Revel in punk-rock rebellion at Green Day’s American Idiot
If you’ve ever been near a radio, chances are you’ve heard of a little band called Green Day. The trio, fronted by the incomparable Billie Joe Armstrong, is known worldwide for making some of the most recognisable punk-rock jams to come out of a 30-year strong career. Not content with just ruling the airwaves, Billie Joe thought he would try his hand at creating a musical – turns out he’s really good at that, too. American Idiot will burst onto the QPAC stage from Thursday February 23, weaving songs from the iconic Green Day album into a rock solid narrative that packs way more than a punch.
Since debuting on Broadway in 2010, American Idiot has toured the world to spread the good word of Green Day. On its journey it has picked up two Tony Awards® and a Grammy® to boot, cementing its status as a musical for the new age. Much like the album that its musical numbers come from, American Idiot captures not only the sound of the generation, but the frustrations, fears, dreams, and challenges of life in the media-saturated, post-9/11 era. The narrative is based on three boyhood friends who are each searching for meaning in a tumultuous time in American history, which is frighteningly apt considering the current state of the world. Billie Joe teamed up with Michael Mayer to write the musical, drawing on the lyrical content of both albums American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown to craft the story.
When it comes to casting, the team from shake & stir theatre co has really hit the nail on the head. As well as rallying together a troupe of talented and unique Australian musical theatre performers, American Idiot has some extra kick in the form of bona fide rockstars taking on lead roles in the production. The Living End’s Chris Cheney and Grinspoon’s Phil Jamieson share the role of St Jimmy, adding their lived experiences as the frontmen of two of Australia’s biggest rock acts. Signing on as the protagonist Johnny is rising star Ben Bennett, who you may remember from a stint on Channel 9’s The Voice. The rest of the cast is packed with youthful energy, rounding out what is set to be a seriously high-energy production.
For those about to rock, we salute you – you can grab tickets to American Idiot through QPAC right now.
To find out more about what’s on in Brisbane, head to our Event Guide.
