Kidsday Talking with Cast Members from Broadway's Tommy

Newsday, 8-22-93

By Michele Fiascanaro, Katie Gutacker and Meghan Hoyt.
KIDSDAY STAFF REPORTERS

We interviewed the four talented actors who play Tommy in the Broadway hit musical Tommy, after a recent performance. Michael Cerveris plays the adult Tommy, Buddy Smith is Tommy at age 10, and Crysta Macalush Carly Jane Steinborn take turns playing Tommy at age 4. If you haven't already seen this fabulous show, we recommend that you do.

Kidsday:
How did you get this part?

Michael:
I auditioned when it was originally done at the LaJolla Playhouse in California.

Buddy:
I auditioned four times before I got it.

Crysta:
I had to audition six times.

Carly:
It was kind of a fluke. My grandmother found an ad that said there was an audition for the young Tommy in California. After three auditions I got the part. When it went to Broadway, I auditioned aga and got this part.

Kidsday:
Did you have to do anything special to get this part?

Carly:
I had to cut my hair, but it wasn't as long as Crysta's; hers was down to her back.

Kidsday:
Did you see the 1975 movie version of "Tommy"?

Buddy:
I only watched half of it; it was really strange.

Kidsday:
How often do you rehearse each day?

Buddy:
We don't rehearse each day. But if an understudy is doing part that he or she hasn't done before, then we'll practice.

Kidsday:
As the 4-year-old Tommy, in some scenes you have to be shaken around by other cast members. Does this ever bother you?

Carly:
The director was very nice about that, he said if we ever uncomfortable to tell him. The whole cast is nice and we know that nobody would try to hurt us.

Kidsday:
What do you like most about being on stage?

Carly:
It gives you the best feeling to see everybody clapping fo you .

Kidsday:
What was your most embarrassing moment on stage?

Michael:
In some scenes in "Tommy" I have to fly out on stage and once I got stuck and had to hang in the air with my back to the audience for about four minutes before they brought the curtain down.

Buddy:
When I was in "Les Miserables," I said a line in a song twice a row.

Kidsday:
If you could work with any famous actor who would it be?

Michael:
I would have loved to work with Laurence Olivier. I would enjoy working with Robert DeNiro or Meryl Streep.

Kidsday:
Do you plan on doing TV and movies?

Michael:
I've done TV and movies and I'd like to do more.

Carly:
Yes, but I'd rather do theater.

Kidsday:
Who is your favorite music group?

Michael:
I should say The Who.

Buddy:
I like reggae, but not any specific group.

Kidsday:
If you could meet anyone in the world, who would it be?

Carly:
Whitney Houston because I'm a really big fan of hers.

Crysta:
I have already met Pete Townshend (who wrote the music and lyrics for "Tommy"), but I'd like to see him again.

Kidsday:
What do you like most about yourself?

Carly:
That I have a lot of friends.

Buddy:
Oh, I don't know. Maybe that I'm a good actor.

Kidsday:
What was the most important factor that got you to this point in career?

Michael:
Concentrating on making myself a better actor instead of concentrating on the awards and attention of becoming a star.

Kidsday:
If you could change anything in the world, what would it be?

Michael:
I'd move the wealth around so there would be less very poor people and few extremely rich people.

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