Tom founded Theatre Now in 2013 and has been the Producing Artistic Director since its inception, working on the development of new musicals through writers' groups, productions, readings, workshops and other developmental programs. Through Theatre Now, Tom produces the annual SOUND BITES Festival of New 10-minute Musicals now entering its twelfth year with over 40 titles available for licensing through Theatre Now’s partnership with Music Theatre International (MTI). With Theatre Now Tom has worked with over 200 theatre writers on the development of new musicals.
Prior to Theatre Now Tom was the Artistic Director of ReVision Theatre, a regional theatre in Asbury Park, NJ where he produced The Who’s Tommy, and the NJ premiere of Spring Awakening to critical and audience acclaim at sold-out capacity. He helped develop and produced the musical premieres Kingdom by Aaron Jafferis and Ian Willams, a hip-hop rock musical based on the Latin Kings (Winner Best Musical 2008, New Jersey Star Ledger), The Break-up Notebook, The Lesbian Musical by Lori Scarlett, David Manning and Patricia Cotter staring Beth Malone (Winner Best Musical 2010, New Jersey Star. Ledger) and The Bikinis, a jukebox musical featuring hits from the 60’s with an original book by Jim Hindman, Ray Roderick and Joseph Baker, featuring Annie Golden, Cheryl Freeman, Karen Quakenbush and Kathy Morath. Following the Revision Theatre’s production, The Bikinis was produced at The Goodspeed Opera House and many of the shows Tom has developed have been produced commercially and presented throughout the U.S. at regional theatres. Also with Revision Theatre he produced and directed Hello, Dolly! Starring Richard Skipper as Carol Channing and The Rocky Horror Show (Winner Year End Best Theatre Awards 2011, New Jersey Star Ledger and Tri-City News).
In 1995 Tom founded The Genesius Theatre Guild a non-profit organization dedicated to new works. Notable writers included Andrew Lippa, Adam Gwon, Joe Iconis along with Kerrigan and Lowdermilk who created work through Genesius’ new musicals Upstairs At Red cabaret program. Tom worked with playwright Itamar Moses and produced the premiere production of Jonathan Tolin’s The Last Sunday In June which became the highlight of Rattlestick Productions 2003 off Broadway season and went on to its commercial New York run at the Century Center Theatre.
Tom was a member of Circle Repertory Company as a LAB member and directed at other prominent NYC companies that included Naked Angels and Ensemble Studio Theatre in addition to directing many plays and musicals at regional theatres across the U.S. Tom attended New York University as an acting major and studied acting with Stella Adler and directing with Suzanne Shepherd and Larry Arrick. He has worked in all areas of professional theatre: regional, summer, dinner theatre, off and on Broadway. Tom has taught acting, musical theatre classes and workshops at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA), Wagner College, New York University, The Creative Acting Company, NYC. A member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) and Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), his website can be found at www.ThomasMorrissey.com