Travel back in time through the eyes of the character Tommy at the Clarence Brown Theatre Thursday, April 16 through Sunday, May 3.

Schaad Companies is sponsoring The Who's rock opera, which includes many memorable songs such as Pinball Wizard and is credited with being the first of its genre.

Written by Pete Townshend in 1969, the show is about a "deaf, dumb and blind boy" who becomes a master of the pinball machine. The play features symbols of popular culture representing the era in which The Who was recording. 

The rock opera was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 because of its artistic and historical significance.

"The show Tommy is more than the story of a boy," director Casey Sams said. "It's also about the phenomenon that was Tommy, the album, back when The Who was performing it in the late '60s and early '70s." 

The show is free for students with UT ID, and the tickets are $17 buy one, get one free for faculty and staff Thursday, April 16. Tickets for students will cost $10 with UT ID on Friday, April 17 and $5 for all other performances. For more ticket information, visit the Clarence Brown Theatre homepage.