American Idiot Broadway Transfer Confirmed ...but when?- Page 2

[HumATune]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 1:11pm

double post
Updated On: 11/10/09 at 01:11 PM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 1:37pm

So do we think it will be nominated for best score, like TOMMY was?

[sundaymorning6am]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 1:42pm

Who cares if it didn't have a movie beforehand like Tommy? It was written to be a musical/rock opera/whatever. It HAS a story line. They [Green Day] didn't set out to write a rock opera when they first started writing the album but after they wrote the first song, which I believe was American Idiot, they came up with the idea and ran with it, writing the rest of the songs to tell the story.

I think it could be considered a juke box musical if it used songs from all of their albums, mixing them altogether... or used to tell the story of their bands' career (ala Jersey Boys). But it doesn't.

[winston89]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 1:55pm

Sundaymorning6AM, your right. However, would the show technically be considered a jukebox musical due to the fact that the stage version of American Idiot has a couple of songs from 21st Century Breakdown in it as well?

[sundaymorning6am]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 1:59pm

No, I don't think it changes the fact that Green Day wrote the album to be a rock opera/musical/whatever. 21st Century Breakdown also has a story line, so the songs that were added into AI, they still weren't just random songs off Dookie - they were songs that were written to carry a plot forward.
Updated On: 11/10/09 at 01:59 PM

[winston89]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 2:02pm

True. It's not like they did a Mamma Mia version of American Idiot and added random Green Day songs here and there just for the hell of it.

[sundaymorning6am]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 2:06pm

I'm not sure if you're being patronizing or not, but no, it's not like Mamma Mia. It's not like 'Good Riddance' is song 4, or something.

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 2:48pm

The definition of "jukebox musical" is a musical that uses preexisting songs instead of writing new ones.

"Jukebox musical" does not mean "crappy story that barely exists only for the purpose of singing pop songs." Some are better than others. We'll see where AMERICAN IDIOT falls, but it is a jukebox musical.

[blaxx]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 2:57pm

These are god reviews? Spare me the bad ones, then.

There will hopefully come a day when the stage adaptation of "American Idiot" is seen as just a curious misstep in Green Day's otherwise highly enjoyable career. SJ Merc

Surface characters, an undeveloped plot, MTV-inspired choreography and costumes that look too much like costumes (or like they were supplied by fashion experts at Levi’s, a show sponsor) at times lend a lack of authenticity and keep viewers at a distance. SF Examiner

There's not much to these characters to begin with, and while they do eventually grow, the production's weakness lies in their lack of compelling development. Sac Bee

And despite having a stellar and obviously multi-talented cast, American Idiot doesn't really give you much reason to like or care for these kids either. Except, of course, if you have a fangirl obsession with Spring Awakening, which many people legitimately do. SF Appeal

[James885]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 3:00pm

I agree. American Idiot is most definitely a jukebox musical but it's not the kind of jukebox musical that Mamma Mia or All Shook Up is. They didn't just pull songs off of random Green Day albums and insert them into a story line. American Idiot the album, is a rock opera that has a very clear story line. Same with 21st Century Breakdown.

I'm eager to see how it turns out on Broadway.

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 3:43pm

THANK YOU BLAXX.

AND SUNDAYMORNING - BY STRICT DEFINITION, THIS SHOW IS A "JUKEBOX MUSICAL". PLEASE SEE YANKEEFANS POST.

(Sorry for the CAPS. Just trying to yell over your ranting & raving)

[RippedMan]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 4:51pm

I mean, I would see it, and lets be honest, fan girls would FLOCK to this show in a heartbeat, but I'm not sure how the ticket buying public would take the show. The majority of people who buy tickets are older women, right? I don't think "Green Day" is much of a selling point, but who knows? Spring Awakening did alright.

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 4:58pm

Financially, I can imagine this being a huge success. Hopefully this will be another show to get mixed reviews out of town and raves in New York. The score is already pretty damn strong. Hopefully, revisions in the book will help to save this show.

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 5:38pm

1) There is no book

2) how do you even figure that it's going to be a huge success, financially? All I ask for is supporting evidence. Open my eyes - I'm a reasonable person.

3) Thank you for at least acknowledging that it got "mixed" reviews out of town; as opposed to the others who are talking about how it was an artistic hit in Cali. Not sure where that originated since its reception was negative to mixed for the *most* part.

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 5:56pm

There may not be a 'book', but there is a story. It's not just a concert, and there are things in the 'story' that can be fixed. I've always believed that all of the rock musicals of this decade have been recycling the same teenage theatre goers who liked theatre BEFORE the musical came out. I, personally, do not believe Spring Awakening or Legally Blonde brought many new teenagers to the theatre... but actually just recycled the same Wicked, Hairspray, and Rent fangrils who were already big theatre dorks. With Green Day's name plastered all over the marquee, this show could SERIOUSLY bring a new audience and make some good money. Just my worthless 2 cents.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 7:12pm

There is a shred of a story. It's something. It's better than nothing, but still not enough.

[Brick]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 9:47pm

I hope Mayer has plans to really work on the show. Unfortunately, the Bay Area are barely critics and they did with this production what they usually do: starf***.

And I'm so disappointed in Isherwood's assessment, too - especially since its the review that presumably is taking the show straight to B'way. What is strange is that Isherwood repeated the same bone-headed defense friends of mine have given for why the show has paper-thin characters and an utterly predictable and dull story: essentially, he says, "Well, they are American Idiots, their story is shallow and pathetic because they are."

Lame. If you haven't a story to tell, don't tell one.

Green Day's album is wonderful and the score is the show's strongest asset by far. And I believe there could be a show in there. But the production shown in Berkeley was anemic.

[winston89]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 10:42pm

Brick, I remember that same shtick being thrown around when the album came out. I was discussing the story with my friends after we had first heard it when it was originally released, there were friends of ours who just weren't Green Day fans and just assumed that it was a bad album based upon the name of the work.

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 11/10/09 at 11:19pm

That's not even a response to Brick's opinion.

Brick is clearly not saying that and I'm not sure why you think he or she is? This isn't about being a Green Day fan.

I personally used to enjoy their music but it doesn't change how I feel about this show. It shouldn't be about that.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 11/11/09 at 12:41am

So, the score will get a nom, thanks.

[jrnelson90]

Posted: 11/20/09 at 8:46am

Mayer does, and has been working a great deal on this show. I attended 10 shows in the Berkeley run, starting with the very first public preview to closing night last week, and in that time frame I have seen the show evolve greatly. It is sad that the initial reviews were based on its early incarnation, which in contrast to its current state is A LOT rougher. I've talked with Mayer and several of the other productions members, and there will be a lot more changes made to the production as it makes its way to NYC (for instance the Death of St. Jimmy scene is still not exactly how Mayer would like it).

This show is definitely not for everyone, but even if you think that Green Day's album is old news, I would strongly recommend giving the show a shot, since it greatly enriches the music and story of the album.

[winston89]

Posted: 11/20/09 at 9:57am

Also, keep in mind that it doesn't matter if we like it or if the critics like it. The show has gotten rave reviews from their target audience. And, that is other Green he fans. Now, I am sure that there are NY fans of the band that are a little unsure as to how the show will turn out.

But, if they see it etc and give it good word of mouth I am sure that it would help things. Also, I am sure that if/when it does come to Broadway MTV, Fuse or one of those TV stations is going to be all over this thing.

[MusicSnob1]

Posted: 11/20/09 at 10:14am

"The show has gotten rave reviews from their target audience."

OF COURSE it's gotten rave reviews from the target audience - the target audience is manic depressive teenagers who are obsessed with Green Day music. What else do you expect??? Why wouldn't you hear "rave reviews" from them??

That's not the paying audience though.... that's the "target audience". There's a huge difference, Winston. Sit and think about it before responding. please.

[sundaymorning6am]

Posted: 11/20/09 at 10:58am

Wow, MusicSnob, way to generalize. So all Green Day fans are manic depressive teenagers? I'm not a teenager, nor am I manic depressive. A lot of really big Green Day fans became fans when they were teenagers in 1994. Those fans are certainly not teenagers anymore, and probably even have jobs - though I don't know for sure. Even if they don't, who are we to judge?

I think if the fans didn't like the show - there'd be no way it'd have a chance. Do you think if Abba fans hated Mamma Mia, it would still be open today? Now I understand that Abba has been around for longer than Green Day, so it's not completely comparable, but still.

[jrnelson90]

Posted: 11/20/09 at 11:39am

Yes, almost all of the Green Day fans that have seen the show love it, there's no question about that. It's the theater going audience that is mixed on their feelings about the show. I've talked to several that thoroughly enjoyed it, and some that thoroughly despise it. I will not deny that there are some problems with the show that I would like to see changed.

I personally feel that the show is crippled by the artistic boundaries that Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer have created for it in its current format. The entire story is told by a combination of the lyrics and spoken monologues originating for the special collectors edition of American Idiot. While this artistic concept is a nice break from the traditional format, it causes a few problems.

The first problem is that the story can be hard to pick up on if you've never listened to the album before and unfamiliar with the lyrics(I've heard this from many of the older crowd that have seen the show). Adding to this problem is that the onstage band is very loud, making it hard to hear all the lyrics sometimes. For me, thats not an issue, but to a first time listener who's understanding of the show relies primarily on hearing the lyrics, it's a major issue.

The second issue is that in the current format, the only way that they can add more "story" to the show is by adding in more songs, which can only come from two sources: American Idiot b-side tracks and 21st Century Breakdown tracks. This of course limits how the character development and plot can be expanded.

Of all the possible changes they could add to this show in the NYC transition, I would most like to see the addition of new spoken dialog that would expand the plot and characters.

Also, I am not a "manic depressive teenager". This is punk (or punk based), not emo music. They're very different.
Updated On: 11/20/09 at 11:39 AM