The Who's "Tommy" Opens Oct. 5 at Illinois State School of Theatre

The rock-opera “Tommy” which began as a 1969 album by The Who, became an orchestral piece in 1972, a motion picture in 1975 and, in 1993, a Tony Award-winning stage musical. 

The latter manifestation will open the Illinois State University School of Theatre’s season on Oct. 5 in the Center for the Performing Arts Theatre.  Associate Professor Lori Adams is director and Pete Guither is musical director of “Tommy,” which was written by The Who’s Peter Townsend and director Des McAnuff.  Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 5, 6 and 10 to 13, with 2 p.m. matinees on Oct. 7 and 14.

Tickets are $15 for the general public, $13 for faculty-staff, $12 for senior citizens and $10 for ISU students.  The box office in the lobby of the Center for the Performing Arts is open from noon to 5 p.m. weekdays and for one hour prior to the performances.  Tickets can be purchased by calling (309) 438-2535 or on-line at www.illinoisstate.edu/finearts

The Who’s “Tommy” was inspired by the 1960s rock opera, following Tommy Walker, the “pinball” wizard on his journey through trauma, heartbreak, recovery and success. 

In 1993, “Tommy” shared Broadway’s Tony Award for best score (musical) with Kander and Ebb’s “Kiss of the Spider Woman—The Musical.” Townsend and McAnuff also were nominated for best book (musical).

The rest of the Theatre Fall semester will include “One Flea Spare” by Naomi Wallace in October; the world premiere of “Relatively Close” by alumnus and playwright Jim Sherman and Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in November; “Unnatural and Accidental Women” by Marie Clements and the Fall Dance Concert in December.