Thomas James Tune: Classical Dancer

Thomas James Tune, born in Wichita Falls, Texas, decided at a very young age that he wanted to become a classical dancer, and began training in ballet. Being the entertainer that he was, he would put on plays and dance pieces in his garage in front of his entire family. When Tommy got to High School, all of his dreams of being a classical dancer went out the window when he reached six feet, six inches tall; he knew that this height would not work in the classical dance world that he so longed to be apart of, so he began to concentrate on a different form of dance, tap. He attended Lamar High School in Houston, Texas where he impressed his theater teachers with his natural ability to entertain and his quick feat.They encouraged Tune to think

After graduation, he moved to New York to start his career. On the first day that Tommy was in New York, he decided to go to his very first professional audition. Much to his surprise, he was offered the job on the spot. This job was a part in the chorus in the Broadway production of Baker Street in 1965. Mr. Tune left a wonderful impression on everyone who he worked with. The directors of the show raved about Tommy to all of their friends. They felt as if they had discovered a star. Tommy was amazing to work with not only because of his immense talent, but also because of his spirit and love of life as well as his love for theatre. This attitude would make him widely popular in the industry. From this point on, Tune got offered one job after the other. John Simon, a drama critic said he was "as long on talent as on legs", which would prove to be true in the years to come.

After his Broadway debut in Baker Street, Tune’s career took of and didn’t ever seem to slow down. Tommy Tune worked again in the chorus of A Joyful Noise in 1967 and then again in How Now Dow Jones

Wanting a break from the pressure of Broadway, Tune decided to move to off Broadway to direct Caryl Churchill 's play Cloud 9 earning him a Drama Desk Award and an Obie Award for Direction. In 1982, Tommy returned to Broadway and he directed the original production of the musical Nine and received the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Direction as well as the Tony for Best Direction of a Musical. His next project would be one of his most successful and challenging as he took on directing, choreographing, and starring in the Broadway production of My One and Only in 1983 alongside his most cherished dance partner and old gal pal, Twiggy. For this production he was nominated at the Tony Awards for Best Direction, but won The Tony for Best Leading Actor and Best Choreography, as well the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography. After this huge success Tommy directed another Broadway play titled Stepping Out. After a short break from working, Tune took on another huge project directing and choreographing the Broadway production of Grand Hotel, which won him two Drama Desk Awards (Outstanding Direction and Choreography,) as well as two Tony Awards (Best Direction of a Musical and Best Choreography.) His final directing and choreographing project would be in 1991 when he took on The Will Rogers Follies, which won him Two Tony Awards for Best Direction of a Musical and Best Choreography, and also a