The Who's Tommy
Encyclopedia
The Who's Tommy is a rock musical
by Pete Townshend
and Des McAnuff
based on The Who's
1969 double album rock opera
Tommy, also by Pete Townshend
, with additional material by John Entwistle
, Keith Moon
and Sonny Boy Williamson
.
in San Diego, California in July 1992.
The Broadway debut was at the St. James Theatre
on 22 April 1993 and closed on 17 June 1995, after 899 performances and 27 previews. Directed by Des McAnuff
with choreography by Wayne Cilento
, the original cast included Michael Cerveris
(Tommy), Marcia Mitzman (Mrs. Walker), Jonathan Dokuchitz
(Captain Walker) and Cheryl Freeman (The Gypsy/Acid Queen) plus an ensemble that included Alice Ripley, Christian Hoff
, Norm Lewis
, Paul Kandel
, Tracy Nicole Chapman
, Michael Gardner
and Sherie Rene Scott
. The play subsequently was produced by various touring companies throughout North America and Europe.
An original cast recording was produced by RCA Victor and released on 13 July 1993.
A Canadian Production opened at the Elgin Theatre
in Toronto
on 1 March 1995, and played throughout the year. The production featured an entirely Canadian cast, and the lead character of Tommy was played by Tyley Ross.
Once the Toronto run ended, the production went on a Cross-Canada tour.
A revival ran in the West End
at the Shaftesbury Theatre
from 5 March 1996 until 8 February 1997, featuring Paul Keating
(Tommy) and Kim Wilde
(Mrs. Walker).
A European tour of Tommy opened on 26 January 2005 at the Chasse Theatre in Breda
, The Netherlands. The opening was set to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the original Tommy album by The Who.
A production at the Australian Institute of Music
, featuring the Music Theatre and acting Students, opened in September 2007
The original Broadway cast performed a one night only reunion benefit concert at the August Wilson Theatre
in New York City on 15 December 2008. Produced by The Path Fund/Rockers on Broadway, the concert was a benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS
, the Broadway Dreams Foundation and the Bachmann-Strauss Dystonia and Parkinson Foundation.
This musical inspired Data East
's production of a pinball
machine called The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard
, which used music from the original Broadway cast recording.
The original wardrobe is on display at the Costume World Broadway Collection in Pompano Beach, Florida.
Scene One
Scene Two
Scene Three
Scene Four
Scene Five
Scene Six
Scene Seven
Scene Eight
Scene Nine
Scene Ten
Scene Eleven
Scene Twelve
Scene Thirteen
Scene Fourteen
Scene Fifteen
Scene Sixteen
Scene Seventeen
Scene Eighteen
Scene Nineteen
Scene Twenty
The film added a handful of new songs which were not on the original album and weren't retained for the stage production. For the 1993 Broadway version, Pete Townshend wrote a new piece called "I Believe My Own Eyes" in which the Walkers resign themselves to accepting Tommy's fate after years of trying.
The most fundamental difference in the story is the finale, which was rewritten in 1993. Originally, Tommy instructs his followers to become deaf, dumb, and blind themselves to find a heightened state of enlightenment. The crowd rejects this and turns on him. In the stage version, Tommy tells them the opposite: to not try to emulate him, but to rather live out their own normal lives. Upon hearing this message, the crowd still rejects him out of a desire to hear a bolder message from him.
Other Tommys
Supporting roles
Act Two
Rock musical
A rock musical is a musical theatre work with rock music. The genre of rock musical may overlap somewhat with album musicals, concept albums and song cycles, as they sometimes tell a story through the rock music, and some album musicals and concept albums become rock musicals...
by Pete Townshend
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career...
and Des McAnuff
Des McAnuff
Desmond McAnuff is the Canadian-American artistic director of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival and director of musical theatre of such Broadway productions as Big River, The Who's Tommy and Jersey Boys.-Biography:...
based on The Who's
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
1969 double album rock opera
Rock opera
A rock opera is a work of rock music that presents a storyline told over multiple parts, songs or sections in the manner of opera. A rock opera differs from a conventional rock album, which usually includes songs that are not unified by a common theme or narrative. More recent developments include...
Tommy, also by Pete Townshend
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career...
, with additional material by John Entwistle
John Entwistle
John Alec Entwistle was an English bass guitarist, songwriter, singer, horn player, and film and record producer who was best known as the bass player for the rock band The Who. His aggressive lead sound influenced many rock bass players...
, Keith Moon
Keith Moon
Keith John Moon was an English musician, best known for being the drummer of the English rock group The Who. He gained acclaim for his exuberant and innovative drumming style, and notoriety for his eccentric and often self-destructive behaviour, earning him the nickname "Moon the Loon". Moon...
and Sonny Boy Williamson
Sonny Boy Williamson II
Willie "Sonny Boy" Williamson was an American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter, from Mississippi. He is acknowledged as one of the most charismatic and influential blues musicians, with considerable prowess on the harmonica and highly creative songwriting skills...
.
Productions
The musical opened at La Jolla PlayhouseLa Jolla Playhouse
La Jolla Playhouse is a not-for-profit, professional theatre-in-residence on the campus of the University of California, San Diego. -Background:...
in San Diego, California in July 1992.
The Broadway debut was at the St. James Theatre
St. James Theatre
The St. James Theatre is located at 246 W. 44th St. Broadway, New York City, New York. It was built by Abraham L. Erlanger, theatrical producer and a founding member of the Theatrical Syndicate, on the site of the original Sardi's restaurant. It opened in 1927 as The Erlanger...
on 22 April 1993 and closed on 17 June 1995, after 899 performances and 27 previews. Directed by Des McAnuff
Des McAnuff
Desmond McAnuff is the Canadian-American artistic director of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival and director of musical theatre of such Broadway productions as Big River, The Who's Tommy and Jersey Boys.-Biography:...
with choreography by Wayne Cilento
Wayne Cilento
Wayne Louis Cilento is an American dancer and choreographer. He is best known for originating the role of "Mike" in the Broadway show A Chorus Line, and later becoming one of Broadway's most prolific choreographers.-Early life:...
, the original cast included Michael Cerveris
Michael Cerveris
Michael Cerveris is an American singer, guitarist and actor. He has performed in many stage musicals and plays, including in several Stephen Sondheim musicals: Assassins, Sweeney Todd, Road Show, and Passion...
(Tommy), Marcia Mitzman (Mrs. Walker), Jonathan Dokuchitz
Jonathan Dokuchitz
Johnathan Dokuchitz is an American actor who works mainly on Broadway. He has starred in The Who's Tommy as Captain Walker, and also created the singing voice for John Cusack in Anastasia .- Featured productions :...
(Captain Walker) and Cheryl Freeman (The Gypsy/Acid Queen) plus an ensemble that included Alice Ripley, Christian Hoff
Christian Hoff
-Biography:Hoff was born in San Francisco, California, and later moved with his family to San Diego. At eight years old he began acting at the San Diego Junior Theater, and not long after was playing Winthrop in The Music Man.-Career:...
, Norm Lewis
Norm Lewis
Norm Lewis is an American actor and baritone singer. He has appeared on Broadway as well as in regional theatre.-Life:Lewis was born in Tallahassee, Florida and grew up in Eatonville, Florida...
, Paul Kandel
Paul Kandel
Paul Kandel is an American musical theatre actor and tenor singer best known for his work as the Gypsy leader Clopin in the 1996 Disney film The Hunchback of Notre Dame. He also has appeared on Broadway a number of times, having appeared in Jesus Christ Superstar as King Herod, Titanic, The Who's...
, Tracy Nicole Chapman
Tracy Nicole Chapman
Tracy Nicole Chapman is an actress. She is probably best known for originating the role of Shenzi in the Broadway production of The Lion King. She also appeared in Caroline, or Change...
, Michael Gardner
Michael Gardner
Michael Gardner is an American Republican politician and was the state representative for District 27 of Arizona. His home city is Tempe and he served from 1995-2001....
and Sherie Rene Scott
Sherie Rene Scott
Sherie Rene Scott is an American actress, singer and writer. She is a co-founder of Grammy winning Sh-K-Boom Records and Ghostlight Records and has appeared in numerous Off-Broadway and Broadway musicals and plays appears on numerous solo and original cast recordings.-Life and career:Scott was...
. The play subsequently was produced by various touring companies throughout North America and Europe.
An original cast recording was produced by RCA Victor and released on 13 July 1993.
A Canadian Production opened at the Elgin Theatre
Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres
The Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres are a pair of stacked theatres in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Winter Garden theatre is seven stories above the Elgin Theatre....
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
on 1 March 1995, and played throughout the year. The production featured an entirely Canadian cast, and the lead character of Tommy was played by Tyley Ross.
Once the Toronto run ended, the production went on a Cross-Canada tour.
A revival ran in the West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
at the Shaftesbury Theatre
Shaftesbury Theatre
The Shaftesbury Theatre is a West End Theatre, located on Shaftesbury Avenue, in the London Borough of Camden.-History:The theatre was designed for the brothers Walter and Frederick Melville by Bertie Crewe and opened on 26 December 1911 with a production of The Three Musketeers, as the New...
from 5 March 1996 until 8 February 1997, featuring Paul Keating
Paul Keating (actor)
Paul Keating is a British actor from London, England, best known for his performances on the West End stage. He has been nominated twice for an Olivier Award.- Stage career :...
(Tommy) and Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde
Kim Wilde is an English pop singer, author and television presenter who burst onto the music scene in 1981 with the number 2 UK Singles Chart new wave classic "Kids in America". In 1987 she had a major hit in the United States when her version of The Supremes' classic "You Keep Me Hangin' On"...
(Mrs. Walker).
A European tour of Tommy opened on 26 January 2005 at the Chasse Theatre in Breda
Breda
Breda is a municipality and a city in the southern part of the Netherlands. The name Breda derived from brede Aa and refers to the confluence of the rivers Mark and Aa. As a fortified city, the city was of strategic military and political significance...
, The Netherlands. The opening was set to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the original Tommy album by The Who.
A production at the Australian Institute of Music
Australian Institute of Music
The Australian Institute of Music is a private not-for-profit institution originally founded in 1968 by Dr Peter Calvo, and then known as the Sydney Guitar School...
, featuring the Music Theatre and acting Students, opened in September 2007
The original Broadway cast performed a one night only reunion benefit concert at the August Wilson Theatre
August Wilson Theatre
The August Wilson Theatre, located at 245 West 52nd Street in New York City, is a Broadway theatre.Designed by architects C. Howard Crane and Kenneth Franzheim and constructed by the Theatre Guild, it opened as the Guild Theatre in 1925 with a revival of George Bernard Shaw's Caesar and...
in New York City on 15 December 2008. Produced by The Path Fund/Rockers on Broadway, the concert was a benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is the theatre community’s response to the AIDS crisis. By drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of the theatre community, on Broadway, Off-Broadway and across the country, BC/EFA raises funds for AIDS-related causes across the United States...
, the Broadway Dreams Foundation and the Bachmann-Strauss Dystonia and Parkinson Foundation.
This musical inspired Data East
Data East
also abbreviated as DECO, was a Japanese video game developer and publisher. The company was in operation from 1976 to 2003, when it declared bankruptcy...
's production of a pinball
Pinball
Pinball is a type of arcade game, usually coin-operated, where a player attempts to score points by manipulating one or more metal balls on a playfield inside a glass-covered case called a pinball machine. The primary objective of the game is to score as many points as possible...
machine called The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard
The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard
The Who's Tommy Pinball Wizard is a pinball machine based on the rock musical The Who's Tommy. The machine features twenty-one songs from the musical sung by original Broadway cast members.-External links:*...
, which used music from the original Broadway cast recording.
The original wardrobe is on display at the Costume World Broadway Collection in Pompano Beach, Florida.
Plot
Note that there are slight plot differences between the music album, the film, and the stage production.Act 1
Prologue- 1940: Against the backdrop of World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in London appears a montage of Captain and Mrs. Walker meeting, their marriage, Captain Walker's deployment to parachute into Germany, and his capture and imprisonment in a Prisoner-of-war camp ("Overture"). Back in London at 22 Heathfield Gardens, Uncle Ernie delivers a care package to his pregnant sister-in-law just as two officers arrive to bring them the tragic news that Captain Walker is missing and presumed dead ("Captain Walker").
Scene One
- 1941: Two nurses gently hand Mrs. Walker her newborn son ("It's a Boy").
Scene Two
- 1945: American troops liberate Walker's POW camp, and tell him the war in Europe is over ("We've Won").
Scene Three
- Believing her husband dead, Mrs. Walker has a new lover, and they celebrate her twenty-first birthday and discuss getting married together with now four-year-old Tommy. To their surprise, Captain Walker enters the house as Mrs. Walker and her lover embrace ("Twenty-One"). In shock, Mrs. Walker reaches out to touch him, but a fight erupts between Walker and the boyfriend. Tommy is watching the fight, and Mrs. Walker turns him towards the mirror in hopes of him not seeing the fight. Through the mirror, Tommy sees his father shoot dead his mother's new boyfriend. Mr. and Mrs. Walker embrace, but soon realise what Tommy has witnessed, and violently shake him, telling him he didn't see or hear anything ("What About the Boy"). The police arrive to investigate, while Tommy gazes at the mirror. A narrator (Tommy's older self) appears, visible only to Tommy, and invites the audience to witness Tommy's journey ("Amazing JourneyAmazing JourneyAmazing Journey is a song by The Who from the album Tommy. It was written by Pete Townshend. The song involves Tommy, the main character from the album Tommy going on a psychedelic "Amazing Journey" as his subconsciousness reveals itself to him as a tall stranger dressed in silvery robes...
").
Scene Four
- Captain Walker is tried for the lover's murder, but found not guilty by reasons of self-defense. However, the family celebration dies down as they realise Tommy is now deaf, dumb, and blind, when he fails to show emotion towards his father's release.
Scene Five
- Mr. and Mrs. Walker take him to a hospital, where a battery of doctors and nurses, to no avail, examine Tommy ("Sparks"). 1950: Tommy is nearly ten years old but the narrator reiterates that his state remains the same ("Amazing Journey (Reprise)").
Scene Six
- 1950: The Walkers take ten-year-old Tommy to church and host a family dinner ("Christmas"). Although they try to enjoy the party, they can't help but think that Tommy doesn't know that it is Christmas or understand its meaning. Everyone is stunned when Tommy responds to Uncle Ernie's playing the French Horn. Mr. Walker, in a desperate attempt to reach his son, shouts "Tommy, can you hear me?" multiple times. Older Tommy, only visible to young Tommy, sings to him. ("See Me, Feel MeSee Me, Feel Me"See Me Feel Me" is a portion of the song "We're Not Gonna Take It" written by Pete Townshend of The Who. The song is the finale of the Tommy album. "See Me Feel Me", followed by the refrain of "Listening To You" was performed at the 1969 Woodstock Festival as the sun was rising and almost half a...
").
Scene Seven
- Back home, the Walkers worry about whether to leave Tommy with the drunken Uncle Ernie ("Do You Think It's Alright?"), but they convince themselves that Tommy will be fine. After the two leave, Ernie molests him ("Fiddle AboutFiddle About"Fiddle About" is a song written by John Entwistle of The Who. It appears as the twelfth track on the group's first rock opera, Tommy...
").
Scene Eight
- Tommy's next babysitter, Cousin Kevin, and his friends, taunt and bully him mercilessly ("Cousin Kevin"). The group then takes Tommy to a youth club where, to everyone's astonishment, he plays pinball brilliantly ("Sensation").
Scene Nine
- Encouraged, the Walkers try yet another doctor, a psychiatrist, who tests Tommy without success ("Sparks (Reprise)").
Scene Ten
- The desperate Mr. Walker is approached by The Hawker and Harmonica Player ("Eyesight to the BlindEyesight to the Blind"Eyesight to the Blind" is a 12-bar blues originally written and recorded in 1951 by Sonny Boy Williamson II , and subsequently recorded by many other musicians including The Who as part of the rock opera Tommy....
") who promise a miraculous cure for Tommy. They take Mr. Walker and young Tommy to the Isle of DogsIsle of DogsThe Isle of Dogs is a former island in the East End of London that is bounded on three sides by one of the largest meanders in the River Thames.-Etymology:...
to find a prostitute called The Gypsy.
Scene Eleven
- The Gypsy tries to convince Mr. Walker to let her spend time alone with Tommy, introducing him to sex and drugs ("The Acid Queen"). Mr. Walker, horrified by the Gyspy's methods, snatches the boy and runs away.
Scene Twelve
- 1958: The act ends as Cousin Kevin a group of teenagers await 17-year-old Tommy's appearance at the amusement arcade as his skills propel his rise to local popularity ("Pinball WizardPinball Wizard"Pinball Wizard" is a song written by Pete Townshend and performed by the English rock band The Who, and featured on their 1969 rock opera album Tommy. The original recording was released as a single in 1969 and reached No. 4 in the UK charts and No. 19 on the U.S...
").
Act II
Underture- 1960: Tommy has become the pinball champion and hero of the neighbourhood lads. ("Underture").
Scene Thirteen
- The father, still in search of a cure, convinces his wife to try once more ("There's a Doctor").
Scene Fourteen
- They take Tommy to specialists ("Go to the Mirror!Go to the Mirror!"Go to the Mirror!" is a song written by Pete Townshend of The Who. It appears as the fifteenth track on the group's first rock opera, Tommy...
") for elaborate tests, but to no avail. The doctors discover that Tommy's senses do work but is for some reason not processing what he sees or hears and that no one can free Tommy from his catatonic state but himself.
Scene Fifteen
- On the street a group of local louts surround Tommy ("Tommy, Can You Hear Me?Tommy, Can You Hear Me?"Tommy Can You Hear Me?" is a song written by Pete Townshend of The Who. It appears as the sixteenth track on the group's first rock opera, Tommy . After the events in "Go to the Mirror!", Tommy is still captivated by the mirror. He remains captivated while his parents try to reach him. The song...
") and carry him home.
Scene Sixteen
- The parents, at their wits' end and considering having Tommy institutionalised, compassionately confront one another ("I Believe My Own Eyes"). Tommy stares into the mirror as his mother tries desperately to reach him one last time ("Smash the Mirror"). Out of rage, frustration, and desperation, she shatters the mirror that Tommy continually gazed at for years. With the mirror in pieces, Tommy becomes conscious ("I'm Free") and leaves home.
Scene Seventeen
- 1961-1963: While his cure hits the news ("Miracle Cure"), Tommy is idolised by the public and the press ("Sensation (Reprise)"), and begins appearing in stadiums, playing pinball with a helmet that temporarily blinds and deafens him ("Pinball Wizard (Reprise)").
Scene Eighteen
- Uncle Ernie tries to capitalise on Tommy's newfound stardom, by selling Tommy souvenirs in a carnival-like setting ("Tommy's Holiday Camp").
Scene Nineteen
- On the night of the grand opening party for Tommy's holiday campHoliday campHoliday camp, in Britain, generally refers to a resort with a boundary that includes accommodation, entertainment and other facilities.As distinct from camping, accommodation typically consisted of chalets – small buildings arranged either individually or in blocks. Some had three or four storeys,...
, teenager Sally Simpson manages to sneak out of her parents' home to attend Tommy's appearance. She gets on stage and tries to touch Tommy but in the commotion he unknowingly pushes her off the stage, she falls and is pummelled by the guards ("Sally Simpson"). Tommy, in horror, stops the show and tends to her.
Scene Twenty
- Realising how caught up in the celebrity machine he is due to the remarkable recovery of his senses, Tommy wishes to do something in return for his fans and invites them all back to his house ("Welcome"). Once there, the fans grow and grow in size, though Tommy wishes to make room for one and all. Sally then asks Tommy how she can be more like him and less like herself ("Sally Simpson's Question"). He is confused, and insists that there is no reason for anyone to be like him, when everyone else already possesses the gifts that he was deprived of most of his life. He suddenly realises that although he had thought his fame came from his miraculous recovery, it in fact arose because others hoped he would assume the role of a kind of spiritual leaderSpiritual leaderSpiritual leader is a form of title that is used to refer to religious leaders.In Buddhism, spiritual leaders are usually the people who have attained high level of spiritual awareness. Those spiritual teachers can guide people on their path toward spiritual awakening.Spiritual Leader may be a...
, based on his knowledge of what it is like not to hear, see, or communicate for so long. Now, disenchanted with their hero for failing to provide the answers they wanted to be told, the crowd turns on him and leaves ("We're Not Gonna Take It"). Tommy hears the voice of his ten-year-old self ("See Me, Feel Me") and for a moment, to the horror of his family, seems to be reverting to his old state. But instead he turns to his family, whom he has ignored during his stardom, embraces them in acceptance, and reunites with his younger selves ("Listening to You"). The entire ensemble joins him and his family on stage. After they all leave, the 4 year old Tommy, 10 year old Tommy, and adult Tommy dramatically end looking out in different directions.
Plot differences between the three productions
The original 1969 album was much more ambiguous in its specific plot points. Originally, the song "Twenty-One" was called "1921" as the album version took place in a post-World War I setting. In the film, the story was changed to be post-World War II and the song was changed to "1951". In both the album and stage versions, the father comes home and kills the lover in the confrontation. Ken Russell's film made a reversal and killed Mr. Walker's character, having the lover then assume the role of a step-father to Tommy.The film added a handful of new songs which were not on the original album and weren't retained for the stage production. For the 1993 Broadway version, Pete Townshend wrote a new piece called "I Believe My Own Eyes" in which the Walkers resign themselves to accepting Tommy's fate after years of trying.
The most fundamental difference in the story is the finale, which was rewritten in 1993. Originally, Tommy instructs his followers to become deaf, dumb, and blind themselves to find a heightened state of enlightenment. The crowd rejects this and turns on him. In the stage version, Tommy tells them the opposite: to not try to emulate him, but to rather live out their own normal lives. Upon hearing this message, the crowd still rejects him out of a desire to hear a bolder message from him.
Characters
Principals- Tommy, Age: 16-25, An embittered young genius. TenorTenorThe tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
. - Captain Walker, Age: 25-35, Tommy's guilty father. Tenor.
- Mrs. Walker, Age: 18-30, Tommy's weary mum. Pop mezzo soprano.
Other Tommys
- Tommy-Age 4, Age: 3-7 (Young Tommy)
- Tommy-Age 10, Age:8-12 (Second Tommy)
Supporting roles
- Cousin Kevin, Age: 15-20, Tommy's evil babysitter. A young, loutish nuisance. BaritoneBaritoneBaritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
. - Uncle Ernie, Age: 30-45, Tommy's perverted uncle. A lecherous bachelor. Tenor.
- The Lover, Age: 25-30, Mrs. Walker's boyfriend, killed by Captain Walker. Tenor.
- The Hawker, Age: 20-50, An unsavory street man. Baritone.
- The Acid Queen, Age: 20-35, A drug dealer and prostitute.
- The Specialist, Age: 30-50, A very modern doctor who has new theories on how to cure Tommy. Baritone.
- Sally Simpson, Age: 13-20, A typical teenybopper. SopranoSopranoA soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
.
Song list
Act One- "Overture" – Company
- "Captain Walker" – Officers
- "It's a Boy" – Nurses and Mrs. Walker
- "We've Won" – Captain Walker and Allied Soldiers
- "Twenty One" / "What About the Boy?" - Mrs. Walker and Boyfriend / Captain Walker and Mrs. Walker
- "Amazing JourneyAmazing JourneyAmazing Journey is a song by The Who from the album Tommy. It was written by Pete Townshend. The song involves Tommy, the main character from the album Tommy going on a psychedelic "Amazing Journey" as his subconsciousness reveals itself to him as a tall stranger dressed in silvery robes...
" – Tommy - "Courtroom Scene" - Judge
- "Sparks" – Instrumental
- "Amazing Journey (Reprise)" – Tommy
- "Christmas" / "See Me, Feel MeSee Me, Feel Me"See Me Feel Me" is a portion of the song "We're Not Gonna Take It" written by Pete Townshend of The Who. The song is the finale of the Tommy album. "See Me Feel Me", followed by the refrain of "Listening To You" was performed at the 1969 Woodstock Festival as the sun was rising and almost half a...
" – Captain Walker, Mrs. Walker, Minister, Minister's Wife and Ensemble / Tommy - "Do You Think It's Alright?" – Captain Walker and Mrs. Walker
- "Fiddle AboutFiddle About"Fiddle About" is a song written by John Entwistle of The Who. It appears as the twelfth track on the group's first rock opera, Tommy...
" (music and lyrics by John EntwistleJohn EntwistleJohn Alec Entwistle was an English bass guitarist, songwriter, singer, horn player, and film and record producer who was best known as the bass player for the rock band The Who. His aggressive lead sound influenced many rock bass players...
) – Uncle Ernie and Ensemble - "See Me, Feel Me (Reprise)" – Tommy
- "Cousin Kevin" (music and lyrics by John EntwistleJohn EntwistleJohn Alec Entwistle was an English bass guitarist, songwriter, singer, horn player, and film and record producer who was best known as the bass player for the rock band The Who. His aggressive lead sound influenced many rock bass players...
) – Cousin Kevin and Ensemble - "Sensation" – Tommy and Ensemble
- "Sparks (Reprise)"
- "Eyesight to the BlindEyesight to the Blind"Eyesight to the Blind" is a 12-bar blues originally written and recorded in 1951 by Sonny Boy Williamson II , and subsequently recorded by many other musicians including The Who as part of the rock opera Tommy....
" (lyrics by Sonny Boy Williamson IISonny Boy Williamson IIWillie "Sonny Boy" Williamson was an American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter, from Mississippi. He is acknowledged as one of the most charismatic and influential blues musicians, with considerable prowess on the harmonica and highly creative songwriting skills...
, music and additional lyrics by Pete Townshend) – Hawker, Harmonica Player and Ensemble - "The Acid Queen" – The Gypsy
- "Pinball WizardPinball Wizard"Pinball Wizard" is a song written by Pete Townshend and performed by the English rock band The Who, and featured on their 1969 rock opera album Tommy. The original recording was released as a single in 1969 and reached No. 4 in the UK charts and No. 19 on the U.S...
" – Local Lads, Cousin Kevin and Ensemble
Act Two
- "Underture (Entr'acte)" – Ensemble
- "It's a Boy (Reprise)" / "There's a Doctor" – Captain Walker and Mrs. Walker
- "Go to the Mirror!Go to the Mirror!"Go to the Mirror!" is a song written by Pete Townshend of The Who. It appears as the fifteenth track on the group's first rock opera, Tommy...
" / "Listening to You" – Specialist, Specialist's Assistant, Captain Walker and Mrs. Walker / Tommy, Tommy (Age 10) and Tommy (Age 4) - Tommy, Can You Hear Me?Tommy, Can You Hear Me?"Tommy Can You Hear Me?" is a song written by Pete Townshend of The Who. It appears as the sixteenth track on the group's first rock opera, Tommy . After the events in "Go to the Mirror!", Tommy is still captivated by the mirror. He remains captivated while his parents try to reach him. The song...
– Local Lads - "I Believe My Own Eyes" – Captain Walker and Mrs. Walker
- "Smash the Mirror" – Mrs. Walker
- "I'm Free" – Tommy
- "Streets of London 1961–3 (Miracle Cure)" – News Vendor and Local Lads
- "Sensation (Reprise)" – Tommy and Ensemble
- "I'm Free (Reprise) / Pinball Wizard (Reprise)" – Tommy and Company
- "Tommy's Holiday Camp" (music and lyrics credited to Keith MoonKeith MoonKeith John Moon was an English musician, best known for being the drummer of the English rock group The Who. He gained acclaim for his exuberant and innovative drumming style, and notoriety for his eccentric and often self-destructive behaviour, earning him the nickname "Moon the Loon". Moon...
) – Uncle Ernie - "Sally Simpson" – Cousin Kevin, Security Guards, Sally Simpson, Mr. Simpson and Mrs. Simpson
- "Welcome" – Tommy and Ensemble
- "Sally Simpson's Question" - Sally Simpson, Tommy
- "We're Not Gonna Take It" – Tommy and Ensemble
- "See Me, Feel Me (Final Reprise)" / "Listening to You (Reprise)" – Tommy and Company