Tommy Debut Postponed

While Judge's upcoming musical Tommy has been the recent prize and focus of the Tech Department, conflicts with upcoming sports games have forced Mr. Hathaway, the director of the Theatre Department (of which Tech is a part) to move the opening night back a day, to November 3 at 7 p.m. Tommy will continue to show the next few weekends, at 2:30 p.m. on November 4 and at 7 p.m. on November 8, 9, 16. The final show will be November 17. While Mr. Hathaway has directed several plays from last year, this will be the first play of his choice to be shown at Judge. Check next month's Bulldog Press issue for the reasons behind his choice.

- by Geoff Burlew

Reasons To See Tommy

"It's not like anything Judge has ever done before"
-Pat Thompson, Thomas Tsuruda

"It's a story about hardship, you can't always get what you want"
-Sean Abel

"Rock operas are uncommon in high schools"
-Erica Paul

"The music is different. Judge has never done a rock opera before"
-Levaughn Wilkins

"You can ROCK OUT at the show"
-Jackie Graham

"Judge is lucky to be able to perform this play and we should take advantage of it"
-Chris Voss

"It will be an awesome show"
-Eric White

Tommy Beat

The British band, The Who, is considered to be the best live performance rock band of all time, consisting of lead guitarist Pete Townshend, lead singer Roger Daltrey, bass guitarist John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. Although Entwistle and Moon are deceased, Townshend and Daltrey still perform live in concert. The Who are notorious for smashing their guitars into amps and Townshend's guitar trick "the windmill".

In 1969, The Who released the very first rock opera, Tommy. A rock opera is an album or collection of songs that has a story behind it.

This November, the Judge Memorial drama department will be performing Tommy. The performances will be held on Halloween and the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 9th, 16th, and on the 17th of November. The musical will be directed by drama teacher Mr. Darin Hathaway, music teacher Mrs. Ramona Mayer, and dance teacher Ms. Jeanette Sawaya. Junior Thomas Tsuruda will play the lead role, Tommy.

Cast List

Tommy Walker: Thomas Tsuruda
Captain Walker: Sean Abel
Mrs. Walker: Riley Kate Nelson
The Lover: Sean Sweeney
Uncle Ernie: Chris Voss
Cousin Kevin: Stuart Ford
The Hawker: Eric White
Acid Queen: Erin McKennon
Sally Simpson: Lieren Allen
Ten-year-old Tommy: Matt Gray

Drama and Tech Gear Up for Tommy

At 77 pages, the script for Tommy is not the longest production the Judge Theatre Department has ever undertaken. However, it is certainly one of the most intensive. The entire rock-opera of Tommy, by The Who, is an almost unpausing collage of songs and dances. Together, they tell the story of Tommy, an english boy whose life is one of initial hardship and suffering, but then fortune, and finally the result of the two. While the entire show takes only about two hours, it never stops during that time except for an intermission, meaning lots of lines, lots of dance steps, and lots of room for error. Rehearsals for Tommy have already begun, promising a serious attempt at perfection and excellence and a wonderful show. Tommy will be performed on November 1-3 at 7 p.m. and a matinee on the 4th at 2:30 in the Judge auditorium.

-By Geoff Burlew