George Ranch High School student Sean Hardin will be a featured performer in Theatre Under The Stars’ and Humphreys School of Musical Theatre’s upcoming production of “The Who’s Tommy.”
The production is based on the 1969 rock opera album “Tommy” by music hall of famer Pete Townshend.
Featuring an all teen cast of students from TUTS’ Humphreys School of Musical Theatre, “The Who’s Tommy” takes the stage at Zilkha Hall in the Hobby Center Sept. 10-11.
Broadway veteran and original “The Who’s Tommy” cast member Michael Tapley will direct.
Hardin, 15, was last seen at TUTS in the southwest regional premiere of 13 – The Musical as “Archie”. When he is not on stage, Hardin works on many volunteer projects to help others. In March, he hosted a benefit concert for Compassion International Haiti Earthquake Relief and raised over $4,000. Hardin also recorded an original song titled “Alive” as a part of the Stop Drunk Driving Now campaign for kids.
“The Who’s Tommy” chronicles the life of a child trapped inside his own mind and his family’s desperate attempts to free him. As an adolescent, he discovers an uncanny knack for playing pinball, and that leads him to international stardom once he is freed from a catatonic state.
The cast of “The Who’s Tommy” is composed of 30 students from the Humphreys School of Musical Theatre including Austin Arizpe, Melissa Beaird, Aaron Boudreaux, Monica Brown, Ian Bouillion, Sam Burkett, Emily Coleman, Rebecca Eckert, Mia Gerachis, James Hamrick, Sean Hardin, Brooke Humphrey, Austin Jacobs and Ryan Jacobs. Also in the cast are Mark Jammal, Connor Jones, Drew Jones, Ryan Kennedy, Dylan Lambert, McCall Montz, Ryne Nardecchia, Sydney Roberts, Morgan Starr, Terran Swonke, Sandy Valles, Charity Van Tassel, Christian Warner, Katy Wilson and Chris Wolff.
Michael Tapley, the Artistic Director for Theatre Under The Stars’ Tommy Tune Awards, will direct the production. Tapley began his career with TUTS in 1973 while appearing in “Kismet.” Over the years he has appeared in such TUTS productions as “Gypsy,” “The Sound of Music,” “A Chorus Line” and “West Side Story.” Tapley has also appeared on Broadway, most notably, in m “The Who’s Tommy.”
Assisting the director is Shay Rodgers, a native Houstonian who is currently in her 23rd year with Theatre Under The Stars. Through her time at TUTS, Rodgers has held various roles including student, performer, teacher, production assistant, choreographer, stage manager and now manager of education.
John Cornelius serves as music director for the performance. Cornelius has been the music director, arranger and composer for a number of theaters including The Great Caruso, The Ensemble Theatre, Main Street Theatre and Theatre Under The Stars’ Humphreys School.
Tickets for “The Who’s Tommy” are available online at www.tuts.com, by phone at 713-558-8887 or in person at the Theatre Under The Stars box office at 800 Bagby in downtown Houston.
