‘The Who’s Tommy’ is the most successful production in Goodman Theatre history

Goodman Theatre’s Artistic Director Susan V. Booth and Executive Director/CEO Roche Schulfer announced today, August 14, that the Goodman’s must-see musical The Who’s Tommy smashed box office records, officially becoming the highest-grossing production in the 98-year history of Chicago’s largest not-for-profit theater company. Tony Award-winning original creators Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff joined the company on stage for a bow as the “amazing journey” concluded following a matinee in Chicago on Sunday, Aug 6.

The unanimously acclaimed, twice-extended production “went clean” in the 856-seat Albert Theatre selling a record number of single tickets and selling out 36 performances. Audiences attending hailed from all 50 United States, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, as well as 21 other countries as far away as New Zealand, with many patrons attending multiple performances.

Based on The Who’s original 1969 rock opera, The Who’s Tommy is the story of Tommy Walker reimagined for 2023 by its original Tony Award winning co-creators—music and lyrics by Pete Townshend and book by Townshend and Des McAnuff, who also directs—featuring a cast of 29 accompanied by a nine-piece orchestra. On closing weekend (August 5 and 6), the original Tony Award-winning creators brought the sold-out, standing-room-only crowd to their feet when they joined the company on stage for curtain call and bow.

In a joint statement, Artistic Director Susan V. Booth and Executive Director/CEO Roche Schulfer said, “The Who’s Tommy at the Goodman is, to borrow a phrase, a ‘sensation’—an aural and visual feast of the fullest imagination, a production of the highest quality and an unprecedented technical achievement that will remain indelibly with all who experienced it for years to come. We are most grateful to Des McAnuff and Pete Townshend, along with our cast, musicians, creative team and crew for their enormous talent and hard work on stage, and behind the scenes, every night. We thank our sponsors, Northern Trust (Lead Corporate Sponsor), Winston & Strawn LLP (Major Corporate Sponsor) and Shure (Technical Supporter). And sincerely thank our audience for being part of this ‘amazing journey’—and for supporting Chicago theater as we continue to rebound following the pandemic shut-down.”