Pete Townshend News

Jeremy Kushnier sat down with BWW on a sunny morning in Stratford to talk about his character in "Tommy", revisiting The Who's "Tommy" after 17 years, rehearsing for both "Tommy" and "Fiddler on the Roof" at the same time, and how becoming a father has changed his role as an actor.

ZACH Theatre has announced its 2013-14 season-the second in the acclaimed new Topfer Theatre-with a lineup of six plays and musicals chosen to build on the dynamic and intimate experiences audiences are enjoying in this spectacular first season.

Des McAnuff was invested into the Order of Canada at a ceremony presided over by the Governor General in Ottawa this morning. The Stratford Festival extends heartiest congratulations to Mr. McAnuff, who was Artistic Director from 2008 through 2012, and is currently directing Tommy, a musical based on the album by The Who, which he helped composer-lyricist Pete Townshend create.

Twenty years after its Broadway premiere, Tommy returns to the stage in a new production helmed by its co-creator and original director, Des McAnuff. The spectacular musical that swept the Tony Awards in 1993 starts previews on Saturday, May 4, at the Avon Theatre.

Calling all pinball wizards! The Stratford Festival invites you to be a part of history. On Thursday, May 16, the Festival will be in Toronto to host Pinballapalooza, an exciting event to celebrate the opening of its much-anticipated rock musical, Tommy.

A Chorus Line's John Partridge will take a hiatus from his role as the choreographer 'Zac' at the London Palladium to perform in a cabaret show 'Dames 'n' Dudes' in Live at the Hippodrome, tonight, April 22 through April 27, 2013.

A Chorus Line's John Partridge will take a hiatus from his role as the choreographer 'Zac' at the London Palladium to perform in a cabaret show 'Dames 'n' Dudes' in Live at the Hippodrome, April 22 through April 27, 2013.

An expanded live music component with concerts by Lydia Loveless, Corey Harris, Pontiak and a Funk Rock Soul triple bill with the funky METERS, Greyboy Allstars and JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound; CIMMpathy for The Stones, celebrating The Rolling Stones' 50 years of music on film; a special film section, award ceremony and concert with maverick filmmaker Melvin Van Peebles; an evening of music and movies with the legendary Van Dyke Parks and his filmmaker son, Richard; a Blues film section; 11 World Premiere screenings; and much more highlight the 5th annual Chicago International Movies & Music Festival (CIMMfest No. 5). The four-day festival annually brings together filmmakers, musicians and devotees from around the world for a celebration of movies and music at various venues centered around Chicago's Wicker Park and Logan Square neighborhoods, with a satellite location at the Music Box Theatre, Thursday, April 18 - Sunday, April 21.

Legendary rockers THE WHO and Elvis Costello & The Imposters performed an intimate concert Thursday, February 28 at New York City's Theater at Madison Square Garden to raise funds for Teen Cancer America. The benefit concert raised more than $1.6 million for the Teen Cancer America Unit at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.

Best known for his innovative and unique guitar work with YES and Flash, as well as his own critically acclaimed solo albums, guitar legend Peter Banks passed away at his home in London on March 8, 2013. Banks, a founding member of the ground breaking progressive rock group YES, performed on the band's first two albums, 'Yes' and 'Time And A Word'. He would go on to form Flash and release 3 well-received albums (Flash, In The Can, Out Of Our Hands), along with several successful tours of Europe and the US, culminating in an appearance on the widely watched late night American TV show 'The Midnight Special'. With an admitted fondness for improvisation, music critics touted Banks as a cross between Pete Townshend and Wes Montgomery. Even Pete Townshend, one night after witnessing a YES performance, walked up to Banks, slapped him on the back and said, “You're great!”

The Stratford Festival held its annual general meeting on Saturday, celebrating the successes of its landmark 60th season, under the joint leadership of Artistic Director Des McAnuff and General Director Antoni Cimolino. This was Mr. McAnuff's final season as Artistic Director. Mr. Cimolino has now assumed that role, with Anita Gaffney becoming Executive Director.

Houston Chamber Choir presents What Sweeter Music with special guest, noted English conductor Simon Carrington, tonight, March 2, 7:30pm at The Church of St. John the Divine (2450 River Oaks Blvd., Houston, TX) and Sunday, March 3 at 4:00 pm at the Imperial Arts, Center for the Arts (823 3rd Street, Rosenberg, TX). The Chamber Choir and Simon Carrington offer a sampling of British a cappella music that includes works by Benjamin Britten, Bob Chilcott, James MacMillan and Pete Townshend of The Who.

The Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts will welcome legendary author/photographer Ethan Russell and his Best Seat in the House show to our main stage tonight, March 1 at 8 pm. As the chosen photographer for rock & roll legends such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Doors, The Eagles, Janis Joplin and more, Ethan had literally 'the best seat in the house' for many of rock's most iconic moments from 1966-1982.

Legendary rockers The Who and Elvis Costello & The Imposters will perform an intimate concert tonight, February 28 at New York City's The Theater At Madison Square Garden to benefit Teen Cancer America and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

American Masters opens its 27th season with the story of African-American gospel singer and guitar virtuoso Sister Rosetta Tharpe (March 20, 1915-October 9, 1973).

Houston Chamber Choir presents What Sweeter Music with special guest, noted English conductor Simon Carrington, Saturday, March 2, 7:30pm at The Church of St. John the Divine (2450 River Oaks Blvd., Houston, TX) and Sunday, March 3 at 4:00 pm at the Imperial Arts, Center for the Arts (823 3rd Street, Rosenberg, TX). What Sweeter Music spans five centuries of British a cappella repertoire, from Lamentations of Jeremiah by Elizabethan composer Robert White, to Pete Townshend's Pinball Wizard from The Who's 1969 rock opera Tommy. Additional works include Bob Chilcott's (fellow former member of The King's Singers) Weather Report, and Benjamin Britten's settings of seven poems by Gerard Manley Hopkins, A.M.D.G (Ad majorem Dei gloriam).

Direct from a sold out season at New York's prestigious 54 Below, the Tony Award nominated Broadway star Sherie Rene Scott brings her acclaimed show, Piece of Meat - one of Time Out New York's Best of 2012 - to the London Hippodrome for three nights only in a strictly limited run from tonight 21st to Saturday 23rd February 2013.

American Masters opens its 27th season with the story of African-American gospel singer and guitar virtuoso Sister Rosetta Tharpe (March 20, 1915-October 9, 1973).

Although Townshend and Daltrey are now in their late 60s, the Quadrophenia tour shows the Who are just as powerful and relevant as they were in 40 years ago.

Unearthed after more than 40 years and unheard since their original airing, the recordings of Village Voice 'Scenes' columnist and radio personality Howard Smith are now available for the first time. Containing over 100 interviews, The Smith Tapes will be released in monthly installments on digital retailers iTunes and Amazon. Following Collection 1-Fillmore East, Collection 2 Aquarian Theatre and Collection 3-Everything's Not Okay comes Collection 4-Woodstock. This new offering features interviews with Ravi Shankar, Joe Cocker, Woodstock producers John Roberts and Joel Rosenman, Sly Stone, John Lennon and Yoko Ono from their Bed-In, live Reports from the Woodstock festival and commentary on the Woodstock film. Please see full track listing and details below.