‘The Who’s Tommy’ Heading To Broadway In Spring 2024 Revival

Greg Evans
·4 min read
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Gotta feeling ’24 is gonna be a good year, at least for fans of The Who’s Tommy: The acclaimed Chicago stage production directed by Des McAnuff is heading to Broadway.

The newly reimagined production, produced by Stephen Gabriel and Ira Pittelman, will begin previews March 8, 2024, at the Nederlander Theatre, with an opening night set for March 28.

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In a statement, Pete Townshend, who wrote the music, lyrics and co-wrote the book with McAnuff, said, “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.

“Then, in 1993,” he continued, “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.”

After its opening in June at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre, the revival won nine of the city’s Joseph Jefferson “Jeff” Awards and became the highest grossing production in the Goodman’s history. The Chicago engagement ran from June 13 to August 6.

Broadway casting for The Who’s Tommy will be announced soon.

The musical originally ran on Broadway from 1993 to 1995, following a premiere at the La Jolla Playhouse.

“In many ways, I think the world has caught up to Tommy Walker,” McAnuff, who also directed the original production, said in a statement, “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.”

McAnuff continued, “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.”

The new production’s creative team includes choreographer Lorin Latarro (Into the Woods); music supervision and additional arrangements by Ron Melrose (Jersey Boys); musical direction and additional orchestrations by Rick Fox (Rent); set design by David Korins (Here Lies Love ); projection design by Peter Nigrini (Here Lies Love, MJ); costume design by Sarafina Bush (for colored girls…, Pass Over); lighting design by Amanda Zieve (Broadway associate on Escape to Margaritaville); sound design by Gareth Owen (Back to the Future); and wig and hair design by Charles LaPointe (Hamilton).

“Being asked to join the creative team of Tommy is a dream come true,” said choreographer Latarro. “It’s the OG rock musical. Des and Pete are visionaries.” She added that she is “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.”

Said producer Gabriel and Pittelman, “It is an honor and privilege to bring Tommy to New York. 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.”

The musical’s official synopsis: “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 Who’s 1969 double-album not only popularized the concept of a rock opera but also introduced a slate of songs to the classic rock canon: “I’m Free,” “See Me, Feel Me,” “Sensation,” “Pinball Wizard,” “Amazing Journey,” “Tommy, Can You Hear Me?,” “The Acid Queen,” “I’m Free,” “Twenty-One” / “What About the Boy?” and others.

A 1975 film adaptation, directed by Ken Russell, starred The Who’s Roger Daltrey as Tommy and featured Oliver Reed, Ann-Margret, Elton John as the Pinball Wizard and Tina Turner as the Acid Queen.

The 1993 Broadway production of The Who’s Tommy starred Michael Cerveris as Tommy, and the 2023 Goodman production featured Ali Louis Bourzgui in the role. The Chicago production of the musical included some script revisions to the ’93 version, a rewrite of some lyrics to the song “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and the removal of the song “Tommy’s Holiday Camp.”

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