When the original production of “The Who’s Tommy,” burst onto Broadway it brought the form of a rock opera to the Main Stem.
The story follows Tommy Walker, a child who witnesses a murder and loses his senses of hearing, sight and speech in reaction to the horror. Set to the music of The Who, which debuted as the concept album “Tommy” in 1969, the musical interrogates trauma, celebrity culture and healing.
The current production began in Chicago and producer Stephen Gabriel and Ira Pittelman shepherded it to Broadway, marking the first revival of “The Who’s Tommy.” The show has been Tony Award-nominated for Best Revival of a Musical. In this episode, the producing duo reveal how the mounting came to be and their strategy to attract audiences in a busy season.
