'Tommy' brings rock concert with plot to Buskirk-Chumley Theater

It's a full-out rock concert with dancing and a plot. That's how University Players technical director and senior Greg Hofmann described The Who's rock opera, "Tommy."\nThe University Players is performing the show at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater. Tickets are free, but seating is limited to about 600 per show. The show is appropriate for mature audiences, and haze will be used in the air.\nThe University Players is an IU student-run organization that provides theater opportunities for undergraduate students of all majors. "Tommy" is produced, performed, designed and directed by undergraduate students, and work for the show began in November.\nThe rock opera tells the story of Tommy, from age 10 to his early 20s, as he searches for identity when he's faced with extraordinary obstacles, said University Players artistic director and senior Hilary Krishnan. \nKrishnan said a rock opera is a rock band playing its music to tell an epic story. \n"It breaks the conventions of traditional musical theater," she said. \nThe band, consisting of two guitars, a bass guitar, drums, a horn and three keyboards, will be on stage as part of the show.\nSome of The Who's 24 songs featured in the performance include "Pinball Wizard," "The Acid Queen'" and "I'm Free."\nDirector and sophomore Christopher Lee said the story is a juxtaposition of theater written as a commentary on people and how they view rock stars. \nKrishner said the show does a good job of portraying human experience. \n"The show deals with family, abuse and the struggle to carve out identity in a world against you," she said. "It's innately human."\nSophomore Owen Stevenson plays the older Tommy character and is also a musical co-director.\n"Being a part of the production crew gives me more time to analyze the role and the feel of the show," he said. "(Tommy) becomes deaf and blind when he witnesses his dad murdering his mom's lover. His mom smashes a mirror and he's cured, like he's broken out of his coma of not being able to see or hear, and has broken free."\nKrishnan said one of the biggest challenges the University Players face is the different levels of performers' experience. Since everyone is an undergraduate student, the more experienced members must train the less experienced so the organization can continue to grow.\nShe said for many students, "Tommy" is the first major collegiate production in which they've participated.\n"A lot of times, power of youth is so often underestimated," she said. "When we combine our energy together, we don't realize what we're capable of."\nKrishnan said undergraduates of all majors can join the University Players. Representatives will provide information at the show this weekend or students can visit its Web site at www.indiana.edu/~players/.\n"If you don't dig 'My Fair Lady,' there's a chance you'll enjoy this show," Krishnan said.