Tommy 2019 – audition details

Workshops

Monday 7th January and Friday 11th January at 7.30pm

Auditions

Sunday 13th January at 2pm

Synopsis

After witnessing the accidental murder of his mother’s lover by his father, young Tommy is so traumatised that he loses his ability to speak or to care about life. As his life meanders on in post-World War II England, he suffers abuse from sadistic relatives and neighbours. Tommy’s life is saved, however, when he falls in love with pinball. He becomes such an expert at the game that he rises to the stature of an international superstar and inspires youth around the world.

Character Breakdown

Lead character

Tommy
An embittered young genius stricken deaf, dumb, and blind after a childhood trauma. Tommy discovers that he is a natural master of pinball, and later becomes a cult-like hero figure to masses enthralled by his story. Captain Walker and Mrs. Walker’s son.
Male, 18 to 25, Tenor

Supporting characters

Mrs. Walker
A weary middle-class woman. Mrs. Walker is tired and frustrated from trying to care for and cure Tommy. Tommy’s mother and Captain Walker’s wife.
Female, 25 to 35, Mezzo-soprano

Captain Walker
A former soldier with lingering guilt. He murders his wife’s lover after coming back from a POW camp, resulting in Tommy’s trauma-induced blindness, deafness, and dumbness. Father to Tommy and husband to Mrs. Walker.
Male, 30 to 45, Tenor

Uncle Ernie
Captain Walker’s lecherous, drunken brother. Ernie molests a young Tommy and later runs a children’s camp seeking to profit from Tommy’s popularity. Mrs. Walker’s brother and Tommy’s uncle.
Male, 30 to 45, Tenor

Cousin Kevin
A bully with sadistic tendencies. Tortures his cousin, Tommy, when they’re young and later seizes the opportunity to profit from Tommy’s success.
Male, 18 to 25, Baritone

Sally Simpson
A bold, sensitive, and excitable teenybopper. Sally develops a fan crush on Tommy and rushes the stage to be close to him.
Female, 18-25, Soprano

Young Tommy Age 4
Young Tommy Age 10
Both roles can be played by either a boy or a girl. Parents should be aware that this show contains adult language and adult situations.

Featured characters

The Gypsy
Heroin addict and a prostitute
Female, Alto

The Hawker
Offensive street hustler
Male

A Harmonica Player
The Hawker’s friend
Male

The Specialist
A doctor with modern ideas about how to cure Tommy. Tommy’s parents hire him in their desperation to find any cure for their son.
Male, 30 to 45, Baritone

Minister

Mr Simpson

Kevin’s mother

Kevin’s father

Minister’s wife

Mrs Simpson

Ensemble
Soldiers; Nurses; Harlots; Lads and Lasses; Guards; Reporters

Audition pieces

Audition Pieces

Tommy
I’m Free – All (pages 92 and 93)

Mrs Walker
Smash the Mirror – All pages 80 (90 in libretto vocal book)

Captain Walker
I Believe In My Own Eyes – Beginning to bar 34 (pages 83 & 84)

Uncle Ernie
Tommy’s Holiday Camp – Beginning to bar 66 (pages 108 and 109)

Cousin Kevin
Cousin Kevin – Beginning to bar 55 (pages 41 and 42)

Gypsy
Acid Queen – Beginning to bar 55 (pages 59, 60 and 61)

The Specialist
Go To The Mirror Boy – Beginning to bar 35 (Pages 24 and 25)

Sally Simpson
Sally Simpson – Bar 24 to bar 32 (pages 63 and 64)
Sally should also prepare the ensemble audition piece

Ensemble
Pinball Wizard – Beginning to bar 38 (pages 63 & 64)