The Who’s ‘Tommy’ will begin its North American tour at Cleveland’s Playhouse Square in 2026

Cleveland set to host the first engagement of a new touring production

The Who’s Tommy, the rock musical based on The Who’s 1969 album, is scheduled to launch a North American tour with its first stop in Cleveland at Playhouse Square in fall 2026. The tour’s official schedule lists additional early engagements in Denver, Houston, Minneapolis and Boston.

The touring announcement follows the title’s recent Broadway revival, which played at the Nederlander Theatre from March 28, 2024, through July 21, 2024, and received one Tony Award nomination, for Best Revival of a Musical.

What audiences can expect from the production

The Who’s Tommy is written with music and lyrics by Pete Townshend, with a book credited to Townshend and Des McAnuff. The story centers on Tommy Walker, a boy left psychologically unresponsive after witnessing a violent incident. As he grows, a talent for pinball turns him into a public sensation, and the show tracks how celebrity and spiritual longing collide around him.

Performance information released for the production describes a 100-minute running time with no intermission and an age recommendation of 16 and up. Notices for audiences also reference loud music, multiple gunshots, theatrical haze and strobe/flashing light effects.

Why launching a tour matters for Cleveland

A tour launch is the first public run of a national production in its touring form, typically requiring additional rehearsal and technical work beyond what a standard “stop” on an established tour demands. Cleveland’s selection as the launch city puts Playhouse Square in a position to host early performances that can shape how the show travels, from staging refinements to technical adjustments.

Early tour footprint and what is still unknown

While the tour is billed as beginning in Cleveland in fall 2026, the production has not publicly released specific Cleveland performance dates or a full season calendar of tour stops. Additional cities are expected to be announced.

• Launch city: Cleveland (Playhouse Square), fall 2026
• Additional early stops listed: Denver, Houston, Minneapolis, Boston
• Production details: 100 minutes, no intermission; age recommendation 16+

Content notices for the production include depictions of bullying, substance abuse and scenes of war, along with technical effects such as haze and strobe lighting.

Ticketing timelines, casting and the complete routing for the first touring season have not been fully detailed in public materials. Playhouse Square is expected to announce exact dates and on-sale information closer to the engagement.