Thommie Walsh
Encyclopedia
Thomas Joseph “Thommie” Walsh III (March 15, 1950 – June 16, 2007) was an American dancer, choreographer, and director.
, Walsh was interested in dance from the age of five, but seriously considered foregoing it as a career when he was rejected by Juilliard. He enrolled in the Boston Conservatory of Music but departed during his junior year to tour with Disney on Parade. Following that he joined the national tour of Applause
, departing to accept a small role in the film version of Jesus Christ Superstar
. He is the cousin of Michel Cosentino, orginially from Auburn/Weedsport, New York and Michel's daughter, Ava Cosentino, who is following in Thommie's footsteps in the dance world.
were actually choreographed by Thommie Walsh.
in 1973, the same year in which he appeared in the disastrous Broadway flop Rachael Lily Rosenbloom (And Don't You Ever Forget It)
, which starred Ellen Greene
and Anita Morris
.
In 1975 Walsh was invited by choreographer Tony Stevens to participate in a series of frank conversations among Broadway dancers, known as "gypsies," about their experiences, hopes, and dreams. The result was Michael Bennett
's A Chorus Line
(1976), in which he originated the role of Bobby. The role of Bobby was in large part based on his life and also used material from a comedy stand-up routine he used at the time. (Samples: "I thought about killing myself, but then I realized to commit suicide in Buffalo is redundant." and "I used to break into people's houses. I didn't steal anything; I'd just rearrange their furniture.") He co-wrote a book with Baayork Lee
, another Chorus Line cast member, about the musical's origins and evolution, entitled On the Line, which was published by William Morrow
in 1990.
(1978) with Chorus cast member Pam Blair
, A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine (1980), with Chorus cast member Priscilla Lopez
, Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?
(1982), Nine
(1982), My One and Only
(1983) with Chorus cast member Ron Dennis, Marilyn: An American Fable
(1983), and My Favorite Year
(1992).
He also directed Donna McKechnie
's one-woman show Inside the Music (2002).
At the time of his death, he was preparing a musical adaptation of A Tale of Two Cities
for a Broadway opening. Much of his best work was done in collaboration with Tommy Tune
including The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
Thommie also judged for Danny Hoctor's Dance Caravan and Stars of Tomorrow in conjunction with the Professional Dance Teachers Association.
Thommie Walsh died at his Auburn, New York
home from lymphoma at aged 57.
Nominations
Biography
Born in Auburn, New YorkAuburn, New York
Auburn is a city in Cayuga County, New York, United States of America. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 27,687...
, Walsh was interested in dance from the age of five, but seriously considered foregoing it as a career when he was rejected by Juilliard. He enrolled in the Boston Conservatory of Music but departed during his junior year to tour with Disney on Parade. Following that he joined the national tour of Applause
Applause (musical)
Applause is a musical with a book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, lyrics by Lee Adams, and music by Charles Strouse. It won the Tony Award for Best Musical and Lauren Bacall won the Tony for Best Actress in a Musical....
, departing to accept a small role in the film version of Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
. He is the cousin of Michel Cosentino, orginially from Auburn/Weedsport, New York and Michel's daughter, Ava Cosentino, who is following in Thommie's footsteps in the dance world.
Personal life
Thommie was known for his unique sense of style (Example: Checkered Vans with a Pinstriped Suit), as well as his incomparable and well known sense of humor. With such a developed reputation in the industry, Thommie was brought in as a show doctor on many of Broadway's greatest hits during the 1980s. Many numbers in Grand HotelGrand Hotel (musical)
Grand Hotel is a musical with a book by Luther Davis and music and lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forrest, with additional lyrics and music by Maury Yeston....
were actually choreographed by Thommie Walsh.
A Chorus Line
Walsh made his Broadway debut in the chorus of SeesawSeesaw (musical)
Seesaw is a musical with a book by Michael Bennett, music by Cy Coleman, and lyrics by Dorothy Fields.Based on the William Gibson play Two for the Seesaw, the plot focuses on a brief affair between Jerry Ryan, a young lawyer from Nebraska, and Gittel Mosca, a kooky, streetwise dancer from the Bronx...
in 1973, the same year in which he appeared in the disastrous Broadway flop Rachael Lily Rosenbloom (And Don't You Ever Forget It)
Rachael Lily Rosenbloom (And Don't You Ever Forget It)
Rachael Lily Rosenbloom is a musical with a book by Paul Jabara and Tom Eyen, music by Jabara, and lyrics by Jabara, David Debin, and Paul Issa....
, which starred Ellen Greene
Ellen Greene
Ellen Greene is an American singer and actress. Greene has had a long and varied career as a singer, particularly in cabaret, as an actor and singer in numerous stage productions, particularly musical theatre, as well as having performed in many films – notably Little Shop of Horrors...
and Anita Morris
Anita Morris
-Career:Among many roles, Morris's most prominent film role was as Carol Dodsworth, the mistress to Danny DeVito, in Ruthless People and for her sensual performance as Carla in the musical Nine opposite Raul Julia. While nominated for a Best Featured Actress Tony Award as Carla, she lost to Liliane...
.
In 1975 Walsh was invited by choreographer Tony Stevens to participate in a series of frank conversations among Broadway dancers, known as "gypsies," about their experiences, hopes, and dreams. The result was Michael Bennett
Michael Bennett
Michael Bennett was an American musical theater director, writer, choreographer, and dancer. He won seven Tony Awards for his choreography and direction of Broadway shows and was nominated for an additional eleven....
's A Chorus Line
A Chorus Line
A Chorus Line is a 1975 musical about Broadway dancers auditioning for spots on a chorus line. The book was authored by James Kirkwood, Jr. and Nicholas Dante, lyrics were written by Edward Kleban, and music was composed by Marvin Hamlisch....
(1976), in which he originated the role of Bobby. The role of Bobby was in large part based on his life and also used material from a comedy stand-up routine he used at the time. (Samples: "I thought about killing myself, but then I realized to commit suicide in Buffalo is redundant." and "I used to break into people's houses. I didn't steal anything; I'd just rearrange their furniture.") He co-wrote a book with Baayork Lee
Baayork Lee
Baayork Lee is an Asian-American actress, singer, dancer, choreographer, theatre director, and author.-Early life and career:Lee was born in New York City's Chinatown to an Indian mother and Chinese father...
, another Chorus Line cast member, about the musical's origins and evolution, entitled On the Line, which was published by William Morrow
William Morrow and Company
William Morrow and Company is an American publishing company founded by William Morrow in 1926. The company was acquired by Scott Foresman in 1967, and sold to Hearst Corporation in 1981. It was sold along to the News Corporation in 1999...
in 1990.
Choreography and direction
Walsh soon abandoned his dancing career to concentrate on choreography, musical staging, and direction. His credits include The Best Little Whorehouse in TexasThe Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas is a musical with a book by Texas author Larry L. King and Peter Masterson and music and lyrics by Carol Hall...
(1978) with Chorus cast member Pam Blair
Pamela Blair
Pamela Blair , known as Pam, is an American actress, singer, and dancer best known for originating the role of "Val" in the musical A Chorus Line and several appearances on American soap operas.-Early life and career:...
, A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine (1980), with Chorus cast member Priscilla Lopez
Priscilla Lopez
Priscilla Lopez is an American singer, dancer, and actress.-Early life:Lopez was born in the Bronx, New York to Francisco Lopez, a hotel banquet foreman and Laura , who were moved to New York from their native Puerto Rico...
, Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?
Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?
Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up? is a book published in 1975 by author John R. Powers. It was subsequently adapted into a Broadway musical and a screenplay.Film In Development=...
(1982), Nine
Nine (musical)
Nine is a musical with a book by Arthur Kopit, music and lyrics by Maury Yeston. The story is based on Federico Fellini's semi-autobiographical film 8½...
(1982), My One and Only
My One and Only
My One and Only is a musical with a book by Peter Stone and Timothy S. Mayer and music and lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin.Written to incorporate classic Gershwin tunes from Funny Face and other popular shows into one evening of entertainment, the plot, set in 1927 America, revolves around Capt...
(1983) with Chorus cast member Ron Dennis, Marilyn: An American Fable
Marilyn: An American Fable
Marilyn: An American Fable is a musical with a book by Patricia Michaels and music and lyrics by Jeanne Napoli, Doug Frank, Gary Portnoy, Beth Lawrence, and Norman Thalheimer....
(1983), and My Favorite Year
My Favorite Year (musical)
My Favorite Year is a musical with a book by Joseph Dougherty, music by Stephen Flaherty, and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. It is based on the film of the same name.-Production history:...
(1992).
He also directed Donna McKechnie
Donna McKechnie
Donna McKechnie is an American musical theater dancer, singer, actress, and choreographer. She is known for her professional and personal relationship with choreographer Michael Bennett, with whom she collaborated on her most noted role, "Cassie" from the musical A Chorus Line, for which she...
's one-woman show Inside the Music (2002).
At the time of his death, he was preparing a musical adaptation of A Tale of Two Cities
A Tale of Two Cities
A Tale of Two Cities is a novel by Charles Dickens, set in London and Paris before and during the French Revolution. With well over 200 million copies sold, it ranks among the most famous works in the history of fictional literature....
for a Broadway opening. Much of his best work was done in collaboration with Tommy Tune
Tommy Tune
Thomas James "Tommy" Tune is an American actor, dancer, singer, theatre director, producer, and choreographer. Over the course of his career, he has won nine Tony Awards and the National Medal of Arts.-Early years:...
including The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
Thommie also judged for Danny Hoctor's Dance Caravan and Stars of Tomorrow in conjunction with the Professional Dance Teachers Association.
Thommie Walsh died at his Auburn, New York
Auburn, New York
Auburn is a city in Cayuga County, New York, United States of America. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 27,687...
home from lymphoma at aged 57.
Awards and nominations
Awards- 1976 Theatre World AwardTheatre World AwardThe Theatre World Award, first awarded for the 1945-46 season, is an American honor presented annually to actors and actresses in recognition of an outstanding New York City stage debut performance, either on Broadway or off-Broadway.-History:...
for Ensemble Performance – A Chorus Line - 1980 Tony AwardTony AwardThe Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
for Best Choreography – A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine - 1983 Drama Desk AwardDrama Desk AwardThe Drama Desk Awards, which are given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway compete against each other in the same category...
for Outstanding Choreography – My One And Only - 1983 Tony Award for Best Choreography – My One And Only
Nominations
- 1982 Tony Award for Best Choreography – Nine
- 1983 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical – My One And Only