Tommy Tune


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Tommy Tune

Born Thomas James Tune
February 28, 1939 (1939-02-28) (age 69)
Wichita Falls, Texas, USA
Domestic partner(s) David Wolfe (10 yrs.)
Michael Stuart (7 yrs.)

Thomas James “Tommy” Tune (born 28 February 1939) is an American actor, dancer, singer, director, producer, and choreographer. Over the course of his career, he has thus far garnered nine Tony Awards and the National Medal of Arts.

Contents

Biography

Early years

Born in Wichita Falls, Texas, Tune attended Lamar High School in Houston and the Methodist-affiliated Lon Morris College in Jacksonville, Texas.

Career

Stage

In 1965, Tune made his Broadway debut as a performer in the musical Baker Street. His first Broadway directing and choreography credits were for the original production of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas in 1978. He has gone on to direct or choreograph, or both, some eight Broadway musicals. He is currently directing a new musical titled Turn of the Century, expected to premiere at the Goodman Theatre (Chicago) on September 19, 2008 in previews.[1]

Off-Broadway, Tune has directed The Club and Cloud Nine. Tune toured the United States in the Sherman Brothers musical Busker Alley in 1994-1995 and in the stage adaptation of the film Dr. Doolittle in 2006.[2][3]

Tune is the only person to win Tony Awards in the same categories (Best Choreography and Best Direction of a Musical) in consecutive years (1990 and 1991), and the first to win in four different categories. He has won nine Tony Awards.

Film and television

Tune appeared in a 1975 TV special along with Lucie Arnaz and Lyle Waggoner to promote the Walt Disney World Theme Park.

Tune's film credits include Hello, Dolly! (1969) and The Boy Friend with Twiggy (1971).[4]

Memoirs

In 1997, Tune wrote Footnotes, a memoir. Despite the disjointed nature of the autobiography, Tune offers an insightful look into his then thirty-year career. He writes intimately about what drives him as a performer, choreographer and director. His obsession and desire to find everlasting love is prominent in the memoir, offering many personal stories about being openly gay and being hurt by lovers. Ultimately though, it is his passion for theatre, dance, and people that carry him through a fruitful career full of many successful projects. Winning numerous Tony Awards and Drama Desk Awards, Tune writes mostly about his days with Twiggy in My One and Only, in which he played the part of Billy Buck Chandler for more than 1,000 performances, the struggles in directing Grand Hotel and Cloud Nine, as well as meeting and working with his many idols.[5]

Other work and honors

Tune released his first record album, Slow Dancing, in 1997 on the RCA label, featuring a collection of his favorite romantic ballads.[6]

In 1999, he made his Las Vegas debut as the star of EFX at the MGM Grand Hotel. [7]

Tune staged an elaborate musical entitled Paparazzi for the Holland America Line cruise ship the Oosterdam in 2003. [8] He works often with the Manhattan Rhythm Kings, for example touring in a Big Band revue entitled Song and Dance Man and White Tie and Tails (2002). He performed in Boston in April 2008 in the new review, Steps in Time.[9][10]

He was parodied in Martin Short's Broadway show Fame Becomes Me by an actor wearing stilts.

In the sixth season The Simpsons episode 'A Star is Burns' Tune was credit with playing the role of Smithers in 'A Burns for All Seasons'.

Legacy

In 2003, Tune was presented with the nation's highest honor for artistic achievement, the National Medal of Arts.[11] That same year, he received the Texas Cultural Trust's Texas Medal of Arts.[12][13][14]

The Tommy Tune Awards, presented annually by Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) honor excellence in high school musical theatre in Houston; the current home of the Tommy Tune Awards is the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts in Houston, Texas.[15]

He received the 2008 Fred & Adele Astaire Lifetime Achievement Award on June 2, 2008 in New York City.[16] He received the Julie Harris Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Tony Awards Party in Los Angeles on June 15, 2008. [17]

Personal

At 6 feet 6½ inches (1.99 m), Tune is unusually tall for a dancer. When not performing, he runs an art gallery in Tribeca that features his own work.[18][19]

Stage productions

Awards and nominations

Awards
  • 1974 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical - Seesaw
  • 1978 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Musical - The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
  • 1980 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography - A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine
  • 1980 Tony Award for Best Choreography - A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine
  • 1982 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Musical - Nine
  • 1982 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play - Cloud Nine
  • 1982 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical - Nine
  • 1983 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography - My One And Only
  • 1983 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical - My One And Only
  • 1983 Tony Award for Best Choreography - My One And Only
  • 1990 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography - Grand Hotel
  • 1990 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Musical - Grand Hotel
  • 1990 Tony Award for Best Choreography - Grand Hotel
  • 1990 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical - Grand Hotel
  • 1991 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography - The Will Rogers Follies
  • 1991 Tony Award for Best Choreography - The Will Rogers Follies
  • 1991 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical - The Will Rogers Follies
Nominations
  • 1977 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Musical - The Club
  • 1978 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography - The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
  • 1979 Tony Award for Best Choreography - The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
  • 1979 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical - The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
  • 1980 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical - A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine
  • 1983 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical - My One And Only
  • 2003 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography - Tommy Tune: White Tie and Tails

References

  1. ^ Jones, Kenneth."York, Daniels, Orbach, de Benedet, Spangler, Racey Work with Tommy Tune on Turn of the Century",playbill.com, August 26, 2008
  2. ^ Curtain Up article, "Busker Alley", ca. 2007
  3. ^ playbill article, Aug. 3, 2006 "Dr. Dolittle Closes His Practice on the Road"
  4. ^ Internet Movie Database listing
  5. ^ Amazon.com listing with brief reviews
  6. ^ amazon.com listing, "Slow Dancing", Retrieved 4-28-2008
  7. ^ talkinbroadway review, undated ca. 1999
  8. ^ listing for Holland America
  9. ^ Elyse Sommer (19 December 2002). "A CurtainUp Review Tommy Tune: White Tie and Tails". curtainup. Retrieved on 2008-06-07.
  10. ^ Jan Nargi (14 April 2008). "Tommy Tune: Steps in Time". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved on 2008-06-07.
  11. ^ National Endowment for the Art listing
  12. ^ Associated Press. "Talented Texans to be honored," Houston Chronicle, February 7, 2003, page 2.
  13. ^ "Thanks for telling the story of Texas through the arts" (editorial), Austin American-Statesman, February 9, 2003.
  14. ^ "Legislature honors 13 artists, patrons," San Antonio Express-News, March 26, 2003, page 2B.
  15. ^ TUTS information on Tommy Tune Awards
  16. ^ Adam Hetrick; Ernio Hernandez (15 February 2008). "Tune Will Be Honored With 2008 Astaire Lifetime Achievement Award", Playbill. Retrieved on 7 June 2008. 
  17. ^ Andrew Gans (14 March 2008). "Annual Tony Party to Honor Tommy Tune; Henderson Hosts", Playbill. Retrieved on 7 June 2008. 
  18. ^ Andrew Gans (18 December 2007). "Tommy Tune Launches On-Line Art Gallery", Playbill. Retrieved on 7 June 2008. 
  19. ^ Owen Keehnen. "A Broadway Tune: A Halloween Visit with Tommy Tune". glbtq Encyclopedia. Retrieved on 2008-06-07.

External links


v • d • e
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play

John Dexter (1975) · Ellis Rabb (1976) · Mike Nichols / Alan Schneider (1977) · Melvin Bernhardt (1978) · Jack Hofsiss (1979) · Vivian Matalon (1980) · Peter Hall (1981) · Tommy Tune (1982) · Trevor Nunn (1983) · Michael Blakemore (1984) · John Malkovich (1985) · Jerry Zaks (1986) · Howard Davies (1987) · John Dexter (1988) · Jerry Zaks (1989) · Frank Galati (1990) · Jerry Zaks (1991) · Patrick Mason (1992) · George C. Wolfe (1993) · Stephen Daldry (1994) · Gerald Gutierrez (1995) · Gerald Gutierrez (1996) · Trevor Nunn (1999) · Michael Blakemore (2000) · Jack O'Brien (2001) · Mary Zimmerman (2002) · Robert Falls (2003) · Jack O'Brien (2004) · Doug Hughes (2005) · Nicholas Hytner (2006) · Jack O'Brien (2007) · Anna D. Shapiro (2008)
v • d • e
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Musical

Arthur Laurents (1975) · Michael Bennett (1976) · Martin Charnin (1977) · Peter Masterson / Tommy Tune / Stephen Schwartz (1978) · Harold Prince (1979) · Harold Prince (1980) · Wilford Leach (1981) · Tommy Tune (1982) · George Abbott (1983) · James Lapine (1984) · Wilford Leach (1986) · Mike Ockrent (1987) · Harold Prince (1988) · Tommy Tune (1990) · Scott Ellis (1991) · Jerry Zaks (1992) · Des McAnuff (1993) · Nicholas Hytner (1994) · Harold Prince (1995) · Christopher Renshaw (1996) · Walter Bobbie (1997) · Julie Taymor (1998) · Matthew Bourne (1999) · Michael Blakemore (2000) · Susan Stroman (2001) · Michael Mayer (2002) · Jack O'Brien (2003) · Joe Mantello (2004) · James Lapine (2005) · John Doyle (2006) · Michael Mayer (2007) · Bartlett Sher (2008)
v • d • e
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography

Grover Dale (1969) · Ron Field (1970) · Michael Bennett / Donald Saddler (1971) · Patricia Birch / Jean Erdman (1972) · Bob Fosse (1973) · Patricia Birch (1974) · George Faison (1975) · Bob Avian / Michael Bennett (1976) · Peter Gennaro (1977) · Bob Fosse (1978) · Bob Avian / Michael Bennett (1979) · Tommy Tune (1980) · Gower Champion (1981) · Tommy Tune / Thommie Walsh (1983) · Bob Fosse (1986) · Michael Smuin (1988) · Tommy Tune (1990) · Tommy Tune (1991) · Susan Stroman (1992) · Wayne Cilento (1993) · Jane Elliott / Kenneth MacMillan (1994) · Savion Glover (1996) · Ann Reinking (1997) · Garth Fagan (1998) · Matthew Bourne (1999) · Susan Stroman (2000) · Susan Stroman (2001) · Susan Stroman (2002) · Twyla Tharp (2003) · Kathleen Marshall (2004) · Jerry Mitchell (2005) · Kathleen Marshall (2006) · Andy Blankenbuehler (2007) · Rob Ashford (2008)
v • d • e
Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical

Michael Bennett (1976) · Gene Saks (1977) · Richard Maltby, Jr. (1978) · Harold Prince (1979) · Harold Prince (1980) · Wilford Leach (1981) · Tommy Tune (1982) · Trevor Nunn (1983) · Arthur Laurents (1984) · Des McAnuff (1985) · Wilford Leach (1986) · Trevor Nunn / John Caird (1987) · Harold Prince (1988) · Jerome Robbins (1989) · Tommy Tune (1990) · Tommy Tune (1991) · Jerry Zaks (1992) · Des McAnuff (1993) · Nicholas Hytner (1994) · Harold Prince (1995) · George C. Wolfe (1996) · Walter Bobbie (1997) · Julie Taymor (1998) · Matthew Bourne (1999) · Michael Blakemore (2000)

Complete list: (1947-1975) · (1976-2000) · (2001-present)
v • d • e
Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical

George Rose (1976) · Barry Bostwick (1977) · John Cullum (1978) · Len Cariou (1979) · Jim Dale (1980) · Kevin Kline (1981) · Ben Harney (1982) · Tommy Tune (1983) · George Hearn (1984) · George Rose (1986) · Robert Lindsay (1987) · Michael Crawford (1988) · Jason Alexander (1989) · James Naughton (1990) · Jonathan Pryce (1991) · Gregory Hines (1992) · Brent Carver (1993) · Boyd Gaines 1994) · Matthew Broderick (1995) · Nathan Lane (1996) · James Naughton (1997) · Alan Cumming (1998) · Martin Short (1999) · Brian Stokes Mitchell (2000)

Complete list: (1947-1975) · (1976-2000) · (2001-present)
v • d • e
Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical

David Wayne (1947) · Myron McCormick (1950) · Russell Nype (1951) · Yul Brynner (1952) · Hiram Sherman (1953) · Harry Belafonte (1954) · Cyril Ritchard (1955) · Russ Brown (1956) · Sydney Chaplin (1957) · David Burns (1958) · Russell Nype (1959) · Tom Bosley (1960) · Dick Van Dyke (1961) · Charles Nelson Reilly (1962) · David Burns (1963) · Jack Cassidy (1964) · Victor Spinetti (1965) · Frankie Michaels (1966) · Joel Grey (1967) · Hiram Sherman (1968) · Ron Holgate (1969) · René Auberjonois (1970) · Keene Curtis (1971) · Larry Blyden (1972) · George S. Irving (1973) · Tommy Tune (1974) · Ted Ross (1975)

Complete list: (1947-1975) · (1976-2000) · (2001-present)
v • d • e
Tony Award for Best Choreography

Michael Bennett / Bob Avian (1976) · Peter Gennaro (1977) · Bob Fosse (1978) · Michael Bennett / Bob Avian (1979) · Tommy Tune / Thommie Walsh (1980) · Gower Champion (1981) · Michael Bennett / Michael Peters (1982) · Tommy Tune / Thommie Walsh (1983) · Danny Daniels (1984) · Bob Fosse (1986) · Gillian Gregory (1987) · Michael Smuin (1988) · Cholly Atkins / Henry LeTang / Frankie Manning / Fayard Nicholas (1989) · Tommy Tune (1990) · Tommy Tune (1991) · Susan Stroman (1992) · Wayne Cilento (1993) · Kenneth MacMillan (1994) · Susan Stroman (1995) · Savion Glover (1996) · Ann Reinking (1997) · Garth Fagan (1998) · Matthew Bourne (1999) · Susan Stroman (2000)

Complete list: (1947-1975) · (1976-2000) · (2001-present)






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