Local Teens Perform in Gateway's 'Tommy'

Three teens from Patchogue are getting ready to perform in Gateway's student production of The Who's 'Tommy'.

Robert DeFilippo, 16, George Marschall, 15, and Kaylee Spano, 13, all have roles in the production of the rock opera from the band's 1960s album.

Scot Allan, producer's assistant at the Gateway, describes the show as having an educational purpose for this student production.

"'Tommy' is probably something that they don't know very well yet it's appealing to them - it's rock, it's about young people, young artists and it has really good scenes," Allan said.

There are 28 cast members in total for the professional production. Chosen by a multiple-part audition process, the actors come from all over Long Island. The students rehearse for about two weeks before performing on the main stage of Gateway Playhouse.

"The rehearsals are pretty tedious but I feel like we accomplish a lot in the short amount of time that we are given. We all have to work hard but it's a lot of fun," DeFilippo said.

The show had its opening on Thursday and runs through July 30. Ticket information can be found on the Gateway Playhouse website.

Robert DeFilippo

Age/Grade: 16, 12th grade
Attends:
Role in 'Tommy': Ensemble/Lab Tech/Mr. Simpson

How he started acting: "When I was younger, my parents took me to see the musical 'Wicked' on Broadway. When the second overture started, I thought to myself 'This is it. This is what I have to do'."

Past Experience: (Gateway)

Favorite Moment from 'Tommy': "The Acid Queen. I'm not even in the number but it's a lot of fun to watch. It's crazy. It really hits the pit of the show. The parents are struggling to find a cure for Tommy and this is almost like a last resort".

Future Plans: "NYU Tisch [School of the Arts] is always the dream. Even if I don't get in though, I will still pursue what I want to do and that is perform musical theatre".

George Marschall

Age/Grade: 15, 10th grade
Attends: Bellport High School
Role in 'Tommy': Ensemble/Cousin Kevin's father/Lab Tech/Guard

How he started acting: "I started in the fourth grade in my school production and I've just continued. The summer after sixth grade I did my first production here [at Gateway] which was Aladdin. I loved it and have wanted to come back every single year".

Past Experience: Aladdin (Gateway), Les Miserable (Gateway), Beauty and the Beast (School production), Fiddler on the Roof (School production)

Favorite Moment from 'Tommy': "I really love the song 'Pinball Wizard'. It's probably my favorite number in the show. It is so energetic and the music is so loud and strong. I'm a fan of The Who and that song has always one of my favorites by them. So being in a production that revolves around The Who is just great".

Kaylee Spano

Age/Grade: 13, 8th grade
Attends: Bayport-Blue Point Middle School
Role in 'Tommy': Ensemble/Lab Tech/Pinball Lass

How she started acting: "When I was six years old, I took a class here at the Gateway. Ever since then I have been doing shows and classes here".

Past Experience: Wizard of Oz (Gateway), Christmas Spectacular (Gateway), Christmas Carol (Gateway), Annie (Gateway)

Favorite Moment from 'Tommy': "I'd say 'Cousin Kevin and Sensation' because usually I play nice characters and in that scene we're a little more rebellious. It's fun to play a different character'.

Advice for others: "Starting out, you get rejected a lot. You just have to brush it off and keep going".