Green Day’s “American Idiot” Musical:Meet the Show’s Rocker Cast
In just under two months, Green Day‘s 2004 punk opus American Idiot will come to Broadway as a bona fide musical after a sold-out run at California’s Berkeley Repertory Theatre last fall, opening April 20th at New York’s St. James Theatre (previews start March 24th). Idiot‘s creative team includes Michael Mayer, the Tony award-winning director of Spring Awakening (music by Duncan Sheik), and Tom Kitt, the Tony award-winning composer of this year’s rock musical Next to Normal. The show’s cast features several Spring Awakening alums as well as former and present cast members of Rent, Hair and the Queen-based musical We Will Rock You — along with a few performers with solo music careers.
The Broadway cast made its debut on stage with Green Day to perform “21 Guns” at the 52nd Grammy Awards last night. Watch the behind-the-scenes video of the cast recording its version of “21 Guns” with the band below, and check out the actors’ resumes and samples of their performances. Plus: Read how Mayer and Billie Joe Armstrong bonded to create this production as Rolling Stone goes behind Green Day’s ambitious stage show.
John Gallagher, Jr.
Character Johnny
Rock Cred Gallagher earned a Tony Award for his portrayal of Moritz in Spring Awakening, and you can hear Gallagher’s original tunes on his MySpace page.
Also Seen In Gallagher has appeared in several off-Broadway shows, as well as in Woody Allen’s most recent flick, Whatever Works.
Watch Gallagher, along with castmate and Spring Awakening alum Brian Charles Johnson perform SA‘s “Bitch of Living” on The Late Show With David Letterman.
Stark Sands
Character Tunny
Also Seen In Sands has appeared on HBO’s Six Feet Under and Generation Kill, and received a Tony nomination for his role in the play Journey’s End.
Michael Esper
Character Will
Rock Cred Esper appeared in the recent premiere of Tony Kushner’s The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures, directed by Rent director Michael Greif.
Also Seen In He made his Broadway debut last fall in A Man for All Seasons.
Tony Vincent
Character St. Jimmy
Rock Cred Vincent has performed on Broadway in Jesus Christ Superstar and Rent, and in London and Las Vegas in We Will Rock You. He has also performed as the frontman for Queen on several occasions, including Queen Elizabeth’s Golden Jubilee and Party in the Park. Vincent also has several solo releases, and you can hear his original music on his MySpace.
Watch Vincent performs “Bohemian Rhapsody” with Queen at the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.
Mary Faber
Character Heather
Rock Cred Faber sang in the 2004 benefit concert of Hair: the American Tribal Love-Rock Musical.
Also Seen In Faber most recently performed in Avenue Q on Broadway, and has been in off-Broadway and sketch comedy shows.
Watch Faber performs “There’s a Fine, Fine Line” from Avenue Q.
Rebecca Naomi Jones
Character Whatsername
Rock Cred Jones performed in Stew’s Passing Strange at Berkeley Rep, off-Broadway, on Broadway and on film. She also appeared in the national touring cast of Rent.
Also Seen In Jones was in the national tour of Caroline, Or Change, among others, and has performed in several New York productions.
Christina Sajous
Character Extraordionary Girl
Rock Cred Sajous appeared in the national tour of Rent and in concert with Patti Labelle, Musiq Soulchild, and Chrisette Michelle.
Also Seen In Sajous has performed in several New York Productions, including King Lear.
Declan Bennett
Character Ensemble
Rock Cred Bennett was on Broadway as Roger in Rent and in the West End production of Boy George’s Taboo. He is also a singer-songwriter with two CDs — hear tunes on MySpace.
Watch The original video for “An Innocent Evening of Drinking” from Bennet’s most recent solo album.
Andrew Call
Character Ensemble
Rock Cred Call performed on Broadway in John Waters’ Cry Baby and the musical version of the John Cusak record store flick High Fidelity.
Also Seen In He starred in this season’s short-lived Glory Days and previously appeared Off Broadway in Alter Boyz.
Gerard Canonico
Character Ensemble
Rock Cred Canonico played Moritz in Spring Awakening on Broadway and has released an album with his band, Taking Chances — check out their music on MySpace.
Also Seen In Canonico made his Broadway debut at eight years old as Gavroche in Les Misérables.
Miguel Cervantes
Character Ensemble
Also Seen In Cervantes portrayed Chip on Broadway and in the national tour of The Putnam County Spelling Bee.
Joshua Henry
Character Ensemble
Rock Cred Henry performed in the Latin music-infused musical In the Heights on and off Broadway
Also Seen In He also appeared on TV in Kings and Sex and the City.
Watch Henry sings “Where Did We Go Wrong?” from Tales from the Bad Years
Van Hughes
Character Ensemble
Rock Cred Van Hughes writes and records original music.
Also Seen In Van Hughes performed in 9 to 5 and Hairspray on Broadway, and has roles in Sex and the City 1 & 2 and Rachel Getting Married.
Watch Van Hughes sings the Beatles’ “Revolution”
Brian Charles Johnson
Character Ensemble
Rock Cred Johnson appeared in the Broadway and off-Broadway productions of Spring Awakening.
Watch Johnson, along with fellow cast member and Spring Awakening alum John Gallagher, Jr. performs SA‘s “Bitch of Living” on The Late Show With David Letterman
Joshua Kobak
Character Ensemble
Rock Cred Kobak has released two albums as a singer-songwriter and was a member of the touring company of Rent.
Leslie McDonel
Character Ensemble
Also Seen In McDonel was a member of the cast of Hairspray on Broadway and performed across America with the touring companies of Hairspray, Grease and Chicago, among others.
Chase Peacock
Character Ensemble
Also Seen In Peacock performed in the first national tour of Disney’s High School Musical.
Theo Stockman
Character Ensemble
Rock Cred Stockman has performed in the off-Broadway and Broadway productions of the current revival of Hair.
Also Seen In He’s also been on Cupid and 30 Rock.
Ben Thompson
Character Ensemble
Also Seen In Thompson performed in the national tours of High School Musical and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. He’s also performed at the Metropolitan Opera.
Alysha Umphress
Character Ensemble
Rock Cred Umphress appeared in Across the Universe and has opened for jazz singer Diana Krall.
Watch Umphress sings “Feeling Good.”
Aspen Vincent
Character Ensemble
Rock Cred Vincent toured with Meat Loaf in 2006 and 2007 and also starred as Scaramouche in the Las Vegas production of the Queen musical We Will Rock You.
Also Seen In Vincent created and voiced the character of Dodie Bishop in the Nickelodeon cartoon As Told by Ginger.
Watch Vincent performs “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” with Meat Loaf on Jimmy Kimmel Live.
Libby Winters
Character Ensemble
Rock Cred Winters sings and plays guitar for the Fabulous Entourage.
Watch Winters performs “Man Who Never Dies” with the Fabulous Entourage.
Matt Caplan
Character Tunny Berkeley Rep staging only
Rock Cred Caplan appeared on Broadway in Rent and in the Beatles-inspired film Across the Universe. He’s also a singer-songwriter with three CDs — listen on his MySpace.
Also Seen In Caplan has also appeared in the Broadway revival of South Pacific.
Watch Caplan performs his original song “Sideways”
Morgan Weed
Character Ensemble Berkeley Rep staging only
Also Seen In Weed appeared off Broadway in the world premiere of Saved (based on the movie) and in numerous regional world premieres.
Watch Weed performs “How to Return Home” from The Bad Years.