American Idiot Rocks Broadway

THE IDEA
Having listened to the album, Tony-award winning Director Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening) heard the story within the music, piecing together a very socially-relevant story.
"The idea of theatricalizing this album came to me just from listening to it over and over again," said Mayer in an interview. "And hearing a very strong emotional narrative that was the story of American youth looking to improve their lives. … I felt like that's just such a great coming-of-age story."
Mayer brought the idea to Green Day's frontman Billie Joe Armstrong, and the two worked feverishly to transform the music into a staged production.
"We've always thought that somehow … there should be some sort of stage version because that's what we were thinking in our heads," said Armstrong in an interview.

CREATING A MUSICAL
The musical is a one-act rock opera appropriately titled after the album. It follows the lives of three childhood friends, Johnny, Will and Tunny, struggling to find purpose in a post-Sept. 11 America. One goes off to find a better life, another enlists in the army and the other stays behind in his suburban hometown.
The high-energy show samples each tune from the American Idiot album, as well as some B-sides and select songs from 21st Century Breakdown. Working on the musical arrangement, Tony-award winner Tom Kitt (Next to Normal) found an inspiring work within Green Day's album.
"I was able to hear a really intense, beautiful story right away," said Kitt in an interview. "There's so much here that feels like its new and fresh and pushing the boundaries."

PREVIOUS PRODUCTIONS & CURRENT PRODUCTION
American Idiot first premiered at California's Berkeley Repertory Theater in September 2009 with a majority of the current cast still receiving mixed reviews. Charles McNulty of the Los Angeles Times called the show "kinetically entertaining in a way that intentionally reflects the shallow, media-saturated culture the album rails against." Karen D'Souza of MercuryNews.com called it "a thrashing collage of songs fused together with hypnotic movement and eye-popping visuals … as compelling as it is abstract [and it] channels the grungy spirit of punk while also plucking at the heartstrings." The New York Times' Charles Isherwood said that the musical "possesses a stimulating energy and a vision of wasted youth that holds us in its grip."
Despite the differing opinions, the show had a very successful run. Originally intended to play for one month, the run was extended an additional five weeks and seemed to gain public appeal. Now on Broadway, the show will have undoubtedly adapted to previous critiques and will aim to be bigger, better and more electrifying than ever.
American Idiot began previews March 24 and will run until April 20. Tickets can be through Telecharge.com or at the box office at the St. James Theater, 246 W 44th St. in New York City.

AMERICAN IDIOT

 Music by Green Day
 Lyrics by Billie Joe Armstrong
 Book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer
 Directed by Michael Mayer
 Orchestrations, Arrangements and Musical Supervision by Tom Kitt
 Choreographed by Steven Hoggett

 CAST

Johnny – John Gallagher Jr. (Spring Awakening, Rabbit Hole)
Tunny – Stark Sands (Journe''s End)
Will – Michael Esper (A Man for All Seasons)
St. Jimmy – Tony Vincent (RENT, Jesus Christ Superstar)
Whatsername – Rebecca Naomi Jones (Passing Starnge)
Heather – Mary Faber (Avenue Q)
The Extraordinary Girl – Christina Sajous
Ensemble: Declan Bennett, Andrew Call, Gerard Canonico, Miguel Cervantes, Joshua, Van Hughes, Brian Charles Johnson, Leslie McDonel, Chase Peacock, Theo Stockman,  Ben Thompson, Alysha Umphress, Libby Winters with Joshua Kobak, Lorin Latarro, Omar  Lopez-Cepero, and Aspen Vincent as swings.
 

SONGS
• American Idiot
• Jesus of Suburbia
• Holiday
• Boulevard of Broken Dreams
• Favorite Son
• Are We The Waiting
• St. Jimmy
• Give Me Novacaine
• Last of the American Girls
• She's a Rebel
• Last Night on Earth
• Too Much Too Soon
• Before The Lobotomy
• Extraordinary Girl
• When It's Time (unreleased)
• Know Your Enemy
• 21 Guns
• Letterbomb
• Wake Me Up When September Ends
• Homecoming
• The Death of St. Jimmy
• East 12th St.
• Nobody Likes You
• Rock and Roll Girlfriend
• We're Coming Home Again
• Whatsername
• Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)