Tommy Tune: A Broadway Legend
Thomas J. Tune, known as Tommy Tune, is a living legend of Broadway with a career spanning choreography, acting, directing, and singing. Born in 1939, he rose to fame as one of the tallest dancers in the country. Tune's remarkable achievements include directing and choreographing iconic Broadway productions like "The Will Rogers Follies" and "Grand Hotel," winning multiple Tony Awards for his performances and choreography. His distinct dance style, characterized by fluid energy, shines in classic tap routines. Discover more about this renowned artist's journey and contributions to the world of musical theater.
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Tommy Tune Living Legend
Thomas J. Tune is a choreographer, actor, singer, and director. Born on February 28,1939, in Wichita Falls, Texas, Tommy Tune is known as one of the tallest dancers in the country , coming in at about 6 6 . He grew up in Texas and went to three universities there: Lon Morris College in Jacksonville, Texas, the University at Texas in Austin (where he received his Bachelor s of Fine Arts degree in Drama), and the University of Houston (where he became a Master of Fine Arts in Directing). While in Houston he studied dance under Patsy Swayze, the mother of actors Patrick and Don Swayze. After college he moved to New York to start his career, and, within twenty four hours of landing, was hired in the traveling company of the musical Irma La Douce. 2
Broadway He directed and choreographed The Will Rogers Follies He directed The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas in 1978. Tommy Tune debuted on Broadway as a performer in the musical Baker Street in 1965. He helped choreographed Seesaw in 1973 and starred in it during the national tour. in 1991. 3
1974 - Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical - Seesaw 1979 - Best Choreography - A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine 1982 - Best Direction of a Musical - Nine 1983 - Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical - My One and Only 1983 - Best Choreography - My One and Only 1990 - Best Direction of a Musical - Grand Hotel 1990 - Best Choreography - Grand Hotel 1991 - Best Direction of a Musical - The Will Rogers Follies 1991 - Best Choreography - The Will Rogers Follies 2015 - Lifetime Achievement Award Tonys
Film Style Tommy Tune s style has been described as fluid and energetic. His main form of dance is tap - American Classic tap, as he described it in an interview. Tommy Tune played Ambrose in the film version of Hello, Dolly! in 1969, as well as Timmy, an imaginary dance spirit, in The Boy Friend in 1971. 5
Tommy Tune - "Puttin' On The Ritz" (Carnegie Hall) Introduced by Shirley MacLaine, 9 Time Tony Award Winning legend Tommy Tune performs "Puttin' On The Ritz" at Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday Celebration, Carnegie Hall 1988 6
Fun Facts Before Broadway, Tune performed in a one man tap show set to rock music. He appeared in an episode of Mister Rogers Neighborhood as Sir Thomas T. Tune. He released a record album entitled Slow Dancin in 1997 of his favorite romantic ballads. He used to run an art gallery in Tribeca that featured his own artwork, and now runs an online art gallery where he sells his work. Tune is openly gay, and some of his more famous dates include David Wolfe and Michel Stuart. 7
Bibliography BIOGRAPHY. Tommy Tune, www.tommytune.com/biography/. Patsy Swayze, Mother of Patrick Swayze, Dies at 86. Google, Google, www.google.com/amp/s/www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-xpm-2013-sep-18-la- et-mn-patsy-swayze-dies-20130918-story,amp.html. Paulson, Michael. Tommy Tune to Receive Lifetime Achievement Tony. The New York Times, The New York Times, 2 Apr. 2015, artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/04/02/tommy- tune-to-receive-lifetime-achievement-tony/. The Will Rogers Follies Gallery. LZ, www.leighzimmerman.com/the-will-rogers-follies- gallery.html. Tommy Tune Theatre Credits, News, Bio and Photos. BroadwayWorld, www.broadwayworld.com/people/Tommy-Tune/. Tommy Tune, Michael Stuart & David Wolfe. Elisa, elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/1940811.html. Tommy Tune. American Memory: Remaining Collections, memory.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.music.tdabio.180/default.html. Tommy Tune. IMDb, IMDb.com, m.imdb.com/name/nm0876585/. Tommy Tune. Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star- walk/tommy-tune/. Tommy Tune. PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, www.pbs.org/wnet/broadway/stars/tommy-tune/. Tommy Tune. Playbill, www.playbill.com/person/tommy-tune-vault-0000000397. 8
