UPDATE 2/11/16: Auditions for Green Day’s American Idiot musical are now open.
ORIGINAL STORY: Everybody do the propaganda and sing along to the age of paranoia, because Green Day‘s American Idiot musical is FINALLY coming down under.
Yep, the rumours are true, folks. The timer on that mysterious website from last week has just ticked down to zero and detonated some explosive news about the punk veterans’ angst-ridden rock opera.
It’s set to make its Australian debut at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre from 23rd February, 2017 in a Brisbane exclusive (congrats, you lucky f*ckers), featuring a soon-to-be-announced all-Aussie cast.
And the show will also be directed by one of our own, with award winning Director Craig Ilott (Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Smoke and Mirrors) signing on to transform QPAC’s Playhouse into a grungey moshpit for its opening season.
“It’s so rare to come across a piece as rich, stimulating and challenging as this. Ultimately it’s a rallying cry from the heart by one of the world’s best bands.” Ilott says.
“The album American Idiot redefined Green Day as a band. American Idiot the musical challenged what was expected of the form. And now a new production from some of Australia’s finest young theatre makers and performers promises to breathe new life into it.”
So far, pre-sale tickets are available for 14 performances across 10 dates in February and March of 2017 (details below).
Green Day’s Tony Award and Grammy Award-winning musical has garnered rave reviews since it opened on Broadway back in 2010, with frontman Billie Joe Armstrong himself flexing his acting chops in the lead role of St Jimmy for a brief spell.
It tells the story of three boyhood friends searching for meaning in a post 9/11 world, and features all the songs off Green Day’s iconic 2004 album American Idiot as well as several songs from their follow-up release, 21st Century Breakdown, with the book (that means the script for all you non threatre-heads) penned by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer.
The show has been performed across the likes of the UK, Ireland, Japan and Canada, and is set to hit Brazil — and now Australia — next year. And if its Brissie season is successful (and of course it will be) then chances are we’ll see it eventually move to other Aussie capital cities as well *crosses fingers*.
Meanwhile, Green Day have been whipping up all kind of stirs lately. On top of this new theatrical announcement, BJ & co just dropped their new album Revolution Radio into our laps, announced a 2017 Australian arena tour in its honour AND their American Idiot musical has just been confirmed to be getting the movie treatment, with HBO officially signing on to bring it to our cinema screens.
So it seems 2017 will be the year of the American Idiot, even if Donald Trump isn’t elected (#Ayooooooooo)
Tickets to the opening season of Green Day’s American Idiot go on sale from 9am local time this Friday, 28th October.
Catch a Broadway preview of Green Day’s American Idiot musical below, and get ready for a subliminal mindf*ck, Australia.
Watch: Green Day’s ‘American Idiot’ Musical Coming To Australia
Watch: ‘American Idiot’ [Broadway Preview]
‘American Idiot’ The Musical Debut Australian Run
Tickets on sale from 9am local time Friday, 28th October.
Sign up to access pre-sale tickets via American Idiot Live now
From Thursday, 23rd February 2017
Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Brisbane
Tickets: QPAC
Dates Announced So Far
Thursday, February 23rd @ 7.30pm
Friday, February 24th @ 7.30pm
Saturday, February 25th @ 6.30pm & 9pm
Sunday, February 26th @ 3pm & 6.30pm
Tuesday, 28th February @ 6.30pm
Wednesday, 1st March @ 7.30pm
Thursday, 2nd Mach @ 7.30pm
Friday, 3rd March @ 7.30pm
Saturday, 4th March @ 6.30pm & 9pm
Sunday, 5th March @ 3pm & 6.30pm
