‘American Idiot’ musical to play at the Geyer Performing Arts Center this month
The Geyer Performing Arts Center will stage the musical 鈥淎merican Idiot鈥�, a show influenced by the band Green Day鈥檚 album of the same name.
鈥淭he original album came out the year after I graduated high school, and I was in love with it, so it鈥檚 always been a part of my life,鈥� said Tyler Handford, the co-director of the show. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a very timely show with a relevant message.鈥�
The musical follows the journey of a new generation of young Americans, led by friends Johnny, Tunny and Will, as they struggle to find meaning in a post-9/11 world.
鈥淚t鈥檚 one of the newest shows we鈥檝e done,鈥� Handford said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the newest show of the season.鈥�
The musical officially opened in 2010 and is based on Green Day鈥檚 2004 album 鈥淎merican Idiot鈥�.
Co-Director Erin Riggi said the musical has been a favorite of both hers for several years.
鈥淢usic, theater and art have always been a staple in my house and Green Day is a band that my kids have always enjoyed,鈥� Riggi said. 鈥淚 have wanted to make this show happen at the Geyer for a while and everything aligned this year, and I was able to direct this with Tyler.鈥�
Riggi said the show is high energy, has great music, great instrumentals and tells an impactful story.
鈥淭he music and setting is amazing,鈥� Riggi said. 鈥淭he show is able to tell a story through Green Day鈥檚 music while keeping the integrity of the music Green Day produced.鈥�
Handford said the music of Green Day really makes the show, with incredible reworkings of the original album and gorgeous harmonies.
鈥淭he biggest challenge is trying to make sure the story is at the forefront of the show,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he script isn鈥檛 an easy script. A lot is left open to interpretation.鈥�
With a cast of 30 and 20 additional people in the band and crew, rehearsals started in June, and they had anything but a rocky start.
鈥淎t our very first sing-through, the cast barely looked at their books and knew every word to every song,鈥� Handford said. 鈥淚t was magical.鈥�
鈥淭yler and I both were a little blown away, and every day it keeps getting better,鈥� Riggi said. 鈥淥ur choreographer, Vanessa Clarke-Deaver, and music director, Ashley Matse, are extremely talented and have pulled this show together. making the final product really something to watch.鈥�
鈥淎merican Idiot鈥� will be performed at the Geyer Performing Arts Center in Scottdale at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 18 to 20 and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 21.
Tickets are $15.
The show contains mature themes and strong language, and is intended for adult audiences.
For more information, visit geyerpac.com