Center Theatre Group's ASL-infused revival of the Green Day musical American Idiot opened its recently extended run October 9, and the reviews are rolling in.
The production, which is presented in collaboration with Deaf West Theatre, began previews October 2. CTG Artistic Director Snehal Desai is at the helm. Performances are set to continue through November 16.
The cast, which includes both Deaf and hearing actors who perform simultaneously in American Sign Language and spoken English, features Steven-Adam Agdeppa, L.J. Benet, Will Branner, Jerusha Cavazos, Lark Detweiler, Daniel Durant, Kaia T. Fitzgerald, Landen Gonzales, Tyler Hardwick, Otis Jones IV, Milo Manheim, Josué Martinez; Giovanni Maucere, James Olivas, Mason Alexander Park, Monika Peña, Mars Storm Rucker, Mia Sempertegui, Angel Theory, and Ali Fumiko Whitney. Casting is by Beth Lipari.
Los Angeles Times (Charles McNulty)*
The Nerds of Color (Edward Hong)
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Playbill will continue to update this list as reviews come in.
Jennifer Weber (& Juliet) is choreographing, with ASL choreography by Colin Analco. Deaf West has presented similar revivals of such musicals as Big River and Spring Awakening, both of which transferred to Broadway.
American Idiot is based on the landmark 2004 Green Day album of the same name, with lyrics by Billie Joe Armstrong and a book by Armstrong and original director Michael Mayer. The iconic songs become the soundtrack of a story following a new generation of young Americans struggling to find meaning in a post-9/11 world. The musical premiered on Broadway in 2010. CTG and Deaf West's new staging comes as the album—which includes such tracks as "Wake Me Up When September Ends," "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," "21 Guns," and the title song—celebrates its 20th anniversary.
The revival features scenic design by Takeshi Kata, costume design by Lena Sands, lighting design by Karyn Lawrence, sound design by Cricket S. Myers, projection design by David Murakami, and wig, hair, and make-up design by Shelia Dorn. David O is music supervisor, with arrangements and orchestrations by Tom Kitt. David S. Franklin serves as production stage manager.
This production of American Idiot has been licensed from Music Theatre International.
Tickets are at CenterTheatreGroup.org.
Company of American Idiot
Landen Gonzales and Will Branner
Otis Jones IV, Ali Fumiko Whitney, and James Olivas
Daniel Durant, Mars Storm Rucker, and company of American Idiot
Kaia T. Fitzgerald and company of American Idiot
Mars Storm Rucker
James Olivas, Otis Jones IV, Landen Gonzales, and Brady Fritz
Milo Manheim and Daniel Durant
Mason Alexander Park
Company of American Idiot
Otis Jones IV
Landen Gonzales
Daniel Durant and Milo Manheim
Mars Storm Rucker and Daniel Durant
Daniel Durant and company of American Idiot
Company of American Idiot
