music by green day
lyrics by billie joe armstrong
book by billie joe armstrong and
michael mayer
choreographed by steven hoggett
directed by michael mayer
limited season | roda theatre
september 4–november 15, 2009
world premiere
Running time: 90 minutes, no intermission
the play
Green Day won two Grammys for its multi-platinum album American Idiot, which sold more than 12 million copies worldwide. Now those searing songs seize the stage with the director behind Spring Awakening, the groundbreaking musical that earned eight Tony Awards and enthralled audiences around the world. American Idiot follows working-class characters from the suburbs to the city to the Middle East, as they seek redemption in a world filled with frustration. This high-octane show features every track from the album, plus several new tunes from Green Day’s newest release, 21st Century Breakdown. With an on-stage band and a cast of 19, American Idiot will take you on an exhilarating journey borne along by Green Day’s electrifying songs.
the players
Green Day—vocalist/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist Mike Dirnt and drummer Tré Cool—were loud, snotty, scrappy kids from working-class backgrounds who came of age in the underground punk scene in Berkeley. American Idiot debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard chart and raised the bar for modern rock ‘n’ roll. Visit the band’s website.
Michael Mayer earned the Tony Award, Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle Award for Spring Awakening. He has directed 11 shows on Broadway, three on London’s West End, two films and many other projects. In 2004, The New Yorker proclaimed him “a great director.”
green day says…
“We are really excited to be working with Michael Mayer on this project. We’d been thinking of bringing American Idiot to the stage, but knew we needed to find the right partners. After meeting with Michael to discuss the possibility, he invited us to see Spring Awakening. We were so impressed with that production, as well as his vision for American Idiot, that we knew we’d found the perfect collaborator. Plus, doing it in our hometown at Berkeley Rep was an obvious bonus. They’re an amazing theatre group, very adventurous, and their willingness to take chances is in keeping with the spirit of the album. The end result will be terrific, and we’re really proud.”—Billie Joe Armstrong, frontman for Green Day
“Yes, the American Idiot play. It’s opening off-off-off-off-Broadway in Berkeley, California. We’re keeping it close to home, so we can change things and make little tweaks. But what we’ve seen so far, it’s mindblowing. The cast is incredible.”—Tré Cool, drummer for Green Day, quoted in the Edmonton Sun
multimedia
Watch the high-octane production trailer
from the blog
American Idiot wins two Tony Awards!
All of us at Berkeley Rep send our congratulations to Christine Jones, Kevin Adams and all of our collaborators on American Idiot.
“21 Guns” live on the Grammys
Watch Green Day and the Broadway cast of American Idiot rock the Grammys in an unforgettable live performance.
American Idiot cast recording
Listen to the American Idiot cast singing “21 Guns” with Green Day, recorded in Oakland just days after the show closed.
A toast to the opening
Artistic Director Tony Taccone makes a passionate toast in honor of American Idiot.
The Idiot fan wall
Read the writing on the wall, literally, as fans tag our lobby graffiti wall.
Backstage peek at American Idiot
The sound equipment alone looks ready for a NASA launch.
