The Great White Way will get a heavy infusion of punk rock this year as Green Day brings the musical version of its album “American Idiot” to St. James Theatre in New York City. Producers Tom Hulce and Ira Pittelman announced the show’s Broadway debut earlier this week.
Previews for the stage musical will begin March 24, with opening night booked a month later on April 20. A performance schedule and ticketing information for the open-ended production have not yet been announced. However, fans can sign up for e-mail announcements on the official ‘American Idiot’ On Broadway site.
“American Idiot” debuted at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in Green Day’s hometown of Berkeley, CA, in early September 2009. The limited engagement production earned rave reviews from critics and enjoyed a solid schedule of sold-out performances, with two extensions, before ending its run on November 15.
Music and lyrics for “American Idiot” are straight from Green Day, though composer and music supervisor Tom Kitt added theatrical flair to the score with special string arrangements. Band frontman Billie Joe Armstrong and director Michael Mayer co-wrote the play book, which follows three young men as life takes them “from the suburbs to the city to the Middle East,” according to Green Day’s official Web site.
“Experiencing ‘American Idiot’ on stage in Berkeley was incredible,” said Armstrong in a statement. He added later, “Michael Mayer was able to bring life to the characters of ‘American Idiot,’ and Tom Kitt’s musical arrangements are breathtaking. We’re so proud that the show is coming to Broadway!”
St. James Theatre is located at 246 West 44 Street in New York, NY. A Broadway cast has not yet been announced.
