Just got home from the Tommy reunion.

[Lorelai]

Posted: 12/16/08 at 12:05am

Just got home from the Tommy reunion concert and I must say, I thought it was excellent. Done in true concert style with screen behind the actors with photos and video from the original show playing in sync with what was happening in each scene.

Personally, and by no shock really, I thought Marcia Mitzman was absolutely amazing. If I didn't know better, I'd say she's been a steady Broadway performer for years. A close second was Cheryl Freeman as The Gypsy. She totally brought the house down. Michael Cerveris was great, as usual. I adore Sherie Rene Scott but she didn't blow me away like I thought she would. I think almost everyone there was close to sounding how they did on the cast recording but part of her singing just seemed off. Plus, in the break down of the song in each act, her name was spelled wrong. Way to go Rockers.

Overall, I thought it was a great night and had a ton of fun. I was afraid that some of my friend who hadn't seen the original wouldn't be able to appreciate it as much but they did. I also have to mention....I am kicking myself because I missed Marcia Mitzman at the stage door. I'm totally of the mindset that actors are not required to greet fans but....considering she was the only person I wanted to meet, I was pretty bummed.

edited for grammer and "pretty good"

Updated On: 12/16/08 at 12:05 AM

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 12/16/08 at 12:10am

I agree that it was absolutely fantastic. Someone needs to write a show for Marcia Mitzman right now! She brought the house down. Absolutely brilliant. I am so glad I was able to attend this concert.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 12/16/08 at 12:18am

I thought it was amazing too. I was THRILLED to see Cheryl Freeman do "Acid Queen" again (she did it at Broadway Originals) and hear it how it should be as opposed to the mess that Nona Hendrix made it in LA this summer.

[Lorelai]

Posted: 12/16/08 at 12:18am

Without a Trace, since you seemed to enjoy Ms. Mitzman's performance as well I feel i need to mention one more thing...."Smash the Mirror".

Now I have always loved this song and was keeping my fingers crossed that Ms. Mitzman would be able to deliver a similar performance to the one on the cast recording. Let me just say.....I thought it was better. The "rise...rise...rise..rise.." part just blew me away. And the rest of the audience too, considering they erupted into cheers.

AMAZING!

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 12/16/08 at 12:19am

a truly outstanding evening tonight! i'm still reeling...

[Tag]

Posted: 12/16/08 at 12:26am

Anyone know if Des was there?

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 12/16/08 at 12:28am

Mitzman was a STUNNING Mother in the First National Tour of Ragtime. I actually preferred her to Mazzie.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 12/16/08 at 12:35am

Yes, Des was there...he spoke before the concert began.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 12/16/08 at 12:39am

Why doesn't this get revived? Is it because the original was such a success? It seems like it would do pretty well with the whole "rock musical" thing happening on Broadway. (Or was...I guess).

[Lorelai]

Posted: 12/16/08 at 12:41am

Oh yes, I forgot to add that I spoke to someone working at the show, they DID record the show tonight and are planning to release it.

[HollyDiver]

Posted: 12/16/08 at 1:00am

I went to this as well, and boy oh boy, I am so glad I did!!! I absolutely agree with everyone on Marcia. When she sang "Smash the Mirror" I had chills!!!! Such great energy.

Did it sound like Michael Cervaris had a slight nasally thing going on? He has such a great stage presense, but I thought his voice sounded like he may have had a slight cold.

[broadwayrob]

Posted: 12/16/08 at 1:23am

I don't think words can express how sad I am that I was not at this concert.

ultimate sad face.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 12/16/08 at 1:25am

Funny. Lorelai said it was "pretty good" and jordangirl said she thought it was "amazing too."

[bundy5000]

Posted: 12/16/08 at 3:03am

just came back also from it, HARDCORE!!!! ok time to go to bed, i spotted christian Ebersole in the audience, and Caroline Rhea

[jordangirl]

Posted: 12/16/08 at 6:49am

That was actually more in response to WaT's response. LOL.

[BigsCanYouHereMe?]

Posted: 12/16/08 at 9:28am

This show was my most thrilling night of theater. Tommy is the show that made me a theatergoer back in 1994. I loved that it was a concert version so everyone could let loose a little more. I was fourth row and could see the whole cast and all their expressions. They all looked really happy to be there. Many ended up in tears. What a high! In the audience were the whole Stiller clan although Jerry did not look like he enjoyed it. Alot of the Sopranos cast as well as Joe Pesce from what I heard. I want to especially thank Donnie Kehr for putting this together. Tears were running down his face at the end and I was with him all the way. If you were a Tommy fan you had to be there last night. What a thrill!! A recording would be great. I am a little over the top, but this show is what got me into the theater. Many thousands of dollars later and I could not be happier. Hoff looked good as well and showed no signs of injury. Thanks to the cast, crew, band and audience for making the whole night great! Just don't laugh next time Uncle Ernie Fiddle's about, not really appropriate. Ha. Little Tommy was very good as well. It probably felt like a night off compared to what he has to do in Billy Elliot. Sorry for the run on of information but I am a rookie poster.

[Josh Freilich]

Posted: 12/16/08 at 9:47am

a truly outstanding evening tonight! i'm still reeling...

One of the best nights ever. I'm reeling too. I can't believe I missed out on it in 1993 (well, I did, I was too young), but I'm so glad I finally saw it on Broadway. It's one of those shows in which by the Act One Finale the people can no longer contain themselves. In this case, when they did Pinball Wizard, the audience lost it! By this time, everybody wanted to do the same staging in the show, and with Donnie, Christian, and Anthony, that was no exception at all.

Also, I got to talk to Richie Ridge, Jamie DeRoy, Alex Lacamoire, Lauren Kennedy, Alan Campbell, and Des McAnuff, who were all in the audience. They were all nice.

[HollyDiver]

Posted: 12/16/08 at 10:03am

I spotted Christopher J Hanke walking amongst the crowd before it began, but missed all the rest!

It really was an exciting performance. A woman two rows in front of me was literally shaking and headbanging with excitement (she looked to be about 65 years old....awesome). The whole crowd was howling and cheering at certain parts as well. It took the band and cast a song or two to get comfortable at first (sorry, but the beginning was a tad stiff), but by the end everyone in the theater was really loosened up and so into it. I didnt want it to end!

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 12/16/08 at 10:07am

Which boy from BILLY ELLIOT played Young Tommy?

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 12/16/08 at 10:09am

David Bologna...one of the guys who alternates the role of Michael.
Updated On: 12/16/08 at 10:09 AM

[Neverandy]

Posted: 12/16/08 at 10:58am

And Hoff was there dancing too?

[Amneris]

Posted: 12/16/08 at 11:05am

I am SO jealous that I missed this!!!! I would have done anything to see Sherie as Sally Simpson. Well for any TOMMY lovers here, you can always catch an awesome production of the show in Hoboken running all of Feb 2009

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 12/16/08 at 11:19am

"And Hoff was there dancing too?"

Yes, and honestly, he was fantastic.

[Winston3]

Posted: 12/16/08 at 11:28am

As a MAJOR fan of The Who I am kinda upset that I missed this. I only say kinda because I am a fan of the original Tommy. The one that came out on three double sided records in 1969. Not the musical with the cheap orchestrations.

[lucydee]

Posted: 12/16/08 at 12:38pm

This was truly a night to remember! Donnie did a fantastic job coordinating this whole thing. Everyone looked and sounded amazing. I agree with everyones comments on Marcia. She rocked the house! Anthony I thought was very good as Cousin Kevin, he still has his voice. Michael was awesome as the entire cast. I am still on a high from this show last night.

Amazing performaces by everyone. I loved it!

Have a good day all.