Simon Rushworth
Here at rushonrock we just love a musical – whether it’s Mama Mia or Les Miserables you’ll often find us dancing in the aisles.
But back in the real world what we do love is a musical with balls. And hand grenades. And a few socially charged messages.
Which is why we’re stoked that Green Day’s American Idiot show is touring the UK throughout 2012!
Green Day’s explosive, award-winning Broadway rock musical will get its premiere in the UK next year with a major national tour featuring a thrilling American cast and culminating in a run at London’s legendary HMV Hammersmith Apollo.
The story of three boyhood friends, each searching for meaning in a post 9-11 world, American Idiot will open at Southampton’s Mayflower Theatre (October 9 – 13) then tour to Cardiff’s Millennium Centre (October 15 – 20); Edinburgh Playhouse (October 22 – 27); Glasgow Clyde Auditorium (October 29 – November 3); Dublin Grand Canal Theatre (November 5 – 10); Manchester Palace Theatre (November 12 – 24); Birmingham Alexandra Theatre (November 26 – 30) and then London’s HMV Hammersmith Apollo (December 4 – 9).
And tickets go on sale at 10am on December 9!
American Idiot features the music of Green Day with the lyrics of its lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong. The book is by Armstrong and Michael Mayer and direction is by Tony Award®-winner Mayer (Spring Awakening).
Its hit songs include Boulevard of Broken Dreams, 21 Guns, Wake Me Up When September Ends, Holiday and the blockbuster title track American Idiot from Green Day’s 2004 Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum album of the same name.
Also included are several songs from Green Day’s 2009 release, 21st Century Breakdown, and an unreleased love song, When It’s Time.
“We’re excited to be bringing the US stage production of American Idiot to the UK and Ireland,” said Green Day frontman Armstrong. “We played to some of the most insane crowds when we toured the album there and we can’t wait for our friends across the Pond to see the musical.”
The acclaimed creative team includes choreography by British Olivier Award-winner Steven Hoggett (Black Watch), and music supervision, orchestrations and arrangements by Pulitzer Prize-winner Tom Kitt (Next to Normal).
The Tony Award®-winning scenic design by Christine Jones and the Tony Award®-winning lighting design by Kevin Adams will also be featured in the tour.
Winner of two Tony Awards® and the 2010 Grammy Award winner for Best Musical Show Album, American Idiot premiered at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in September 2009. In April 2010, the musical opened on Broadway where reviews were unanimously positive and it ran for over a year.