Tommy - Joe McElderry joins cast
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
JOE McElderry, the 2009 X Factor winner, will make his West End debut playing the title role in the hit Broadway and West End musical Tommy, which is being revived for a one-off charity concert at the Prince Edward Theatre – on November 12, 2012.
McElderry’s first single, The Climb, reached number one on both the UK and Irish Singles Charts. To date he has released four albums – two of them reaching the UK top three. In 2011, he won the second series of Popstar to Operastar.
Speaking about his role, McElderry said: “I’m very excitied to make my West End debut in the iconic rock opera Tommy; I have been wating for a role that would challenge both my acting and singing skills, this has both. I am a big fan of The Who and it is incredible that Pete Townshend wrote this piece when he was 21, the same age as me.”
Also joining the cast will be David Hunter (as Cousin Kevin) and Glenn Carter (Uncle Ernie).
Previously Posted: For one night only – November 12, 2012 – the hit Broadway and West End musical Tommy, will be revived for a one-off charity concert at the Prince Edward Theatre.
This multi award-winning adaptation of The Who’s original chart-topping rock album is a powerful tale of a deaf, mute and blind pinball player who becomes an international messiah. It features hit songs such as Pinball Wizard and See Me, Touch Me.
Tommy will star Daniel Boys (as Captain Walker), Hannah Jane Fox (Mrs Walker) and Zoe Birkett (The Acid Queen). Further casting has yet to be announced.
The production will be directed by Raz Shaw, with choreography by Adam Cooper, musical supervision by Iain Vince Gatt and musical direction by Andrew Hilton.
Originally conceived by Peter Townshend and Kit Lambert, Tommy was first performed by The Who in 1969. The production has music and lyrics by Pete Townshend, book by Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff and additional music and lyrics by John Entwistle and Keith Moon.
Tommy is being staged in aid of the Pure Theatre Development Fund, which has been set up with the aim of funding the development of new writing in musicals and straight theatre. The fund will facilitate workshops and readings of new writing and will be launched in conjunction with this production.