'The Who's Tommy' with Egan, Duff in Hollywood Production, June 18-29

Flicker House Productions is announcing a new production of The Who's Tommy at the Ricardo Montalb?n Theatre in Hollywood.? The Who's Tommy, which has music and lyrics by Pete Townshend and book by Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff, will be performed for two weeks only, June 18 to 29.

The cast will include Susan Egan (Beauty and the Beast, Cabaret) as Mrs. Walker; Haylie Duff ("7th Heaven") as Sally Simpson; Nona Hendryx ("The L-Word") as the Acid Queen, Aleks Pevec (Wicked LA) as Tommy, Tom Schmid (Annie, Get Your Gun) as Captain Walker; Douglas Crawford (Jersey Boys) as Lover/Ensemble; Daniel Guzman (Les Miserables) as The Specialist/Ensemble; and Leah Seminario (Camelot tour) as the Specialist.

The production is directed by Brian Purcell, who directed Chess, the special event at the Ford Amphitheatre last summer; it was among the most popular and highest grossing attractions in the Ford's history. As an actor, he appeared in the Broadway National Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar, and in Footloose as Willard Hewitt, Ragtime as Younger Brother and Evita as Che.

With musical director Dan Redfeld and choreographer Denise Leitner, Purcell has come up with a radical new theatrical treatment for Tommy, one of the seminal works of the rock era.? The concept is to create a new and visceral aural environment, designed especially for the Ricardo Montalb?n theatre.

"The Who's Tommy is one of the most phenomenal works of the rock era.? Originally released as a two-record set in 1969, and composed by Pete Townshend, with songs contributed by Who bassist John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon, it was the work that started a new genre - the rock opera.? Since its first release, it has been continuously performed live, including the tremendously successful Broadway staging in 1993," describe press notes, "As the movie was to the seventies, and the Broadway staging is to the seventies, Purcell and his collaborators have a new concept for the piece for this decade."

The Who's Tommy will perform Wednesday, June 18 to Sunday, June 29 at The Ricardo Montalb?n Theatre (1615 Vine Street, Hollywood, CA 90028).

Tickets ($75 orchestra, $50 balcony) are available at Box Office Phone - 323-230-9819, www.tix.com or Box Office at theatre - 1615 North Vine Street, Hollywood. Visit www.thewhostommy.com

Photos (top-bottom): Susan Egan, Haylie Duff and Aleks Pevec