East West Extends TOMMY

East West Players (EWP), the nation’s longest-running professional theatre of color in the country, celebrating its 50th Anniversary season, is pleased to announce the extension of “The Who’s TOMMY” which opened on May 13. Music and Lyrics by Pete Townshend, Book by Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff, Additional Music and Lyrics by John Entwistle and Keith Moon. “The Who’s TOMMY” was originally produced on Broadway by Pace Theatrical Group and Dodger Productions with Kardana Productions.  The production is directed by Snehal Desai (EWP’s “A Nice Indian Boy”)  with musical direction by Marc Macalintal (EWP’s “Chess,” “Krunk Fu Battle Battle”) and choreography by Janet Roston (Ovation Award and NAACP Award winner for “The Color Purple” at Celebration Theatre). Generous support for this production is provided by the S. Mark Taper Foundation Endowment for East West Players.

“The Who’s TOMMY” cast features Joseph Morales (“In The Heights” and“Bombay Dreams” National Tours) as Tommy, Deedee Magno Hall, recently from “If/Then” on Broadway and currently the voice of Pearl on Cartoon Network’s Steven Universe (“Miss Saigon” Broadway & International Tour, “Wicked” 1st National Tour) as Mrs. Walker, Cliffton Hall (“Miss Saigon” Broadway, 1st National Tour & International Tour, “Wicked” 1st National Tour) as Captain Walker, Constance Jewell Lopez (“Dreamgirls” Ovation and LA Drama Critics Circle Award Winner) as the Acid Queen, and Parvesh Cheena (NBC’s “Outsourced”) as Uncle Ernie. Also featured are Araceli Prasarttongosoth, Van Brunelle, Michayla Brown, Ryan Castellino, Cesar Cipriano, Cailan Rose, Maxwel Corpuz, Michael Daniel Dashefsky, Christine De Chavez, Caitlyn Calfas, Marius Beltran and Tina Nguyen.

About “The Who’s TOMMY”: Deprived of sight, hearing and speech by the shock of what he had witnessed as a child, young Tommy Walker seems lost to life – until he reveals an uncanny talent for the game of pinball. When his lost senses are suddenly restored, Tommy is hailed as a living miracle. The classic rock musical arrives for the first time at East West Players in an electrifying new production.

The design team includes: Set design by Stephanie Kerley Schwartz, costume design by Jenny Foldenauer, lighting design by Karyn Lawrence, sound design by Cricket Myers, projections design by Sean Cawelti, and props by Marissa Bergman. Stage Manager is Ondina V. Dominguez.

All performances will be staged at the David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center of the Arts at 120 Judge John Aiso Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

A special talkback with the cast and creative team is on Sunday, May 24th immediately following the performance. The production has been extended to run until June 21, 2015.

Regular performances run Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm. Tickets may be purchased online ateastwestplayers.org or by calling 213.625.7000. Regular tickets range from $43-58. Group, Student and Senior discounts available. Dates, prices and details are subject to change.