Can we just stop for a moment to marvel at the amazingness of this original cast? I mean you've got Broadway superstar Michael Cerveris (at the beginning of his Broadway career!) alongside a host of people at the beginning of their fantastic careers (on Broadway or elsewhere). People like Norm Lewis, Sherie Renee Scott, Alice Ripley, Christian Hoff, Michael McElroy, Cheryl Freeman, Paul Kandel, Romain Fruge (stepping in as Cousin Kevin in these shots cause he was the swing) and Marcia Mitzman (who had already wowed some people as Svetlana in the Broadway production of Chess opposite the equally fantastic Judy Kuhn!). Just brilliant! I love this!
I played thr Acid Queen in a local production many years ago. It's an amazing show and I was lucky to go backstage on Broadway! I knew Bill Buell and got to meet Anthony Barille, Paul and Michael Cerveris. Such memories!
New production helmed by the original director, Des McAnuff, premiering at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago this week. I'm going to see it this Sunday and I can hardly wait. My favorite rock musical of all time.
For my 18th birthday, my mom took me to see this. To this day, one of the most fantastic birthday gifts I've ever received! I'm so happy to have found this video. 🙂
I got the chance to see this live on Broadway in spring of 1995 and I will forever cherish that experience. Still, one of my life goals is to own the Data East Tommy pinball machine based on this show.
Tech ruins shows. I don't want a childish spectacle, I want a raw performance. Also - the new production choreography looks like cirque de Soleil. Please just dance and leave the gymnastics at the Olympics. Tech is a sorry excuse for bad plot lines.
I have seen Cheryl Freeman do this role multiple times as a geeky little 13 year old and she consistently blew me away. This was one of my favorite versions of this tour.
I feel like the London actor did a better job of looking blind. In the London version, the Tommy was looking directly in front of himself and having a more lose actions, it made him feel like he wasn't trying to play pinball while not being able to hear or see. The Broadway version just feels stiff and the look on his face makes it look like hes trying to remember something.
When he is singing he is expressing, he is not acting "blind" at that point. He is catatonic when not expressing himself in song however. Cerveris was exceptional, as was Steve Isaaks on the tour. Never got to see the London actor, might want to check that out!
I want to know why theater companies are so afraid to cast rockers in the role of Tommy. The part was written for Roger Daltrey! Just once I'd like to see this production with a lead who knows how to wail with his voice. I really dislike this insistence on singing Tommy with a Broadway style voice. It sounds so proper and so contrived. It has always been a *rock* opera. Every production I've seen has had a screaming rock band backing it, but the lead part is sung by a squeaky clean crooner. BAH!!!
Is the Acid Queen song supposed to be a metaphor for giving Tommy acid or is it literal, where she's going to take his virginity? That's the only song in this that confused me.
@@Rex-gu1bu It's both. In the 1975 film they made that very clear. Well, different versions might have different interpretations to cater to their markets, but "just give me one night" and "Your boy won't be a boy no more, young but not a child" suggest sex to me, and "your mind must learn to roam" plus all of the bodily reactions *after* her work is done in the last verse suggest drugs.
A little bit of both. There's this recurring theme in the musical about the things we do to fill the holes in our soul. And in order to fill the holes in Tommy's soul, his parents expose him to sex and drugs the form of the Acid Queen.
![Original Broadway Cast of "The Who's Tommy" (x2) + interview [5-17-93]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/yj8rcBPTDAg/mqdefault.jpg)
Can we just stop for a moment to marvel at the amazingness of this original cast? I mean you've got Broadway superstar Michael Cerveris (at the beginning of his Broadway career!) alongside a host of people at the beginning of their fantastic careers (on Broadway or elsewhere). People like Norm Lewis, Sherie Renee Scott, Alice Ripley, Christian Hoff, Michael McElroy, Cheryl Freeman, Paul Kandel, Romain Fruge (stepping in as Cousin Kevin in these shots cause he was the swing) and Marcia Mitzman (who had already wowed some people as Svetlana in the Broadway production of Chess opposite the equally fantastic Judy Kuhn!). Just brilliant! I love this!
Yes. They were all incredible in this show! I do miss seeing Anthony Barrille as Cousin Kevin
I played thr Acid Queen in a local production many years ago. It's an amazing show and I was lucky to go backstage on Broadway! I knew Bill Buell and got to meet Anthony Barille, Paul and Michael Cerveris. Such memories!
New production helmed by the original director, Des McAnuff, premiering at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago this week. I'm going to see it this Sunday and I can hardly wait. My favorite rock musical of all time.
Such a wonderful show. I was very lucky to see it with the original cast. Michael Cerveris absolutely ruled the stage. It was amazing.
For my 18th birthday, my mom took me to see this. To this day, one of the most fantastic birthday gifts I've ever received! I'm so happy to have found this video. 🙂
They need to revive this. I saw it three times. I loved it!!!
Amazing show.
Andrea Rivette I agree!!!!
Still one of my favorite productions of all time!
Somewhere, Des McAnuff smiled.
I got the chance to see this live on Broadway in spring of 1995 and I will forever cherish that experience. Still, one of my life goals is to own the Data East Tommy pinball machine based on this show.
I wish I could see the whole original production! These clips are amazing!
When I think of the technical achievements in theatre since 1993, Tommy is ripe for a much needed blockbuster broadway revival.
I just came from the revival at the Nederlander theater. It was a good show, but the 1993 version was superior in all respects in my opinion
Tech ruins shows. I don't want a childish spectacle, I want a raw performance. Also - the new production choreography looks like cirque de Soleil. Please just dance and leave the gymnastics at the Olympics. Tech is a sorry excuse for bad plot lines.
I have seen Cheryl Freeman do this role multiple times as a geeky little 13 year old and she consistently blew me away. This was one of my favorite versions of this tour.
I soooooo LOVED Tommy!!! We must have seen many of the same shows in the '90's btw :)
My dad loved the who when he was a teen . The music and Roger daltrey , Pete Townsend , Keith moon , and John entwistle
I loved this production and saw it many times! Even my mom who isn’t a fan of loud music found the show to be “visually dazzling!”
😉 let's go, nothing like being proud of a team!
We saw this production during its premiere run in La Jolla. It was beyond thrilling! Unlike anything we've ever seen before or since!!!
Saw this show on acid amazing show the who forever peace out
Happy 15 tommy
They need a revival and Michael Cerveris needs to play Captain Walker
Wow thank you for uploading this! Looks like Anthony Barrile (Cousin Kevin) isn't in this! Also, why hasn't Paul Kandle done more? He's so great!
That show is super triple epic congratulations 11 tony nominations I agree jay leno
New version on the way ❤
I saw it last night on Broadway. I didn’t like it as much as I liked this production I saw in 93.
please post Annie 20th's reel
😊
I feel like the London actor did a better job of looking blind. In the London version, the Tommy was looking directly in front of himself and having a more lose actions, it made him feel like he wasn't trying to play pinball while not being able to hear or see. The Broadway version just feels stiff and the look on his face makes it look like hes trying to remember something.
When he is singing he is expressing, he is not acting "blind" at that point. He is catatonic when not expressing himself in song however. Cerveris was exceptional, as was Steve Isaaks on the tour. Never got to see the London actor, might want to check that out!
he IS trying to remember something!
I want to know why theater companies are so afraid to cast rockers in the role of Tommy. The part was written for Roger Daltrey! Just once I'd like to see this production with a lead who knows how to wail with his voice. I really dislike this insistence on singing Tommy with a Broadway style voice. It sounds so proper and so contrived. It has always been a *rock* opera. Every production I've seen has had a screaming rock band backing it, but the lead part is sung by a squeaky clean crooner. BAH!!!
Actually, Cerveris is indeed a rocker and was fantastic in this. I agree that most productions do get it wrong though.
Is the Acid Queen song supposed to be a metaphor for giving Tommy acid or is it literal, where she's going to take his virginity? That's the only song in this that confused me.
She is a working girl for sure. Acid might be used also, never thought of that.
@@Rex-gu1bu It's both. In the 1975 film they made that very clear. Well, different versions might have different interpretations to cater to their markets, but "just give me one night" and "Your boy won't be a boy no more, young but not a child" suggest sex to me, and "your mind must learn to roam" plus all of the bodily reactions *after* her work is done in the last verse suggest drugs.
A little bit of both. There's this recurring theme in the musical about the things we do to fill the holes in our soul. And in order to fill the holes in Tommy's soul, his parents expose him to sex and drugs the form of the Acid Queen.
Problem is, Tommy didn't react to drugs or sex, the acid queen failed miserably. She was supposed to wake him up but none worked
It would be perfect if it had subtitles in Portuguese, kk. everything related to "Tommy" for me is a cultural necessity
ok
Looks alfull
Better than your spelling.
It was 1993. You probably weren’t even born yet. It was phenomenal to see this live.