Finally, the Wait Is Over…
Rock Musical ‘American Idiot’ will Tour Nationally in 2018
The Australian production of Green Day’s high-octane rock musical American Idiot has announced it will tour nationally in 2018.
Following critical and audience acclaim at its Australian premiere in Brisbane earlier this year, this multi-Helpmann Award nominated show is now set to melt faces and hearts across the country.
The tour will play strictly limited seasons and kicks off at the Sydney Opera House from 11 January, followed by Adelaide Festival Centre’s Her Majesty’s Theatre from 19 January, Crown Theatre Perth from 2 February, Melbourne’s Comedy Theatre from 23 February and returns to Queensland Performing Arts Centre in Brisbane from 13 April.
shake & stir theatre co’s Executive Producer, Nick Skubij is thrilled the show is finally taking to the road. “Green Day’s blisteringly hot, and surprisingly moving punk rock score aside, there are so many reasons why audiences, some first time theatre-goers, are going to love American Idiot. It is utterly contemporary, disarmingly relevant and features some of the country’s most loved rock and roll and music theatre performers.”
Returning to the rebellious and charismatic role of St. Jimmy is Grinspoon’s enigmatic front man, Phil Jamieson. An accomplished singer, songwriter and guitarist, Jamieson’s generation-defining lyrics and vocal melodies were first etched into rock fans’ DNA in 1995. Since then Grinspoon had six consecutive Top 10 debuts, and multi platinum album sales. Grinspoon remained together for over 18 years and in total the band received 13 ARIA Award nominations. Earlier this year Grinspoon announced the celebration of 20 years since their first album Guide to Better Living and this saw them back on the road playing to adoring sold-out crowds across the country.
Phil Jamieson says he is “Absolutely stoked to the eyeballs to be reprising the role of St Jimmy for American Idiot in 2018… So many great tunes, such a great time… I can’t wait to bring it to y’all around the country! It will no doubt be the BEST TIME OF LIFE…”
Internationally, the role of St Jimmy has been played rotationally by rock personalities including: Billie Joe Armstrong, Melissa Etheridge, and Chris Cheney. And the word on the street is to keep your eyes peeled for more exciting Aussie cast announcements.
Skubij adds: “One of the refreshing things about American Idiot is that while it is certainly musical theatre, it challenges the traditional rules in both form and execution and we have extended this to our casting. It is going to be wild.”
Phoebe Panaretos will reprise her unanimously-praised performance as Whatsername which earned her a 2017 Helpmann Award nominee for Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical.
Winner of two Tony Awards and the 2010 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album, American Idiot features every song from Green Day’s iconic album American Idiot as well as several songs from their follow up release, 21st Century Breakdown.
Developed by Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong (lyrics) and Tony Award winner Michael Mayer (Book and lyrics), American Idiot boldly took the American musical in a new direction, capturing not just the sound of a generation, but also the frustrations, fears, dreams and challenges of life in the media-saturated, post 9/11 era. It tells the story of three lifelong friends who are grappling with the decision to either challenge the status quo and break out of their aimless rut or to remain in the safe confines of their urban existence. Their quest for true meaning in a world full of violence and dissolution leads them on a journey of self-discovery, heartache and revelation.
americanidiotlive.com.au
