Original Tommy Broadway cast member Donnie Kehr, who is also the founder of Rockers on Broadway, directed the Dec. 15 concert that reunited much of the original Broadway cast of the rock musical.
Rockers on Broadway and the PATH fund presented the sold-out concert that raised $30,000 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the Broadway Dreams Foundation and the Bachmann-Strauss Dystonia and Parkinson Foundation.
The concert featured Michael Cerveris, who earned a Tony nomination for his work in Tommy's title role, leading a company of original Tommy cast members, including Marcia Mitzman (Mrs. Walker), Jonathan Dokuchitz (Mr. Walker), Cheryl Freeman (Gypsy/Acid Queen), Anthony Barrile (Cousin Kevin), Paul Kandel (Uncle Ernie) and Sherie Rene Scott (Sally Simpson).
Also on hand were Tommy Broadway veterans Alice Ripley, Norm Lewis, Christian Hoff, Donnie Kehr, Michael Arnold, Bill Buell, Maria Calabrese, Tracy Nicole Chapman, Paul Dobie, Tom Flynn, Romain Fruge, Jody Gelb, Pam Klinger, Lisa Leguillou, Lee Morgan and Timothy Warmen with national tour cast member Destan Owens as the Hawker. David Bologna, who alternates in the role of Michael in Broadway's Billy Elliot—The Musical, portrayed the young Tommy for the reunion concert.
The reunion concert boasted included photo stills of the electrifying 1993 Broadway production as well as Wendell K. Harrington's Drama Desk-winning projection designs, and original band members from the Broadway production. The Who's Tommy open on Broadway on at the St. James Theatre April 22, 1993. Des McAnuff earned a Tony Award for his direction of the rock musical that received eleven Tony nominations including Best Musical. Pete Townshend penned the score for the musical that features a book by Townshend and Des McAnuff.