MSU Takes The Who's 'Tommy' to New Technological Realms

An updated version of the rock opera ‘Tommy’ will be presented by MSU’s Department of Theatre using new technologies such as digital scenery and the Wii.

According to excerpts from the article:

The production, which will begin its 10-day run April 9 in the MSU Concert Auditorium, is one of the “most ambitious” productions the department has ever undertaken, said Kirk Domer, an assistant professor of theater who is coordinating the visual scene design.
 
“This is the most ambitious show we’ve done in terms of technology and numbers of people in the production,” he said. “This is going to be a completely unique experience for the audience.”
 
In perhaps the most famous scene of the production in which Tommy—the deaf, dumb and blind kid who “sure plays a mean pinball”—plays his game, the traditional pinball game has become a more visually appealing Wii game.
 
“Pinball has become somewhat antiquated in today’s society,” said director Rob Roznowski, also an assistant professor of theater. “So we were looking for the natural equivalent to what we could do for a contemporary audience. And that type of gaming is what we thought Tommy would be playing now.”
 
The original Tommy, written by Peter Townshend and performed by his band the Who, made its debut in 1973. Since then it has appeared on the stage and in film.

Read the entire article here.