Music by Green Day
Lyrics by Billie Joe Armstrong
Book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer
based on the albums American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown
Sept. 12-Oct. 5, 2024
AMERICAN IDIOT
Praise for New Line's Production
“Infectious, electrifying. . . guaranteed to energize its audience.”– Mark Bretz, Ladue News
“A raw, punky American Idiot.”
– CB Adams, KDHX
“Energetic and angsty. . . masterful staging.”
– Rob Levy, BroadwayWorld
“Turbo-charged. . . a scorching experience.”
– Lynn Venhaus, PopLifeSTL
“A new era of dynamic clarity and artistic expression.”
– Richard Green, TalkinBroadway
"Another strong effort from New Line Theatre."
– Michelle Kenyon, Snoop's Theatre Thoughts
“Fine characterizations and singing.”
– Gerry Kowarsky, Two on the Aisle
Don't wanna be an American idiot?
New Line opened its 33rd season with the powerful, high-octane, rock fable AMERICAN IDIOT, based on the powerhouse album by Green Day, a scorching attack on the hypocrisy and moral evils of American politics, and as the increasingly submissive nature of the American public. It's a show that has become even more relevant today than when it was written.
The thrilling, insightful, iconic score includes every song from Green Day's hit album American Idiot, as well as several songs from their follow-up release, 21st Century Breakdown, with music by Green Day, lyrics by frontman Billie Joe Armstrong, a book by Armstrong and Michael Mayer, and musical arrangements and orchestrations by Broadway composer Tom Kitt. The Toronto Star called the show "the first great musical of the 21st century."
Lost and disconnected in a post-9/11 America, three friends, Johnny, Tunny and Will, struggle to find meaning in their lives. The three men flee the constraints of their hometown for the thrills of city life, but their paths quickly diverge as Tunny enters the armed forces, Will is called back home to attend to a pregnant girlfriend, and Johnny descends into an urban underworld, following a seductive love interest and a deadly new friendship. As each of the three learns to navigate his "alienation," we see in them America's struggle to find a new path in this new millennium, after a long period of darkness.
Of the original album, Spin magazine said, "A decade and a half after the first Green Day record, the boys from Berkeley grew up and got angry. So what did they do? Recorded a Bush-bashing rock opera featuring nine-minute songs — and ended up with their biggest smash in years." Charles Isherwood of The New York Times declared the stage musical "invigorating, thrilling, emotionally charged, and as moving as any Broadway musical I've seen this year!" Rolling Stone said of the musical, "American Idiot knows no limits -- it's a global knockout. Blows your mind while it blows the roof off. Looking for a groundbreaking musical event? You just found it."
The New Line cast included Clayton Humburg (as Johnny), Rafael Da Costa (Tunny), DeAnté Bryant (Will), Bee Mecey (St. Jimmy), Rachel Parker (Heather), Lauren Tenenbaum (Whatsername), Adrienne Spann (Extraordinary Girl), Jordan Ray Duncan (Favorite Son), and Gabriel Anderson, Hannah Duncan, Alex Giordano, Amora Jones, Ian McCreary, Nathan Mecey, Kaylin Penninger, and Vanessa Simpson.
The New Line production was directed by Chris Moore and Scott Miller, with choreography by Chelsie Johnston, music direction by John Gerdes, scenic design by Rob Lippert, lighting design by Ryan Thorp, sound design by Ryan Day, and costume design by Lauren Smith.
New Line last produced American Idiot in 2016. American Idiot is produced by arrangement with Music Theatre International, New York.
Want to explore more?
We recommend:
The original cast album of the show and the Green Day album, and the show's vocal selections
The excellent documentary, Broadway Idiot, about the creation of the show
The Stage Grok interview with Michael Mayer, about the creation of American Idiot the Musical.
A great book, Green Day: American Idiots and the New Punk Explosion, by Ben Myers
Artistic Director Scott Miller's analysis and background essay about American Idiot, from his book Idiots, Heathers, and Squips: The New Golden Age of the Musical Theatre
New Line guitarist Aaron Doerr's interviews with Broadway guitarist Alec Berlin about playing American Idiot, part one and part two
A great article, "United States of Rage and Love," on the PopMatters website, analyzing the original album, song by song
A great article called "What is Punk?"
