Thommie Walsh, performer, director, choreographer, writer and native Auburnian, will be recognized for the accomplished artist he was with a one-of-a-kind award from a prestigious college.
The Boston Conservatory of Music will give Walsh a posthumous Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award at its Saturday, May 17, commencement in Blackman Auditorium at Northeastern University. This is the first time the conservatory has granted this award.
Todd Lattimore, Thommie's former student and a conservatory graduate, will present the award to Barbara Walsh, Thommie's sister, who will accept it in his name. Thommie's mother, Eleanor Cosentino Walsh, will also attend the event.
Thommie died June 16, at 57, of cancer. He was working on “A Tale of Two Cities” when he began having stomach problems.
It was eventually diagnosed as lymphoma. Although he was pronounced cancer free a few months later, he passed away shortly after the cancer returned.
Walsh had mentored Lattimore and taught him choreography. He was on hand at Lattimore's home to watch Todd perform in the televised “42 Street,” his Broadway debut.
The award is all the more remarkable since Walsh only spent a couple of years at the Conservatory from 1972-74.
“He just couldn't stand it,” his mother, Eleanor, said. “He had to get out and perform.”
Walsh left school in hopes of joining the Disney on Parade tour, much to his parents' chagrin.
Barbara described the call her mother got when Thommie learned he was given a part in the cast of Disney's tour.
“He called her up and sang, 'M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E!'”
In fact, Thommie was known for his sense of humor.
“Every card, letter, phone call, and Thommie's celebration of his life at Sardi's, the theme was the same - his sense of humor,” Barbara said. “Everybody talked about how funny he was and what joyous memories they had of him.”
Thommie bought Tara, the family home on Owasco Lake, when he was 26 years old.
“He never saw it before he bought it,” Barbara said. “My mother and I made the arrangements. When he came home, he just said 'Tara' because he was impressed with the beautiful area.”
Barbara, younger than Thommie, said that, as most children do, they had their little differences until they became adolescents.
“He was into his creative things, and there were some annoying moments,” she said, “but he had a beautiful soul. He was a kind, sensitive guy with a loving spirit to friends and family. He was just a love. He had so much love for everyone. He was an inspiration in himself. What else can I say about my beautiful, loving brother other than I miss him terribly.”
Barbara was deeply affected by Thommie's untimely death and began to research various Web sites with information about him as a kind of daily therapy, compiling a book to deal with her grief.
“Let me see what the Boston Conservatory has on its Web site,” Barbara thought. She looked in the “notable student” section to find information on Thommie.
“He wasn't there,” she said, amazed at no mention of someone as accomplished as her brother.
After calling the conservatory, she learned that Thommie hadn't filled out an information form sent by the school to update student files.
“I'm only calling to add my brother to your list,” she told Karen Fogerty, director of marketing and communications for the Conservatory. Then she learned why his name wasn't there.
“He never sent it in,” Barbara said. “I don't think he ever knew how big he was.”
Fogerty not only added him to the list but called back with a surprise.
“We would like to give him a lifetime achievement award,” she told Barbara.
“He never bragged or tooted his own horn,” Barbara said. “He was very down to earth. He would almost be embarrassed when people would admire his work, and he would just graciously thank them.”
He was famous for creating the role of Bobby Mills in the original Broadway production of “A Chorus Line,” and later co-wrote a book about its early beginnings, “On the Line: the Creation of a Chorus Line,” published by William Morrow in 1990.
On Nov. 16, a tribute to Thommie's life was celebrated at Sardi's Restaurant in New York City. Tommy Tune and Baayork Lee hosted the event, which 57 Auburnians attended, together with the New York Broadway community. It was a night of stories and songs from all of the Broadway shows that Thommie performed.
Walsh was born on March 15, 1950. The son of Thomas “Jitch” Walsh and Eleanor Cosentino Walsh, he began his dancing career at Irma Baker's School of Dance at the age of five. He later studied with David Shields, founder of the Syracuse Ballet Co., when he was 16. After he graduated from Auburn's East High School, Julliard turned him down. He then entered the Boston Conservatory School of Music, where he discovered modern dance.
His career took off as he joined the national tour of “Applause,” had a role in the film version of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” and then debuted on Broadway in the chorus of “Seesaw” in 1973. Next, he was in the show “Rachel Lily Rosenblum (And Don't You Forget It).” By 1975, he was on Broadway as Bobby.
As choreographer for “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” “The 1940's Radio Hour,” (1979 “Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?,” “Nine,” (1982) “Lunch Hour,” and “My Favorite Year,” his success continued.
He received two Tony awards; one along with a Drama Desk award for choreography in “A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine” (1980), and the other for best direction in “My One and Only,” (1983).
Thommie continued to direct “Lucky Stiff” at Playwright's Horizons (off Broadway), “Always,” (West End, London, debut and “A Broadway Baby” at Godspeed Opera House. He directed and choreographed the national tour of “Whorehouse,” starring Ann Maragret and Gary Sandy and created dances for Mitzi Gaynor, Barbara Cook, Joel Grey, Juliet Prowse, Donna McKechnie Lorna Luft and Chita Rivera.
Tom Woods, a local theater columnist who knew Thommie in his youth, said, “I remember an unfailing kindness and an unfailing gentleness in him. He was never dismissive of the younger kids and was always willing to play and read to us.”
Woods recalled a time when his cousin Laurie Boni got married. Walsh lived up the street from her house.
“Thommie came up and lit up the dance floor with about 40 percent of the women as partners,” Woods said, “but he was there to make Laurie's day special, not to show off. He was as considerate a man as he was talented, and you never, ever felt that he thought of himself as a superior sophisticate.
“He was a kid from Auburn who made good and was proud of his accomplishments and his roots. Thommie Walsh was a good man in the most complete sense of the word.”
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
Todd Lattimore, Thommie's former student and a conservatory graduate, will present the award to Barbara Walsh, Thommie's sister, who will accept it in his name. Thommie's mother, Eleanor Cosentino Walsh, will also attend the event.
Thommie died June 16, at 57, of cancer. He was working on “A Tale of Two Cities” when he began having stomach problems.
It was eventually diagnosed as lymphoma. Although he was pronounced cancer free a few months later, he passed away shortly after the cancer returned.
Walsh had mentored Lattimore and taught him choreography. He was on hand at Lattimore's home to watch Todd perform in the televised “42 Street,” his Broadway debut.
The award is all the more remarkable since Walsh only spent a couple of years at the Conservatory from 1972-74.
“He just couldn't stand it,” his mother, Eleanor, said. “He had to get out and perform.”
Walsh left school in hopes of joining the Disney on Parade tour, much to his parents' chagrin.
Barbara described the call her mother got when Thommie learned he was given a part in the cast of Disney's tour.
“He called her up and sang, 'M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E!'”
In fact, Thommie was known for his sense of humor.
“Every card, letter, phone call, and Thommie's celebration of his life at Sardi's, the theme was the same - his sense of humor,” Barbara said. “Everybody talked about how funny he was and what joyous memories they had of him.”
Thommie bought Tara, the family home on Owasco Lake, when he was 26 years old.
“He never saw it before he bought it,” Barbara said. “My mother and I made the arrangements. When he came home, he just said 'Tara' because he was impressed with the beautiful area.”
Barbara, younger than Thommie, said that, as most children do, they had their little differences until they became adolescents.
“He was into his creative things, and there were some annoying moments,” she said, “but he had a beautiful soul. He was a kind, sensitive guy with a loving spirit to friends and family. He was just a love. He had so much love for everyone. He was an inspiration in himself. What else can I say about my beautiful, loving brother other than I miss him terribly.”
Barbara was deeply affected by Thommie's untimely death and began to research various Web sites with information about him as a kind of daily therapy, compiling a book to deal with her grief.
“Let me see what the Boston Conservatory has on its Web site,” Barbara thought. She looked in the “notable student” section to find information on Thommie.
“He wasn't there,” she said, amazed at no mention of someone as accomplished as her brother.
After calling the conservatory, she learned that Thommie hadn't filled out an information form sent by the school to update student files.
“I'm only calling to add my brother to your list,” she told Karen Fogerty, director of marketing and communications for the Conservatory. Then she learned why his name wasn't there.
“He never sent it in,” Barbara said. “I don't think he ever knew how big he was.”
Fogerty not only added him to the list but called back with a surprise.
“We would like to give him a lifetime achievement award,” she told Barbara.
“He never bragged or tooted his own horn,” Barbara said. “He was very down to earth. He would almost be embarrassed when people would admire his work, and he would just graciously thank them.”
He was famous for creating the role of Bobby Mills in the original Broadway production of “A Chorus Line,” and later co-wrote a book about its early beginnings, “On the Line: the Creation of a Chorus Line,” published by William Morrow in 1990.
On Nov. 16, a tribute to Thommie's life was celebrated at Sardi's Restaurant in New York City. Tommy Tune and Baayork Lee hosted the event, which 57 Auburnians attended, together with the New York Broadway community. It was a night of stories and songs from all of the Broadway shows that Thommie performed.
Walsh was born on March 15, 1950. The son of Thomas “Jitch” Walsh and Eleanor Cosentino Walsh, he began his dancing career at Irma Baker's School of Dance at the age of five. He later studied with David Shields, founder of the Syracuse Ballet Co., when he was 16. After he graduated from Auburn's East High School, Julliard turned him down. He then entered the Boston Conservatory School of Music, where he discovered modern dance.
His career took off as he joined the national tour of “Applause,” had a role in the film version of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” and then debuted on Broadway in the chorus of “Seesaw” in 1973. Next, he was in the show “Rachel Lily Rosenblum (And Don't You Forget It).” By 1975, he was on Broadway as Bobby.
As choreographer for “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,” “The 1940's Radio Hour,” (1979 “Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?,” “Nine,” (1982) “Lunch Hour,” and “My Favorite Year,” his success continued.
He received two Tony awards; one along with a Drama Desk award for choreography in “A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine” (1980), and the other for best direction in “My One and Only,” (1983).
Thommie continued to direct “Lucky Stiff” at Playwright's Horizons (off Broadway), “Always,” (West End, London, debut and “A Broadway Baby” at Godspeed Opera House. He directed and choreographed the national tour of “Whorehouse,” starring Ann Maragret and Gary Sandy and created dances for Mitzi Gaynor, Barbara Cook, Joel Grey, Juliet Prowse, Donna McKechnie Lorna Luft and Chita Rivera.
Tom Woods, a local theater columnist who knew Thommie in his youth, said, “I remember an unfailing kindness and an unfailing gentleness in him. He was never dismissive of the younger kids and was always willing to play and read to us.”
Woods recalled a time when his cousin Laurie Boni got married. Walsh lived up the street from her house.
“Thommie came up and lit up the dance floor with about 40 percent of the women as partners,” Woods said, “but he was there to make Laurie's day special, not to show off. He was as considerate a man as he was talented, and you never, ever felt that he thought of himself as a superior sophisticate.
“He was a kid from Auburn who made good and was proud of his accomplishments and his roots. Thommie Walsh was a good man in the most complete sense of the word.”
Staff writer Kathleen Barran can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 238 or kathleen.barran@lee.net
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