Thomas Joseph "Thommie" Walsh III was an American dancer, choreographer, director, and author.
16 Facts About Thommie Walsh
1.
2.
Thommie Walsh was born in Auburn, New York, and began to study dance at age five at the Irma Baker School of Dance.
3.
When Irma retired, Thommie traveled to Syracuse NY weekly to continue his dance training under David Shields.
4.
Thommie Walsh joined the national tour of Applause, starring Lauren Bacall, and the company of The Ann-Margret Las Vegas Show.
5.
Thommie Walsh was in the film version of Jesus Christ Superstar as the apostle Thaddeus.
6.
Thommie Walsh made his Broadway debut in the chorus of Seesaw in 1973.
7.
In 1975, Thommie 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.
8.
Thommie Walsh soon left his dancing career to concentrate on choreography, musical staging, and direction.
9.
Thommie Walsh went on to direct Lucky Stiff Off-Broadway in 1988 the musical Always in 1997, and A Broadway Baby at Goodspeed Opera House in 1984.
10.
Thommie Walsh has directed and staged musical numbers for Chita Rivera, Sandy Duncan, Mitzi Gaynor, Donna McKechnie, Whoopi Goldberg, Lorna Luft, Priscilla Lopez, Joel Grey, Barbara Cook, and Julie Budd.
11.
Thommie Walsh directed and choreographed many commercials such as the NY Lottery, Perdue Chicken, Crush, and MCI.
12.
Thommie Walsh was a judge for Miss America, Danny Hoctor's Dance Caravan and Stars of Tomorrow in conjunction with the Professional Dance Teachers Association.
13.
The last show Thommie Walsh directed was Greetings from Yorkville, which opened off Broadway on October 4,2007, and ran through November 11,2007, post Thommie Walsh's death in June.
14.
Thommie Walsh died on June 16,2007, at his Auburn, New York, home from lymphoma at age 57.
15.
On Friday May 18,2018, Thommie Walsh became the first person inducted posthumously into the Auburn Alumni Hall of Distinction.
16.
The theater has brought in friends of Thommie Walsh's, including Julie Budd, Michele Lee, Lucie Arnaz, and Tommy Tune, who have performed concerts to raise money for the scholarship fund.