Green Day's "American Idiot" announced for Sept debut at Berkeley Rep- Page 2

[CYAPollyanna]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 2:38pm

This is soooooooo exciting...I think Michael Mayer is the perfect fit for this project!!!

I heard Matt Caplan is one of the leads...he's married to Karen Olivo....he's an amazing singer/songwriter!

This is gonna be amazing...can't wait to see it!

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 2:48pm

I think it's a brilliant idea.

I hope it succeeds like other musicals that began as albums: Tommy, Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar.

Let's step out of the box.

[Holbee]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 2:55pm

I am so excited about this I could pee.

[SharpCookies]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 3:33pm

Considering Green Day used to be one of my favourite bands ever, and I loved the album American Idiot, I think I'll be following it and hopefully see it one day. : D

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 3:46pm

I remember them talking about this on Bullet in a Bible I think it was.

This has potential to be great - as much criticism as American Idiot gets, there are some amazing songs like Jesus of Suburbia, which could be one of my favorites of theirs ever.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 3:59pm

What VALID criticisms did that masterpiece get? Brandon "my lyrics are meaningless" Flowers criticing Billy Joe for singing the title song in Europe because those kids didn't "take it the way it was meant?"

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 4:06pm

I do not have proper citations if that's what you're asking for, but a lot of garbage was that they weren't what they used to be or being Anti-American whatever.

[Mandi Moo]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 4:06pm

I think that this could be brilliant on stage. I'm excited.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 4:13pm

Definitely true that American Idiot isn't what Green Day used to be, because it's 100 times better. I say this having seen them live right before Dookie broke in '93.

As for being Anti-American, only an idiot like Brandon Flowers would take it that way. Are we human, or are we dancer?

[tazber]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 4:16pm

I like the Killers music, but yea, Flowers is a total douche.

I couldn't even finish the Rolling Stone interview b/c he just turned me off so.

[taylorPHENOMENON2]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 4:24pm

It's definitely interesting to see how they have changed over time and I can not wait for their newest album. This summer, is it?

I'm listening to the album for the first time in a while. Forgot about Are We the Waiting and how much i love going from that song to St. Jimmy.

Anyways, this album certainly has a great story to tell and I can't wait to see what this will be like.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 4:31pm

I love The Killers but Brandon Flowers is the douchiest of the douches.
Same with Kanye- love his music, but he's a grade-A toolbox.

[Craww]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 4:49pm

I think it sounds pretty cool, to be honest. But I gave the album a chance already knowing that it was a rock opera, and thus contained a musical theater flair.

Somewhere, Thomas Dutton is so jealous.

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 4:51pm

I had no clue that it was a rockpera, but I have loved this album since it came out and couldn't be more pleased to here this news. Mama Mia and Movin' Out have just been pwned

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 7:25pm

To summarize thus far, page 2: cool people. Page 1: Largely, though not exclusively, but definitely largely, duh-wee-hee-hee-weebs.

Posted: 3/30/09 at 7:53pm

"I wonder how they think there is really an audience for this? I can sort of see the line of thinking that "well, we'll get the theatre fans on board to come and see it, and then the Green Day fans will get on board as well" but in reality fans of each just feel like their side is being sullied by the inclusion of the other. Theatre people like myself think "eew, Green Day" and Green Day fans like my brother think "yuck, Musicals" and nobody's happy. And I'm sure the fans of both are a somewhat limited demographic."
__________________________________________________________________________________

Hmmm...you probably haven't seen Rock of Ages. Those coming for the theater and, newbies there for the music of their youth, are meeting in a very happy place. A surprisingly open-minded audience, (unlike a lot of people here).

Musical theater is a distinctly American art form. All art forms thrive on innovation. Long live the risk takers.

When I hear N2N's score referred to as "rock," it becomes incredibly clear how behind-the-times Broadway is. It's as if those writing new musicals are a half century behind the music. So I quite agree with taking good, relevant music and writing a show around it.

I can't wait to see what they do with this.

[CYAPollyanna]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 10:00pm

I disagree....I think if the piece is done well, it will have double the appeal...

Greenday has a wicked big following....and their new CD is coming out in MAY so...it's only gonna add to the hype...I think it's gonna have MASS appeal.

Does anyone know the full cast yet?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 10:27pm

"but in reality fans of each just feel like their side is being sullied by the inclusion of the other."

That is, to coin a phrase, IDIOTIC. Somebody worthy of the name "theater person" wouldn't say that. Or, if you're the classic example of what that means, then I'll call myself something else from now on. "Non-idiot", perhaps. You know, whatever the word is to mean somebody who doesn't believe a person EITHER loves theatre OR Green Day. "Smart" maybe.

Given that Green Day formed in Berkeley, I predict success for the inaugural production.

[lull89]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 10:49pm

Listen, there's no need to resort to personal attacks. In my post I clearly stated that *I* thought the overlap between the two fanbases is small, although I certainly make no claims to be an expert on the matter. From the little experience I have had with Green Day fans, I have judged very few of them to be theatre fans, and many of the few I know hate musicals. I could be completely wrong, as I am only one person and admittedly kind of shut myself off from most of the music scene. I believe I made a valid point based off of my previous experiences. I would love to be proven wrong, Lord knows I am always happy when a theatrical piece does well and furthers the art form.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/30/09 at 10:52pm

"admittedly kind of shut myself off from most of the music scene"

cf previous dweeb post

[MrSweetNAwful]

Posted: 3/31/09 at 1:25am

As a twenty year old fan of both musicals and Green Day who has been hoping for a stage or screen adaptation of their rock-opera opus my mind is fcking boggled as to how so many people on the first page got their little girl panties in a twist.
I think Green Day fans who aren't that interested in theatre will still be excited because the album was great and people have wanted to see the whole story since it came out.
Why did everyone initially think this was a bad idea? I mean did I imagine the following shows?:
Tommy
We Will Rock You
Rock of Ages
even the film of Pink Floyd's The Wall

This is a genius idea.

[justagirl2]

Posted: 3/31/09 at 1:43am

I'm not a fan of Green Day, but I DO love rock and rock operas. I think it's really exciting that "punk" (I hesitate to call Green Day that, but go with it) is making its way on stage. I hope this is successful...if anything, it's fresh and relevant. Cool. I'd see it.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 3/31/09 at 1:01pm

I'm picturing a descendant of Hedwig, not Duncan Sheik.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 3/31/09 at 3:20pm

When are we getting a musical by Heart is what I want to know.

[blueroses]

Posted: 3/31/09 at 5:44pm

Neh-eh-verrr. Never never!