After an acclaimed run at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre, a new stage adaptation of The Who’s groundbreaking 1969 rock opera Tommy is headed back to Broadway after 30 years. Original Tony Award-winning creators The Who’s Pete Townshend and director Des McAnuff have reunited for the reimagined production set to open on March 28, 2024 at the Nederlander Theatre in New York City with preview performances beginning March 8.
“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,” Pete Townshend stated. He added:
“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.”
Director and writer Des McAnuff also weighed in on the revamped production:
“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.
“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.”
Produced by Stephen Gabriel and Ira Pittelman, also helping to bring Tommy back to Broadway are 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) and more. A casting announcement for the reimagined Tommy is expected soon.
Watch a trailer video for Tommy below:
