Anyone going to the first preview of AMERICAN IDIOT tonight?

Let us know what you thought. I hope to catch it this weekend at some point.

Yup, I'm going.. I'll be in the balcony!

That message was twitted about 8:10. Not that big of a delay. (Well, at that point, anyway.)

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The show started a little late because it took time to get all the people into the theatre. I was still out on the sidewalk at 7:59 with the line down past the Helen Hayes reaching Sardi's. The St. James was packed to the rafters with people who cheered like it was a concert, though respectfully. Billie Joe Armstrong was sitting 8th row center and so many people were trying to take pictures of him, and hanging over the mezz & balcony to see him.

American Idiot's a huge hit out of the starting gate.

What was the cell phone announcement like?

I also just got back and I just really enjoyed myself. The male cast for the most part sounds fantastic.

The choreography or more accurately described movement really worked for me. Sure it may have been over the top angst-y but it felt right and went well with the music.

Johnny is giving a great performance. Stark Sands and Mary Faber did not work for me at all. They both seemed out of place and not rock singers at all. The ensemble worked very well together.

Note: when you enter the theater you can sign the walls. Sound familiar?

Updated On: 3/24/10 at 11:37 PM

Sounds like not much work has been done since out-of-town, where it also had no book. Characters, yes. A scenario, yes. But carried to a very predictable conclusion.

Got a text from someone who saw tonight's show and they said it was "fun" and "enjoyable" but it's essentially a "glorified pop/rock concert." Will that be enough to win Best Musical? At this point, does it matter? I don't think so. This season is so weak I feel like AMERICAN IDIOT has it in the bag unless the Tonys decide to go the way of MILLIE and give the award to the financial hit of the season: ADDAMS. (Shuddering..)

The merch is amazing! A-MAZING.

I don't understand the "it's just a glorified rock concert" criticism. It's American Idiot (plus a few extra songs and journal entries from the liner notes to flesh it out) done as a theater piece with actors playing the characters instead of Green Day singing the songs in an arena. It's no more a rock concert than Tommy or Jesus Christ Superstar.

I suppose there could've been more dialogue, but I didn't think any was necessary. I thought they did a great job of making it clear through the songs and the staging who the characters were and what was happening.

Maybe it's because I'm so familiar with the album, but I feel like it could have worked just as well without Johnny's spoken letters or lines.

Let me get this out of the way first. This show has no book. Like Hair, the show uses music and movement and feeling to capture the youth of a particular generation. It does it very well, and the characters have personalities and arcs but there is not a book in a traditional sense. Sitting far away, I can imagine how this would make it easy to be distracted and unconnected. The closer you are, the better you can see facial expression and get caught up in the movement, the better this show will be.

It is ridiculously dynamic. The set and lighting design are excellent. The choreography, which is not dancing and not just touching, aha, but rather physical, emotional, and angry movement set to the songs are terrific. The band and the cast sound terrific. Johnny is giving an incredible performance, and Stark and Tony are excellent. Rebecca blows the roof off the theatre. The ensemble all have moments to shine and create their own personalities and characters, similar in some way to the tribe. Yeah, I can't stop with the Hair comparison because this really does seem like it wants to be the Hair for now. Theo and Gerard in particular have great moments to shine. Alysha Umphress kills when given the opportunity.

A few songs feel out of place, like they were just shoved in without fitting the larger narrative. This show is about the music, yes, but perhaps removing them in favor of more actual character interaction and dialogue would serve the show better. Alas, I don't see that happening. So we'll just have to deal with what we get. And it is very, very good. A visceral staged elongated music video. That is the best way I can put it. I had an amazing time tonight, despite my criticisms, and can't wait to go back. Luckily I was sitting very close (only because I bought it when I got there, ultimately refusing to sit in the balcony), but those who weren't agree with my thoughts... the closer you can sit, the better, or a lot of the show may simply be lost, and the St. James Balcony is not great.

They had lots of merch for sale. I bought a hoodie for $60. You can bring drinks in the theatre, and guys were selling soda and water and candy up and down the aisle. You can, in fact, sign the walls on your way in with chalk or sharpie which they will apparently repaint every week. I still think the St. James is the wrong house for the show. But whatever.

Also, it goes that the CD will be available on April 8 and they are taking pre-orders. It's possible that it may be available digitally before that.

When did John Gallagher Jr. become known as simply "Johnny"? I didn't know so many posters here were on such close terms with him.