The Who’s Tommy
When four-year-old Tommy’s missing father returns from World War II and finds his wife has taken a lover, he kills the lover in a fit of rage. Tommy, who sees the whole thing in a mirror, is told to keep quiet. In response, the boy retreats into himself becoming deaf, dumb and blind. As he grows up, he is abused by his sadistic relatives and subjected to bizarre treatments by his well-meaning but misguided parents. In his teens, Tommy discovers pinball, through which he gains acceptance and, as the reputation of his skill spreads, a cult following. Frustrated at his continued illness despite his worldly success, Tommy’s mother destroys the mirror and, by doing so, cures him. The reawakened Tommy embraces his stardom and, corrupted by popularity, is transformed into a self-serving prophet. When his fans eventually reject him, Tommy realizes his mistake and returns to his family.
The Who’s Tommy played during November 2008 in Roone Arledge Auditorium.
Playbill
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Cast and Crew
Cast
Danaya Almenares-Mesa – Specialist
Thomas Anawalt -Tommy Walker
Lew Bibler – Cousin Kevin
Kasia Boroweic – Nurse
Xavier Estevez- Hawker
Ruthie Fierberg – Newspaper Gal
Alyson Fortner – Newspaper Gal
Giselle Gastell – Acid Queen
Leigh Gernber – Specialist’s assistant, Barrister
Cody Haefner – Minister
Michelle Hutt – Pinball Lad, Harmonica Player
Jacob Kraemer – Captain Walker
Nicole Lopez – Newspaper Girl
Gillian Rhodes – Allied Solder
Birdy Sahagian – Sally Simpson
Greg Schwartz- Lover
Connor Sphan – Uncle Ernie
Elizabeth Varner – Mrs. Walker
Anna Weinstein – Newspaper Gal, BarristerTeam
Ameneh Bordi – Left Brain
Greg Keilin – Right Brain
Becca Lewis – Co-Producer
Sarah Hartmann – Chereographer
Mariel Villarreal – Music Director
Mike Kennelly – Technical Director
Aline Roitstein – Vocal Coach
Danielle Ash – Visual Design
Laura Reitz – Stage Manager
Molly Rabinowitz – Costume Design
Maddie Compagnon – Costume Design
Emily Hernandez-Goldstein – Prop Design
Melanie Silver – Set Desgin
Alia Munsch – Costume Assistant
Wendy Rose – Props Assistant
MaryJo Holuba – Production Assistant
Ben Bardin – Technical Assistant
Kate Smith – AnimationBand
Keys – Daniel Shimel and Daniel Carpenter-Gold
Guitar I – Matt Star
Guitar II – Mariel Villarreal
Bass – David Fierroz
Drums – Dan Burdman
Media
Production Photos
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Photos courtesy of Ameneh Bordi.
Press
The Columbia Spectator published an article for opening night.
Bwog’s review of The Who’s Tommy can be found here.