Green Day's Idiot Hits the Boards

E! Online, Mar 30, 2009 4:00 pm PDT
These punks just want to sing. And dance. And put on a show!

Taking a page from their idols the Who, Green Day is hatching a musical production based on the 2004 multiplatinum rock opera American Idiot.

The punk trio's creative force, Billie Joe Armstrong, has teamed up with director Michael Mayer (who won a Tony helming the 2007 Broadway production of Spring Awakening), with songs written by Duncan Sheik.

Armstrong and Mayer cowrote the musical's book while Green Day contributed the entire song cycle from the Grammy-winning album (including the singles "Jesus of Suburbia," "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and "Wake Me Up When September Ends") as well as tracks from the upcoming Idiot sequel, 21st Century Breakdown, hitting stores in May.

"The end result will be terrific, and we're really proud," says Armstrong.

The show chronicles the album's antihero, Jesus of Suburbia, as he breaks away from his suburban town and heads for the big city, where he encounters a punk-rock freedom fighter named St. Jimmy and a woman called "Mother Revolution," and is forced to choose between rage and love.

It will have its world-premiere run Sept. 4-Oct. 11 at the Berkeley Repertory Theater.

And if all goes well in their hometown, Green Day could eventually take their Idiot act to Broadway.

··· THEY SAID WHAT? Get today's most commented stories now at www.eonline.com

More Artist News

Green Day to play at Carson Daly's New Year's Eve

Nov 5, 2009 9:00 am PST

Green Day already has New Year's Eve plans: They'll be ringing in 2010 with Carson Daly. The punk-rock trio are slated to perform during "NBC's New Year's Eve with Carson Daly." The show is to air live from Times Square. ...

Green Day ends tour with exemplary arena show

Aug 27, 2009 6:00 am PDT

When Green Day toured behind its ambitious "American Idiot" record a half-decade ago, it was about a return to mega-stardom. This time, it's about legacy. The pop-punk progenitors seem bent on cementing their place among the current r...

Green Day rule U.S. and international pop charts

May 20, 2009 4:00 pm PDT

Green Day easily grabbed the top spot on the U.S. album chart, and also went to No. 1 in at least 13 other countries, the punk trio's label said on Wednesday. "21st Century Breakdown" sold 214,828 copies across the United States durin...

Green Day's Armstrong talks of 'Idol' experience

Apr 17, 2009 9:00 am PDT

Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong says the Grammy-winning band was almost too hot for "American Idol" to handle during a performance on the show a few years ago. In an interview with America Online's Spinner.com, Armstrong says producers w...

Green Day speak about new 'powerpop' album

Dec 2, 2008 3:00 pm PST

Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong has hinted that their forthcoming new Butch Vig-produced album could take a "powerpop" direction. The frontman did not reveal song titles or details of the songs they are currently working on in the studio...

Photos

Loading...
View All Photos »

Videos

1-6 of 44 videos
Prev | Next
View All Videos »