick). Additional choreography: Chess (Kennedy Center), Lin-Manuel Miranda’s 21 Chump Street (BAM), Twelfth Night and Odyssey (Public), Queen of the Night (Drama Desk Award), Assassins and Oliver! (Encores!) *Upcoming: Broadway’s Heart Of Rock and Roll and Encore’s Once Upon A Mattress.
BFA—Juilliard. MA—NYU. Lorin is a Drama Desk, Lortel and Chita Rivera Award nominee.