| American Idiot | |
|---|---|
&sq=Facebook&lang=en&file=File:American_Idiot-poster.png) Broadway promotional poster | |
| Music | Green Day |
| Lyrics | Billie Joe Armstrong |
| Book | Billie Joe Armstrong Michael Mayer |
| Basis | American Idiot by Green Day |
| Premiere | September 4, 2009: Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Berkeley |
| Productions | 2009 Berkeley 2010 Broadway 2011 First US tour 2012 First UK and Ireland tour 2012 Second US tour 2013 Third US tour 2015 West End 2016 Second UK tour 2017 Manila 2019 Third UK tour |
| Awards | Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album |
American Idiot is a sung-through rock musical based on the concept album of the same name by rock band Green Day. After a run at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in 2009, the show moved to the St. James Theatre on Broadway. Previews began on March 24, 2010, and the musical officially opened on April 20, 2010. The show closed on April 24, 2011, after 422 performances. While Green Day did not appear in the production, vocalist/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong performed the role of St. Jimmy occasionally throughout the run.
The story, expanded from that of the album, centers on three disaffected young men, Johnny, Will and Tunny. Johnny and Tunny flee a stifling suburban lifestyle and parental restrictions, while Will stays at home to work out his relationship with his pregnant girlfriend, Heather. The former pair look for meaning in life and try out the freedom and excitement of the city. Tunny quickly gives up on life in the city, joins the military and is shipped off to war. Johnny turns to drugs and finds a part of himself that he grows to dislike, has a relationship and experiences lost love.
The book was written by Armstrong and director Michael Mayer. The music was composed by Green Day and the lyrics were by Armstrong. The score included all the songs from the band's original American Idiot album, as well as additional Green Day songs from the 2009 concept album 21st Century Breakdown, and "When It's Time", a song originally only released as a single in Britain.
The musical won two Tony Awards: Best Scenic Design of a Musical for Christine Jones and Best Lighting Design of a Musical for Kevin Adams. It also received a nomination for Best Musical. In 2011, its Broadway cast recording won a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.