Photos: Go Backstage at The Who's Tommy on Broadway | Playbill

Photo Features Photos: Go Backstage at The Who's Tommy on Broadway

See the revival's ensemble and swings prepare for the show.

Aliah James Michael Kushner/The Dressing Room Project

Get a behind-the-scenes look at the ensemble and swings of Broadway's The Who's Tommy revival preparing for a show in this new collection of photos from Michael Kushner Photography's Dressing Room Project. 

The Tony nominated revival officially opened at the Nederlander Theatre March 28 after beginning previews March 8. The reimagined production is helmed by the musical's original director and co-book writer Des McAnuff.

The Dressing Room Project documents actors as they prepare to take the stage on and off-Broadway. Actor-photographer Kushner created the project to display a side of the theatre that the public is not often given access to, and shares his work via Instagram (@thedressingroomproject).

Photos: Go Backstage at The Who's Tommy on Broadway

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 Haley Gustafson, Jeremiah Alsop, Ronnie S. Bowman Jr., Mike Cannon, Tyler James Eisenreich, 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.

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.

 
Today’s Most Popular News:
 X

Blocking belongs
on the stage,
not on websites.

Our website is made possible by
displaying online advertisements to our visitors.

Please consider supporting us by
whitelisting playbill.com with your ad blocker.
Thank you!