BWW Interviews: Thom Allison says 'Farewell' to Toronto

Thom Allison has been a favourite of Toronto's musical theatre scene for the better part of twenty years, and this Monday he gets ready to say farewell in a special Goodbye Cabaret at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Most recently seen in the pre-Broadway Engagement of Priscilla Queen of the Desert at The Princess of Wales Theatre, Thom is packing his bags and headed for The Great White Way - making his Broadway Debut in Priscilla this March.

In true "go big or go home" fashion - Thom has planned an extraordinary evening of stories, songs and special guests for Monday, January 31st to say a formal farewell to Toronto and all the people who have loved and supported him throughout the years. He sat down and spoke with BWW about what people can expect at his final bash, and about the excitement surrounding making his Broadway debut!

First, congratulations on heading off to Broadway with Priscilla Queen of the Desert! Are you excited?

Absolutely! I have my place picked out and it feels real now, I'm moving on to another chapter in my life. I have been in Toronto for almost twenty years and I love it here so much - the city and the people and the theatre community have been wonderful. However, it's so exciting to get to be embarking on this new journey. Plus, it's my Broadway debut! I went and checked out the Palace Theatre and could see myself in four of the posters for Priscilla, I'm quite literally *on* Broadway!

Tell us a bit about your big farewell Cabaret.  What can we expect? 

Well, it's my final goodbye to Toronto. I'm heading to NYC because of Priscilla, but I'm looking at this as a permanent move. It's time to start another chapter in my life and I'm ready and really excited. However Toronto has given me so much, and I love everyone here - so I wanted to go out with a bang. I have a great night filled with songs and laughter and of course special guests, and I really hope that everyone will come out! I'm going to perform some favourites and of course a few surprise songs as well, I think it will be a really great night.

Who can we expect to see at your show?

Right now I have the great Sara Farb and George Masswohl performing with me, but there are bound to be a few surprises as well, you will have to come out and see!

So after your Cabaret, you head off to NYC for the Broadway Premiere of Priscilla Queen of the Desert - and you just finished making the cast recording. What has that been like?

Incredible! I'm so excited to launch the show there and see the reaction, and the cast recording has been so much fun. I love cast recordings, growing up in Winnipeg that was how I got exposed to a lot of theatre - and the thought that now some little kid somewhere might listen to a recording with me on it and have that be their exposure to the show is pretty incredible! I have trouble when I try and wrap my head around it, I'm on the official recording and will be in the little booklet - it's a dream come true!

Any idea what you might want to do after Priscilla?

Hard to say at this point! I do know I would love to explore the United States, see what kind of theatre is happening in other cities and towns. I have done a lot of regional theatre in Canada and now it's time for me to try something new.

If you had to pick your dream role, what would it be?

Definitely Bobby from Company. I've always wanted to play that role, and I think I still have a few more years where I could pull it off! I love "Being Alive" it's one of my favourite songs. So powerful and transformative and I think that would be an incredible part to get to play.

You are heading to NYC at a great time for theatre lovers, tons of amazing shows opening up in the Spring. Anything on your "must-see" list?

Spider-man! I mean, I have to check it out right? I really want to see what they have done with it. But I want to see everything, I'm so excited to be in the city for an extended period of time and have the opportunity to check all these amazing shows out. And I'm excited to experience the stuff that is off the beaten path, the talks that happen, or the Cabaret nights, events at Birdland and other amazing places. I'm thrilled to get to be a part of that and experience all that NYC has to offer.

Finally, to celebrate musical theatre we have been asking people we interview to name their five favourite shows. Can you pick just five?

It's not easy! I love so many shows - but if I had to rundown five right now...it would be these:

A Little Night Music
Damn Yankees
Into The Woods
Cabaret
Kismet

When and Where?
Thom's "Final Farewell" Cabaret Party
TALLULAH'S CABARET
Buddies In Bad Times
12 Alexander St.

Accompanied by the spectacular: CHRIS TSUJIUCHI

Box Office: (416) 975-8555

Monday, January 31, 2011
Time: 8:00

$20

 

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