The Who's TOMMY Closes Moonlight Stage's 33rd Summer Season, Now thru 10/5

Moonlight Stage Productions' 33rd summer season closes with the smash Broadway hit THE WHO's TOMMY, from today, September 18 to October 5, 2013, in a rare full production marking the 20th anniversary of the show's Broadway debut.

Single tickets are priced $15 to $50 and include price levels for student rush, military, senior, and family discounts. To purchase tickets or for more information, call (760) 724-2110 or visit moonlightstage.com.

The outdoor Moonlight Amphitheatre will be rocking this production featuring some of The Who's best-known hits, including "See Me, Feel Me," "Pinball Wizard," "Tommy, Can You Hear Me?", and "I'm Free."

"The Who's TOMMY" is a rock musical by Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff based on The Who's 1969 double album rock opera "Tommy," also by Pete Townshend, which premiered at La Jolla Playhouse in July 1992. After witnessing his father accidentally kill his mother's lover, the young boy Tommy is so traumatized that he loses his ability to speak and withdraws from the world. As life goes on in post-World War II England, Tommy is abused by sadistic relatives and neighbors. What saves his life is falling in love with pinball. He becomes such an expert at the game that he becomes an international superstar and a messianic figure to youth around the world.
Directed by Des McAnuff, TOMMY debuted on Broadway in April 1993 and was an immediate hit, playing for 900 performances and then being produced by various touring companies throughout North America and Europe.

THE CAST:

Eddie Egan (Tommy) is a New Jersey native who now calls NYC home, and is making his Moonlight debut. He has performed the role of Gabe in the Southern California premiere of "Next to Normal" (McCoy-Rigby Productions/La Mirada), Skip in "Life Could Be A Dream" (American Heartland), Joseph in "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" (New Candlelight), and Henrik in "A Little Night Music" (White Plains PAC). Eddie has also toured as a vocalist with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, bringing the show to large arenas around the country.

Misty Cotton (Mrs. Walker) was most recently seen at Moonlight as Missy in "The Marvelous Wonderettes." She has performed on Broadway or in the national tours of "Miss Saigon" (Ellen), "Les Miserables" (Eponine), and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" (Narrator) opposite Donny Osmond. Some of her favorites roles and shows are Violet in "Side Show" (Los Angeles Premiere/Colony Theatre--Ovation, Garland, and Robby Awards); Petra in "A Little Night Music" (South Coast Rep--LADCC Award); Missy in "Winter Wonderettes;" Percy in "Spitfire Grill" (Laguna Playhouse); Cathy in "Last Five Years" (Pasadena Playhouse); Soubrette in "Sophisticated Ladies" (Best Supporting Actress Ovation Nomination); Annie in "Annie Get Your Gun" (South Bay CLO); Princess Leonide in "Triumph Of Love;" Fay in "Anyone Can Whistle;" Nancy in "Oliver!"; Marta in "Company;" "Macbeth" and "Johnny Guitar" (Utah Shakespeare Festival); Eve/Mama Noah in "Children Of Eden;" Lucy in "Jekyll and Hyde;" and Katy Lane in "Honky Tonk Laundry."

Jason W. Webb (Captain Walker) returns to Moonlight following performances in "South Pacific" (Luther Billis); "Fiddler on the Roof" (Perchik); and "Sweeney Todd" (Beadle Bamford). Other performances include "Crazy for You" (Bobby); "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" (Adam); "1776" (Dickinson) at Glendale Centre; "Curtains" (Lt. Cioffi); "Evita" (Che) at Performance Riverside; "Man of La Mancha" (Padre); "1776" (Livingston) at Musical Theater West; "She Loves Me" (Georg) at CLO of South Bay Cities; and "Music Man" (Harold) and "Lucky Stiff" (Harry) at Candlelight Pavilion. He originated the role of Sam Harris in Richard Sherman's new musical, "PIZZAZZ!" He has performed on the international tours of "Evita" (McCoy/Rigby & Park Ave NYC) and BYU Young Ambassadors.

Mark Bartlett (Cousin Kevin) is a multi-faceted performing artist specializing in music, acting, and dance. In 2012, he received a Bachelor's of Fine Arts degree in musical theatre from California State University Fullerton. His Southern California regional credits include the recent Moonlight Stage production of "South Pacific" and LA Stage Alliance's Ovation Award-winning Chance Theater and OCPAC productions of "The Who's TOMMY" (as Tommy).

Paul Morgavo (Uncle Ernie) returns for his 20th Moonlight production. Last winter season he played the cross-dressing Leo Clark in "Leading Ladies" as well as hoodlum Eddie Brock in "Born Yesterday." A Southern California native, Paul has performed in venues all across the United States, Canada, and England, and has played many local theaters including The Old Globe, Starlight, North Coast Repertory Theatre, The Lawrence Welk Resort Theatre, San Diego Musical Theatre, Lyric Opera San Diego, and more. Other recent credits include Claudius in "Hamlet," Guildenstern in "Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead," and Sir Galahad in "Spamalot."

ARTISTIC STAFF:

Director/choreographer JOHN VAUGHAN has more than 300 productions to his credit. At Moonlight he has choreographed or directed previous productions of "Legally Blonde," "Crazy For You," "Annie Get Your Gun," "Evita," "The Will Rogers Follies," "Guys and Dolls," "Hairspray," and many others. His theme park shows have been seen from Knott's Berry Farm to SeaWorld Texas. John has directed or choreographed many large corporate shows including events for WonderWare Software, NBC, The Broadway Department Stores, Mattel Corporation, Dick Clark Productions, and Ogden Entertainment as well as international projects in Tokyo and Buenos Aires. He has directed "The CHOC Follies" for Children's Hospital of Orange County for the past 17 years, raising more than $6 million for the organization. John is a full-time faculty member for Citrus College and has choreographed the acclaimed Citrus Singers for the past 20 years. His upcoming projects include choreographing productions of "Fiddler on the Roof" and "Shrek: The Musical."

Dr. TERRY O'DONNELL (musical director/conductor) has led the Moonlight productions of "Legally Blonde," "Little Women," "Forever Plaid," "Crazy For You," "Thoroughly Modern Millie," "Me And My Girl," "Little Shop Of Horrors," "I Love A Piano," "Swingtime Canteen," and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat." He has served as musical director, conductor, or pianist for a number of regional theatre companies including the Old Globe Theatre, Starlight Musical Theatre, The Theatre in Old Town, The Lawrence Welk Resort Theatre, and La Jolla Playhouse. Some of this musical direction projects include "Beehive" (Dramalogue Award), "Forbidden Broadway" (with national company), "Assassins" (West Coast premiere), "Triumph of Love," "Song of Singapore," "Master Class," and "Gilligan's Island: the Musical" (regional premieres), "Bat Boy," and "Honk!" (San Diego premieres), and five years with San Diego's longest-running musical, "Forever Plaid." Dr. O'Donnell is Emeritus Professor of Music and Theatre at San Diego State University and a founding faculty member of the Master of Fine Arts Musical Theatre program--the only specialized MFA musical-theatre degree program in the nation. For 18 years, he was music editor for Hugh Martin, renowned composer of "The Trolley Song," and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas." He is currently Trustee Immediate-Past President for Young Audiences of San Diego, part of a national network that brings quality arts education programs to schools.

The lighting designer for "The Who's TOMMY" is Jean-Yves Tessier, with sound design by Christopher Luessmann. Sets are designed by John Patrick, with costumes by Beaver Bauer. Costume coordination and execution are by Roslyn Lehman, Renetta Lloyd, and Carlotta Malone. The makeup designer is Kathleen Kenna.

The Who's TOMMY will run September 28-October 5, Wednesday through Sunday nights. Curtain at 7:30 pM. Gates open for picnicking and dining at 6:00 pm. Ticket price range: $15-$50. Visit moonlightstage.com or call (760) 724-2110.

TICKET DEALS/SPECIAL NIGHTS: Family Nights at the Moonlight are Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday nights. On these nights, lawn tickets for kids 15 and under are just $10 when accompanied by two adults. New this year is the addition of Family Night for Fridays, with kids' tickets just $15. Family Night tickets are available on night of show at the Amphitheatre box office. The Moonlight offers rush tickets for college students on the lawn beginning 30 minutes prior to every performance. Tickets are $15 per person with a valid student identification card. Single ticket discounts for seniors and military are available.

PICNICKING AT THE MOONLIGHT: One of the most unique theatre-going experiences found anywhere is Moonlight's lawn seating, allowing patrons to bring their own picnic suppers into the theatre and picnicking before the show. Lawn ticket holders receive a chair as part of their ticket upon entry to the theatre.

ARTISAN CAFE AT THE MOONLIGHT: The Moonlight's restaurant, the Artisan Cafe, is operated by Chef David Krohn. The Café offers pre-show dining outdoors on the Moonlight Patio where glimpses of the sunset can be seen before patrons take their seats for the show. The Cafe also offers delicious intermission snacks to all theatre-goers including beverages. To view the Cafe's menu, visit moonlightstage.com. For information and reservations, call (760) 828-0596.

MOONLIGHT AMPHITHEATRE is located at 1200 Vale Terrace Drive, Vista, Calif. Gates open for picnicking and dining 90 minutes before curtain. Non-alcoholic beverages and food may be brought into the Amphitheatre. The award-winning Moonlight Stage Productions is the cultural arts program of the City of Vista and is produced in partnership with the Moonlight Cultural Foundation.

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