Tommy: The Rock Opera Gets a Public Performance License
Contents
Tommy: The Rock Opera Gets a Public Performance License- A new public performance license has been released for the classic rock opera, Tommy.
Introduction
Tommy is a “rock opera” by The Who that was first released as a double album in 1969. The story centers around a “deaf, dumb, and blind boy” who becomes a pinball champion and messianic figure. The opera includes such classic songs as “Pinball Wizard,” “I Can See for Miles,” and “We’re Not Gonna Take It.”
The work was originally conceived by Pete Townshend as a way to use the popularity of rock music to tell a larger story. The album was an immediate critical and commercial success, reaching #4 on the US Billboard chart and #2 in the UK. In 1972, the album was adapted into a successful film directed by Ken Russell starring Oliver Reed and Ann-Margret.
In recent years, Tommy has been licensed for several public performances, including an acclaimed production at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 2017. This marked the first time that the work had been performed live with full orchestration.
What is Tommy?
Tommy is a rock opera by The Who that was released as a double album in May 1969. The album tells the story of a “deaf, dumb, and blind” boy, Tommy, who becomes a pinball champion and religious leader. The opera is based on the life of British musician and bandleader Kenney Jones.
The Who’s Tommy
The Who’s Tommy is a 1975 rock opera by The Who about a “deaf, dumb and blind boy” who becomes a pinball champion and “hero to his generation.” The title character of the story was inspired by The Who’s drummer, Keith Moon.
The story is based on the album Tommy, which became a massive success on its release in 1969. The album was adapted into a film in 1975, directed by Ken Russell and featuring many members of The Who in cameo roles.
The stage production of Tommy premiered in 1992 and has been produced several times since, most recently in 2017. A new production is currently licensed by Music Theatre International (MTI) for public performances.
The plot of Tommy
The story of Tommy is based on the life of Tommy Walker, a “deaf, dumb, and blind” boy who becomes a pinball champion. The opera follows Tommy’s journey from childhood to adulthood, as he struggles to come to terms with his disabilities and find his place in the world.
The plot of Tommy has been criticized for its similarities to the life of singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, who was also born deaf, dumb, and blind. However, the opera’s creators have denied any deliberate similarity between the two stories.
The Public Performance License
A Public Performance License (PPL) is required in order to publicly perform a musical work. A PPL allows you to perform the work in public, which includes playing the work in a live setting or broadcasting it on the radio. If you want to perform Tommy: The Rock Opera, you will need to obtain a PPL.
What is a Public Performance License?
A public performance license is a legal document that grants permission to an individual or organization to stage a live performance of a copyrighted work. This could be a play, musical, opera, or any other type of live performance.
The owner of the copyright to a work has the exclusive right to perform that work publicly. If someone else wants to stage a public performance of the work, they must first obtain a public performance license from the copyright owner.
There are two main types of public performance licenses: dramatic and none-dramatic. A dramatic public performance license is required for any work that is intended to be performed for entertainment purposes, such as a play or musical. Anone-dramatic public performance license is required for any work that is not intended to be performed for entertainment purposes, such as an educational lecture or speech.
The process for obtaining a public performance license varies depending on the type of work and the country in which it will be performed. In general, you will need to contact the copyright owner directly and request permission. In some cases, you may also need to pay a fee.
It is important to note that a public performance license is different from a mechanical license, which is required if you want to record and distribute a copyrighted song.
How to get a Public Performance License
If you want to put on a public performance of Tommy: The Rock Opera, you’ll need to obtain a public performance license. Here’s how to do it:
1. Decide which entity will be responsible for obtaining the license. This is typically the organization putting on the performance, but it could also be an individual.
2. Contact The Who’s office or their publisher, Faber Music Ltd., and request a copy of the script and score for Tommy: The Rock Opera.
3. Review the script and score to make sure they are appropriate for your audience. You may also want to contact other organizations who have put on performances of Tommy: The Rock Opera to get their feedback.
4. Once you have decided to proceed, submit a licensing request form to The Who’s office or Faber Music Ltd., along with a copy of the script and score, a proposed performance schedule, and your contact information.
5. You will then be asked to sign a contract and return it, at which point your license will be issued and you can begin planning your performance of Tommy: The Rock Opera!
The benefits of a Public Performance License
A Public Performance License (PPL) is a performance license that allows you to publicly perform a musical work. This includes live performances, radio broadcasts, andTV broadcasts. A PPL covers the performance of the entire musical work, including any accompanying lyrics.
Allows for a wider audience
A Public Performance License (PPL) allows for a Tommy: The Rock Opera to be performed in public venues such as schools, theatres, and other places where people gather. This not only extends the life of the production but also allows for a wider audience to enjoy the work.
It is important to remember that a PPL does not allow for the reproduction of the work in any form, including video or digital. The license does, however, cover live performances and certain types of broadcasts.
Gives the performers the rights to the work
A public performance license gives the performers the rights to the work, allowing them to put on a show without having to worry about copyright infringement. This type of license is often used for musicals and other stage productions.
How to put on a Tommy performance
So you want to put on a Tommy performance. You’ve got the passion, you’ve got the drive, but do you have what it takes? This guide will walk you through the process of putting on a Tommy performance, from applying for a public performance license to finding the right venue.
Find a venue
First, you’ll need to find a venue. Ideally, the venue will be an indoor theater with a stage and seating for at least 100 people. If you can’t find a theater, a school auditorium or community center stage may work. You’ll also need to find a rehearsal space large enough to accommodate your cast and crew. A church basement or empty warehouse could work for this.
Cast the show
The “Tommy” public performance license grants the right to put on a musical based on The Who’s classic rock opera of the same name. In order to produce the show, you must first cast it with actors, dancers and musicians.
You will need a minimum of eight performers:
-Two lead vocalists (one male, one female)
-One lead guitarist
-One bassist
-One drummer
-Three supporting vocalists
-One keyboardist (optional)
The roles of Tommy, his mother, and his father can be played by the same actor.
Rehearse
Now that you have your public performance license, it’s time to start putting on a Tommy performance! If you are producing Tommy: The Rock Opera as a school play, then you will need to rehearse with your cast and crew. Make sure everyone knows their lines and staging, and that the band is ready to go. You may also want to invite a few friends or family members to come and watch a dress rehearsal to give you some feedback.
Once you are ready to perform, make sure you promote your show! Hang up posters around town, put an advert in the local paper, and tell all your friends and family to come and see it. On the night of the performance, make sure everyone is arriving on time and in costume. Tommy: The Rock Opera is an immersive experience, so it’s important that everyone is in character.
Finally, enjoy the show! Seeing your hard work come to life on stage is a truly special feeling.
Perform
You’ve got the band, the singers, the dancers, the venue, and the audience. You’re ready to put on a Tommy performance—a public performance of The Who’s rock opera “Tommy.” But first, you need to secure a public performance license.
A public performance license is required anytime a copyrighted work is performed in front of an audience. This includes live performances, as well as broadcasts and recordings of the performance. A public performance license for Tommy can be obtained from Tams-Witmark Music Library, Inc., the company that handles licensing for The Who’s music.
To obtain a license, fill out a licensing application form available on Tams-Witmark’s website. You will need to provide information about your production, including the number of performers, the dates and locations of your performances, and ticket prices. A licensing representative will then contact you to discuss pricing and finalize your license agreement.
Once you have your public performance license in hand, you’re ready to put on a Tommy performance that will delight audiences and showcase the incredible music of The Who.
Conclusion
The Public Performance License for Tommy: The Rock Opera has been granted, and the show can now be performed in public! This is great news for fans of the show, and anyone who wants to see it performed live.
This license means that the show can be performed in venues such as schools, community theaters, and other public places. It is a non-exclusive license, so other companies are still able to produce the show as well.
We are very excited for this news, and we hope that you will be able to see the show soon!
