Monday, August 25, 2008

Dallas Theater Center launches 50th season this week with The Who’s Tommy

By Pegasus News wire

Dallas Theater Center is getting to ready to rock this week with the opening of their new 2008-2009 season. The Who's Tommy will run from August 27 – September 28, 2008 and tickets can be purchased online or by calling 214-522-8499. Sunday evening previews are pay-what-you-can so this August 31, anyone who would like to attend it should arrive 30 minutes prior to curtain and purchase a ticket at the Box Office with a donation.

Since it exploded on the charts almost 40 years ago as the first rock opera ever written, Tommy has been freshly re-interpreted for each generation in concerts, on film, and on stage. Now this classic, cross-generational, pop phenomenon comes to life at DTC in a new, vibrant, once-in-a-lifetime production. The Kalita Humphreys Theater will rock with high-energy singing and dancing, dazzling images, and a live onstage band. Ranked by Rolling Stone as one of the Greatest Rock Albums of all time, Pete Townshend's musical masterpiece tells the story of a deaf, dumb, and blind Pinball Wizard who transcends the cruelty of the world around him and finds enlightenment. Driven by a powerful beat and reverberating with unforgettable characters, this is a Tommy for today.

Dallas Theater Center Artistic Director Kevin Moriarty announced that his DTC directorial debut, The Who’s Tommy, will feature local band Oso Closo. The five-member rock band, based in Denton, will appear in the legendary rock opera alongside actors.

“Oso Closo is one of my favorite local bands,” Moriarty said. “The moment I first heard their album, Rest, I was struck by their unique sound, inspired musicianship and fresh personality. Seeing them perform live confirmed for me that they will bring a bold musical style and dynamic personality to DTC’s production of Tommy, which will feature Oso Closo at the center of the production, singing, playing and interacting with the actors who will play the characters in the rock opera.”

The quintet’s eclectic style of blending genres like rock, pop, bluegrass, jazz and even mariachi with energetic strings and operatic inflections is a testament to the five members’ music education. Adrian Hulet (lead vocals, pianist), Ryan Jacobi (percussion), Chris McQueen (guitar, vocals), Lindsey Miller (guitar) and Andy Rogers (bass, vocals) have degrees from or ties to the renowned jazz program at the University of North Texas.

“We feel honored and overwhelmed to be a part of a piece of work as legendary as Tommy, particularly alongside an organization as accomplished as Dallas Theater Center,” Hulet said. “We’re shooting to remain true to the original, but with an especially unique interpretive approach.”

Oso Closo’s debut album, Rest, received rave reviews when it was locally released in 2007. A professionally remixed special edition of Rest featuring a live DVD will be released in conjunction with the run of The Who’s Tommy at DTC.

“They’re going to blow the roof off the building and bring a real rock sound and energy to the production,” Moriarty said. “For the first time in 50 years, the Kalita Humphreys Theater is going to truly rock.”

The Who’s Tommy will launch DTC’s 50th anniversary season and signal its commitment to producing a wide variety of musical theater pieces in singular productions, and its belief in collaborating with a wide range of local artists.

“As a new member of the community, I’m deeply impressed by the vibrancy and talent of the local arts scene,” Moriarty said. “From rock bands in clubs to the diverse theater companies and the many outstanding cultural organizations throughout the city, Dallas is teaming with artistic life. As we look ahead to our move to the Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre at the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts one year from now, we’re already preparing to engage a wide variety of talented artists from Dallas and across the nation to create bold, exciting work here in Dallas for our community.”

Posted by Shawn

Related stories

• Two new hires start at Dallas Symphony Orchestra this week (Sept. 7, 2008)
• Dallas Theater Center director out to prove himself with new season (Aug. 29, 2008)

See more stories in:

• Arts > Fine Arts > Theater > Musicals
• Arts > Popular Music > Rock

Comments

Teresa Gubbins Staff

the DMN gave it a rave

1 year, 2 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )