American Idiot Musical Details

[tuwlol]

Dunno if this has been posted before, sorry if it has :/

The article is about a bunch of musicals but there are some nice details about American Idiot.

The punk rock trio Green Day is collaborating with director Michael Mayer to stage their 2004 rock-opera album "American Idiot" this September at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in Berkeley, Calif.

Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong and the band agreed to work with Mr. Mayer, director of "Spring Awakening," to bring songs from "American Idiot" to the stage. Mr. Mayer is fleshing out the narrative with some songs from the band's coming album, "21st Century Breakdown," and he says the musical, still a work in progress, may include songs that Green Day fans have never heard. The musical does take some liberties with Green Day's songs: some lyrics are sung as group numbers and others sung back and forth as dialogue.

The story, about three working-class suburban friends who try to redefine their lives in post-9/11 America, came together with regular input from Mr. Armstrong, Mr. Mayer says. When the director hit a snag with the brash song "Letterbomb," assuming that it would go to a powerful male rock voice, Mr. Armstrong suggested that a female character sing it in a different key. The idea worked, Mr. Mayer says. "I thought, 'Oh my God, this guy is so meant to make musicals."'

Mr. Mayer, who will share credit as book writer with Mr. Armstrong on "American Idiot," says collaboration with rockers can be thrilling. The 48-year-old director recently spent a night out with the band, eating at a steakhouse, drinking wine, then hanging out until 3 a.m. as the musicians mixed their new album. Mr. Mayer woke up a few hours later for an early rehearsal with a terrific hangover. "It was one of the great nights of my life," he says.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124113676663475423.html

[Modern Zero.]

That is so cool that Billie Joe is actually working along with the director on this.

It makes it more assuring that it's going to be done right.

It sounds like it's going to be pretty good so far. =)

[Hermione]

^I agree, the fact it has his input definitely sparks my interest in it a lot more.