Tommy Tune Living Legend Thomas J Tune is

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 Tommy Tune debuted He helped on Broadway as a choreographed performer in the Seesaw in 1973 and musical Baker Street instarred in it during 1965. the national tour. He directed The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas in 1978. He directed and choreographed The Will Rogers Follies in 1991. 3

Tonys ★ 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

Film Style 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. 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. 5

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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, 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, 2 Apr. 2015, artsbeat. blogs. nytimes. com/2015/04/02/tommy-tune-toreceive-lifetime-achievement-tony/. “The Will Rogers Follies Gallery. ” LZ, www. leighzimmerman. com/the-will-rogers-folliesgallery. html. “Tommy Tune Theatre Credits, News, Bio and Photos. ” Broadway. World, 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/nm 0876585/. “Tommy Tune. ” Los Angeles Times, projects. latimes. com/hollywood/starwalk/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