Billy Elliot's Bologna to Star in The Who's Tommy Benefit Concert
By Andrew Gans
and Adam Hetrick
02 Dec 2008
David Bologna, one of the actors who alternates in the role of Michael in Broadway's Billy Elliot—The Musical, will play the young Tommy in the upcoming benefit performance of The Who's Tommy.
As previously announced, the original Broadway cast of the Tony-nominated rock musical The Who's Tommy will reunite for a one-night-only benefit concert Dec. 15. Rockers on Broadway and the PATH fund present the 15th anniversary concert that will benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids, the Broadway Dreams Foundation and the Bachmann-Strauss Dystonia and Parkinson Foundation.
Original cast member Donny Kehr, who is also the founder of Rockers on Broadway, will stage the 8 PM concert presentation at the August Wilson Theatre. Joe Church will be the evening's musical director.
The Who's Tommy: 15th Anniversary Benefit Concert will include photo stills of the 1993 Broadway production as well as Wendell K. Harrington's Drama Desk-winning projection designs. Original band members will back the benefit concert.
The evening will boast original Tommy cast members Michael Arnold, Anthony Barrile, Bill Buell, Maria Calabrese, Victoria Cave, Michael Cerveris, Tracy Nicole Chapman, Paul Dobie, Jonathan Dokuchitz, Tom Flynn, Cheryl Freeman, Romaine Fruge, Jody Gelb, Christian Hoff, Todd Hunter, Paul Kandel, Donnie Kehr, Tracey Langran Corea, Lisa Leguillou, Norm Lewis, Marcia Mitzman, Lee Morgan, Alice Ripley, Sherie Rene Scott and Timothy Warmen with national tour alum Destan Owens appearing for original cast member Michael McElroy.
"After witnessing the accidental murder of his mother's lover by his father, Tommy is traumatized into catatonia, and as the boy grows, he suffers abuse at the hands of his sadistic relatives and neighbors. As an adolescent, he's discovered to have an uncanny knack for playing pinball, and when his mother finally breaks through his catatonia, he becomes an international pinball superstar," according to press notes.
The Who's Tommy opened on Broadway at the St. James Theatre April 22, 1993. Des McAnuff earned a Tony Award for his direction of the rock musical, which received 11 Tony nominations including Best Musical. Pete Townshend penned the score for the musical with a book by Townshend and Des McAnuff.
The Who's Tommy: 15th Anniversary Benefit Concert is sponsored by Base Entertainment, The Dodgers, The Frye Company, Joseph J. Grano Jr., Kevin & Tamara Kinsella, and SONY/BMG Masterworks.
Tickets, priced $52-$502, are available by visiting Telecharge, or by phoning (212) 239-6200.
The August Wilson Theatre is located at 245 West 52nd Street, in Manhattan.
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