Check out the first 14 Broadway appearances of THE WHO’S TOMMY

The newly reimagined Broadway production of The Who’s TOMMY is currently playing at the Nederlander Theatre. The company presents 16 Broadway debuts!

BroadwayWorld spoke with the company members and asked them what it meant to them to make their Broadway debut in The Who’s Tommy.

See their answers below!

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Ali Louis Bourzgui (Tommy)

I am so honored to be making my Broadway debut among 15 other newbies in my cast of 30. For me, theater has always been about community. And its ability to remind each other of our capacity to feel emotion. Our collective debut was a night of deep emotion, as we all accomplished something we had worked for years to achieve in front of an audience that could feel that once-in-a-lifetime energy. I couldn’t imagine a better group of people to experience this collectively with.

As the final chord swelled, I looked at the lights and thought of all my friends and family whose shoulders I have stood on and who are all part of my tapestry.

Andrew Tufano (Ensemble)

Getting the call on October 16, 2023 that I would be making my Broadway debut in Tommy by The Who is a day I will never forget. Telling everyone who has loved and supported me from the beginning and sharing my debut with my family and friends in the audience is simply one of the coolest things I have ever experienced. My childhood dream has come true and all the years of dedicating myself to this art form have paid off. I get to share my passion 8 shows a week and I am incredibly grateful. I am riding my wave and I hope everyone feels what I feel every night on Broadway. Everyone deserves their moment and I am enjoying every minute of mine.

John Ambrosino (Uncle Ernie)

If you think you can’t find your way to Broadway after a specific birthday, then my debut in TOMMY is proof that you can. It reminds me that if you don’t succeed right off the bat, it doesn’t mean you’re doomed to fail. Go ahead, be late to the party, most people find that fashionable.

Quinten Kusheba (Tommy, 10 years old)

Making my Broadway debut was a dream come true. I am so lucky to have such a supportive family. I will never forget the magic of my opening night and the unforgettable energy of the audience. The pride of wearing a casting jacket while signing programs at the stage entrance is something I will never get tired of. I am so honored to share this experience with such an incredible cast and crew.

Tassy Kirbas (Ensemble/Resident Conductor/US Acid Queen)

What’s my Broadway debut? Who’s Tommy To me, it means that manifestations and fateful moments are real and happen when combined with hard work and devotion. It means that I share a dressing room with a group of artists who are truly driven and dedicated to creating performance art, and that my energy fits perfectly into the pocket of that. It means that I am meant to be where I am, exactly as I am, and that what is meant to be mine will flow to me. Being in the theater has helped me become an open-minded, compassionate, and fluid person—someone who can use her voice to help people who are stripped of hers, and her artistic gifts to share important stories that would otherwise be drowned out and ignored. Making my Broadway debut alongside fifteen other artists has confirmed to me that I am designed to transform, connect, help, and participate in shaping the world into a place that better reflects the intentions of the universe.

Cecilia Ann Popp (Tommy, 4 years old)

Making my Broadway debut as Tommy in The Who was an incredible experience! Working with Tony Award-winning director Des McAnuff and rock legend Pete Townshend was a magical learning experience. I’ve made so many great friends – the entire Tommy cast is like a second family to me. Every time I step on that huge stage, I feel like my legs are shaking, but then I realize this is where I’m supposed to be.

Reese Levine (Tommy, 10 years old)

This incredible journey with Tommy from The Who has been a dream come true. From getting to know our incredible cast, crew and creative team in rehearsals to being able to have fun in the show every night, it has only gotten better! I LOVE going out and getting thrown out, thrown in a trash can, having a cigarette stuck in my mouth… Being a part of this supportive cast and being able to perform with them every night is so special. Hearing and seeing the audience stand up for us at the end of the show is exhilarating. I hope I can always remember all the little moments I have had.

Olive Ross-Kline (Tommy, 4 years old)

Since I was 4 years old, I knew I wanted to perform on Broadway. Making my Broadway debut in Tommy by The Who was a dream come true and one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I love everything about this play: the music, the story, the set design, the cast and crew, the production team and producers. I am so honored and proud to be a part of such a powerful show about overcoming challenges, healing, and the importance of family and connection. I will forever be grateful for this INCREDIBLE JOURNEY.

Dee Tomasetta (Associate Choreographer, Swing, Dance Captain)

I believe the power of musical theatre lies in the human connection and the privilege of telling powerful stories on stage. It is a great honor for me to have made my Broadway debut as Associate Choreographer, Swing and Dance Captain of our beloved show TOMMY. To help create and witness the magic that happens each night, but also to step into that magic on stage with this incredible company, has been the ultimate dream come true. I am so grateful for this incredible chapter and journey.

Brett Michael Lockley (Swing, U/S Hawker/Specialist, Pinball Lad 2)

Making my Broadway debut means the world to me! It shows me that hard work and dedication pays off! It tells me that persistence, passion, and perseverance are so important to the journey! And it reminds me that this is just the beginning, and I can’t wait to see what’s next!

Lily Kren (Ensemble/Nurse/Psychiatrist/Kevin’s Mother, U/S Mrs. Simpson, Specialist’s Assistant)

Making my Broadway debut in Tommy is simply surreal. I’ve found a new home away from home in a way I never could have imagined.

Cultivating this out-of-town revival with the original creative team, witnessing their vision and bringing a new artistic twist to it has been an unforgettable journey. It’s a dream come true and I will cherish this moment for as long as I live.

Jeremiah Alsop (Ensemble/Allied Soldier/Kevin’s Father/Pinball Lad 2/Combat Captain, American Cousin Kevin)

As a Chicago actor, when asked, I would say I would go to New York “if something ever took me there,” without really thinking about it. When the team at TOMMY asked me to go from The Goodman to Broadway with the production, I couldn’t believe it. Over the years, I’ve let people convince me that my dreams were too big or too far away, but this year, they came true! I checked just about every box I could have dreamed of for my Broadway debut. Most of all, I am grateful for the relationships I have built within this company—cast, crew, and creative—and for everyone’s commitment to doing our best. This moment is a culmination of everyone who invested in me and believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself.

Mark Mitrano (they/them) (Ensemble/Pinball Lad #1, U/S Tommy Walker, Cousin Kevin)

Making my Broadway debut in Tommy, the Who play, was an absolute dream. To be able to develop something out of town and bring it to New York with almost the entire original cast is incredible. It’s an exciting step in your career and you never know when or if you’ll get the chance, so I took advantage of it as much as I could. The bonds we’ve all built with each other from Chicago to here are what will follow me. This is our version of Tommy and we’re so proud of it. It’s been a wonderful debut and I’m forever grateful!

David Paul Kidder (Swing):

It was an absolute DREAM to make my Broadway debut in “The Who’s Tommy.” I love this show, its cast, crew, and team. We have truly created something beautiful, electric, and spectacular, and I am so proud to be a part of this company. I moved to New York 12 years ago with the goal of being on Broadway, and I couldn’t have asked for a better show to do it in. I am so grateful to Des, Lorin, Rick, and Ron for their guidance and support. This show has pushed me and made me grow in ways I couldn’t have imagined. And the best, craziest part is that I get to share this with my cast partner.