The dark, mythic, and spectacular story of the pinball wizard is back. The Who's Tommy on Broadway, the five-time Tony Award-winning stage adaptation of the landmark concept album and a 2024 Tony nominee for Best Revival of a Musical, has its first revival at the Nederlander Theatre. Get The Who's Tommy tickets on New York Theatre Guide.
When young Tommy Walker witnesses a shocking murder, the trauma — and other harrowing incidents — leaves him unable to see, hear, or speak. And then he discovers pinball. Tommy's natural knack for the game turns him into an overnight celebrity, but more importantly, he begins his journey to healing once and for all.
Before The Who's Tommy was a musical, the story began as a 1969 concept album simply called Tommy, with all the now-famous songs like "Pinball Wizard," "The Acid Queen," "We're Not Gonna Take It," "See Me, Feel Me," and "I'm Free." The critical response was mixed, partly because subjects like trauma, bullying, and mental illness almost never appeared in mainstream music. But some critics called Tommy The Who's breakthrough masterpiece — and history would prove them right.
Momentum built in 1975, when Tommy got a film adaptation featuring Tina Turner and Elton John. That movie was also the basis for the stage musical, which premiered on Broadway in 1993. The Who co-founder/songwriter Pete Townshend's music finally got the recognition it deserved when The Who's Tommy musical won five Tony Awards, including Best Original Score. It also earned the Grammy for Best Musical Theater Album, and in 1998, the original Tommy album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Townshend's collaborator on The Who's Tommy was 10-time Tony winner Des McAnuff, who co-wrote the book with Townshend and won one of his Tonys for directing the original production. McAnuff returns to direct the Broadway revival, which premiered at Chicago's Goodman Theatre to acclaim in summer 2023.
Get tickets to The Who's Tommy in New York.
2hr 10min. Incl. 15min intermission.
March 8th, 2024
July 21st, 2024
Ages 10+. Children under 4 years old will not be admitted.
By: Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff
Songs by: Pete Townshend
Director: Des McAnuff
Choreography: Lorin Latarro
Cast list: Ali Louis Bourzgui (as Tommy Walker), Alison Luff (as Mrs. Walker), Adam Jacobs (as Captain Walker), John Ambrosino (as Uncle Ernie), Bobby Conte (as Cousin Kevin), Christina Sajous (as The Acid Queen)
Design: David Korins
Costumes: Sarafina Bush
Lighting: Amanda Zieve
Sound: Gareth Owen
Other info: Projection design by Peter Nigrini, music direction and orchestrations by Rick Fox, music supervision and additional arrangements by Ron Melrose, wig and hair design by Charles LaPointe
Wheelchair access
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The five-time Tony Award-winning rock sensation returns to Broadway. Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff's musical, inspired by the landmark album by The Who, tells the story of a catatonic boy-turned-pinball wizard with iconic songs like "We're Not Gonna Take It" and "I'm Free."
The Who's TOMMY on Broadway is playing at Nederlander Theatre. The theatre is located at 208 West 41st Street (between 7th and 8th Avenue), New York, 10036.
The running time of The Who's TOMMY on Broadway is 2hr 10min. Incl. 15min intermission.
Book tickets for The Who's TOMMY on Broadway on New York Theatre Guide.
The recommended age for The Who's TOMMY on Broadway is Ages 10+. Children under 4 years old will not be admitted..
Pete Townshend (book, music, and lyrics) and Des McAnuff (book) wrote The Who's Tommy. Townshend is the co-founder, lead songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist for The Who, and McAnuff is a 10-time Tony Award winner who also directs Tommy.
Des McAnuff directs the Broadway revival of The Who's Tommy after winning a Tony Award for directing the original 1993 production. He also co-wrote the script with Pete Townshend.
The songs in The Who's Tommy include "Pinball Wizard," "See Me, Feel Me," "We're Not Gonna Take It," "The Acid Queen," and "I'm Free." Most of the musical's songs are pulled from the 1969 album of the same name by The Who.
Yes, The Who's Tommy musical is largely the same as the album. The story of Tommy, told through the songs, is the same, and all the most famous songs from the album are in the show. However, Pete Townshend rewrote and reordered some of the songs for the stage show.
The Who's Tommy is recommended for audiences 16 and older due to themes of bullying, war, and physical, sexual, and substance abuse. Please note that children 4 and younger are not permitted in Broadway theatres.
No, The Who's Tommy is a completely fictional story. Real-life spiritual leader Meher Baba inspired Pete Townshend to write the songs, but none of the characters and events in the story of Tommy are real.
The Who's Tommy album came out in 1969, and the film version followed in 1975. The Who's Tommy musical premiered on Broadway in 1993, and the current revival debuted in Chicago in 2023 before coming to Broadway in 2024.
Yes — The Who's Tommy features time-honored songs by a globally bestselling band and a celebrated director who won a Tony for staging the show's premiere, and critical acclaim from the show's pre-Broadway run in Chicago. All these elements make Tommy one of the most talked-about revivals of the season.
Unfortunately, tickets for this event are no longer available.
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