Melissa Etheridge is AMERICAN IDIOT's next St. Jimmy- Page 2

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 1/18/11 at 3:28pm

I'm curious, but I can't imagine Etheridge, Lauper, Jett or any of these other singers being able to run around the stage and perform with the same intensity and energy that a performer like BJA could bring to the role. Plus, he's not enrolled in AARP yet.

[Craww]

Posted: 1/18/11 at 3:35pm

That's great, if you want everyone to assume St. Jimmy is actually just the Cool Permissive Aunt.

[singtopher]

Posted: 1/18/11 at 3:51pm

So that no one else has to do the research,

STOTD= Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 1/18/11 at 3:53pm

This. Is. Nuts. But it just might be good! Now I'm wishing I'd seen either or these two last Friday when I saw the show...

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/18/11 at 4:10pm

After her behavior when she was in Rocky Horror, I highly doubt any producer would cast Joan Jett in a musical again.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 1/18/11 at 4:10pm

People who said that BJA was good in the role, and don't see why Melissa Etheridge is getting some bad remarks, need to remember that BJA wrote the source material. Its *his* character to a certain extent (in my mind). There is a difference.

[quizking101]

Posted: 1/18/11 at 4:35pm

"After her behavior when she was in Rocky Horror, I highly doubt any producer would cast Joan Jett in a musical again."

Do share, I gotta hear this...

[rorschach37]

Posted: 1/18/11 at 4:39pm

^^ I second that, quizking.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/18/11 at 4:43pm

I'll go look for the article now, but the short answer was, she got annoyed with the producers over something, and just packed up one night and left, never to be seen again.

She also didn't appear on the cast recording because of something to do with her label and the label the recording was going to be on.

[singtopher]

Posted: 1/18/11 at 5:30pm

The label issue isn't exactly anything she could have helped. That's happened before. (Billy Porter on the SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD recording for example)

[alliez92092]

Posted: 1/18/11 at 6:00pm

Audiences have enough trouble understanding that St. Jimmy is Johnny's alter ego when the part is played by a man. Don't know what they're going to do now.

[yournamehere]

Posted: 1/18/11 at 6:09pm

I agree with Alliez. I saw the show without knowing much about the album (other than the songs I had previously heard on the radio) and was just curious. It is at times hard to follow what exactly St. Jimmy is. Personally, I was annoyed with the character, but that's my own issue. It just seems like an odd choice.

[GatorNY]

Posted: 1/18/11 at 6:28pm

I don't think it matters if they get that part or not Alliez. It might be up to them (audience) to decide who he/she is regardless.

Updated On: 1/18/11 at 06:28 PM

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 1/18/11 at 6:34pm

WHAT? What the hell? I'm not trying to be pre-judgemental, but really? It would kill them to let the understudy go on for one week in February? This is desperation and money-grubbing like I've never seen before.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 1/18/11 at 7:55pm

They should just close the show.

[Square Peg2]

Posted: 1/18/11 at 9:38pm

It might be an interesting push and pull with Whatsername to have a female in the role.

I have no concerns about Etheridge's ability to play and sing the role, I think she's an amazing vocalist with a genuine rock voice, but I am a little concerned about how she will look, in costume, alongside all those hot young things ... mutton, anyone...?

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 1/18/11 at 10:31pm

Melissa is going to be too busy catching her breath from running up and down the stairs for all the entrances and exits to actually be doing any singing or acting.

I really think it's a shame that they couldn't just let an understudy do the role for a week. They have an amazing ensemble who do a remarkable job when they understudy. They should really focus on who's going to keep the show open from March onward.

[shrekster224]

Posted: 1/18/11 at 10:56pm

I agree. They have the best ensemble cast and the understudies are amazing. Josh Kobak, my first St. Jimmy was incredible and gave such a great performance, Andrew is great as he is in his own track, and Chase would probably be great as well. But the understudies for all roles are amazing.

Adam Lambert should replace after Billie Joe's run.

[steven22]

Posted: 1/18/11 at 11:28pm

The producers must really dislike Chase Peacock. He gets not Johnny time and no St. Jimmy time.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/18/11 at 11:36pm

The producers must really dislike Chase Peacock. He gets not Johnny time and no St. Jimmy time.

Chase Peacock doesn't sell any tickets. Etheridge may not either (that remains to be seen), but she'll sell more than Chase Peacock. It has nothing to do with them liking him less than anyone else, and everything to do with trying to make some money in a show that hasn't really been profitable.

As for not going on as Johnny, there's a standby for that role who would presumably has it written in his contract that he goes on in that role first. Besides, Gallagher is known for rarely missing shows, so it's not like there have been tons of opportunities for the understudy to go on anyway.
Updated On: 1/18/11 at 11:36 PM

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 1/18/11 at 11:37pm

They should really focus on who's going to keep the show open from March onward.

What do you think they're doing with Melissa Etheridge? Billie Joe Armstrong's first run was only for a week because the producers wanted to guage both his ability to acclimate to the role and his impact on the box office. As he's discussed openly now, the plan was always to bring him back for a longer engagement if the first one went well by those standards.

I guarantee you that that's the exact plan they have in mind with Etheridge. She has a few tour date scatted through the beginning of March, but if she does well and keeps the grosses up, expect her back into the show relatively soon after Armstrong departs (with an understudy filling in during the meantime, I'd imagine.) If not, I would think they'll close when Armstrong finishes his current run next month, unless his schedule allows him the ability to do one more set of dates into the summer.

Updated On: 1/18/11 at 11:37 PM

[theatreguy]

Posted: 1/18/11 at 11:38pm

I wonder if they'll continue to get various rock stars to play St. Jimmy for short stints after Billie Joe leaves. Could be an interesting gimmick.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 1/18/11 at 11:49pm

I saw Andrew Call in the role this past weekend, and his only flaw was not being Billie Joe, I guess. Though I think the role itself is a bit strange anyway...

[marcblack]

Posted: 1/19/11 at 3:48am

GlindatheGood22, how is it money-grubbing? Broadway shows are in business to PROFIT. While I'm not sure how Melissa Etheridge will sell, she has a better shot at moving tickets than the understudy (who may be very talented, i've never seen him). It's box office marquee. But it's a little extreme to say the production is money-grubbing. The producers first and foremost duty is to recoup funds for their investors. Ira Pittelman and Tom Hulce are attempting to do just that.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 1/19/11 at 6:17am

"They should just close the show. "

Bettyboy why would they?
The show is doing OK even when its playing to half full houses its clearly making its money back. I aopplaud the producers of this show, they wan't to keep it open and will do all they can to see that happen. They know they have a good show (its just a shame so many on Broadway seem to be afraid of punk and rock music) so if that means bringing in guest stars to play a certain role then so be it....it worked for Chicago.