Leslie McDonel News

The national tour of Green Day's 'American Idiot' just opened in Los Angeles on March 14 at the Ahmanson Theatre. Original Broadway cast member Van Hughes stars as Johnny, a role in which he concluded the 'American Idiot' Broadway run, along with original Broadway cast member Joshua Kobak as St. Jimmy, Jake Epstein as Will, Scott J. Campbell as Tunny, original Broadway cast member Leslie McDonel as Heather, Gabrielle McClinton as Whatsername and Nicci Claspell as The Extraordinary Girl. Check outhighlights from opening night in the video below!

Based on a concept album by the punk rock band Green Day, American Idiot, like Rent before it, revolutionizes musicals as it is one of a chosen few to combine genuine rock music with a narrative. It is big, bold and uninhibited in structure and style, and with next to no dialogue whatsoever, is able to convey the rage and joy experienced by its trio of male pals and their women. At the Ahmanson until April 22, the Tony nominated musical may not be everyone's cup of tea, but its roar should be acknowledged and appreciated on its own terms. Green Day's frenetic score certainly matches the glaring videos and images projected onto multiple screens all over the set that illustrate just how excruciatingly unpleasant life can be.

The national tour of Green Day's 'American Idiot' opened in Los Angeles last night, March 14, at the Ahmanson Theatre. Performances continue through April 22, 2012. Check out photos from the star-studded opening night below!

The national tour of Green Day's "American Idiot" opens in Los Angeles on Wednesday, March 14 at the Ahmanson Theatre at 8 p.m. There is a preview on Tuesday, March 13 and performances continue through April 22, 2012.

Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT, the two-time Tony Award®-winning Broadway hit, will play The Buell Theatre March 6 - March 11, 2012. Tickets are now on sale at www.denvercenter.org or by calling 303.893.4100.

AMERICAN IDIOT is an absolute blast, a musical filled with energy and exuberance, both evidenced in the music and in the performances. There will surely come a time when it's considered a period piece, since it does take place in the recent past, focusing on the last Bush presidency and the wars on terror at home and abroad that consumed it. But it's still timely at this point, because people are still fighting overseas, and a lot of the same social and political issues remain unresolved. It's essentially Green Day lead singer/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong's vision filtered through director Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening), who cut a lot of the book they wrote together to make this more of sung-through musical experience. This focuses our attention on Armstrong's lyrics, and they're strong and pointed enough to make this approach work like a charm. And, like Spring Awakening, the band is on stage and the lighting is positively eye-popping.

American Idiot, Green Day's explosive Broadway hit called "wonderfully raucous" and "emotionally charged" by the New York Times, makes its Minnesota debut at Hennepin Theatre Trust's Orpheum Theatre through February 26, 2012.

Casting has been announced for the upcoming North American tour of Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT, the two-time Tony Award®-winning Broadway hit called "wonderfully raucous" and "emotionally charged" by The New York Times, which will play The Buell Theatre March 6 - March 11, 2012. Tickets are now on sale at www.denvercenter.org or by calling 303.893.4100.

American Idiot, Green Day's explosive Broadway hit called "wonderfully raucous" and "emotionally charged" by the New York Times, makes its Minnesota debut at Hennepin Theatre Trust's Orpheum Theatre February 21-26, 2012.

'American Idiot' tour aims for the non-Broadway musical crowd and mostly succeeds.

Casting has been announced for the upcoming national tour of Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT, the explosive Broadway hit called "wonderfully raucous" and "emotionally charged" by The New York Times, which will make its Raleigh premiere January 31 - February 5, 2012 at Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts.

National tour of 2010 Tony-nominated rock musical 'Green Day's American Idiot' electrifies Boston with hard-driving message of alienation and finding one's way back home

American Idiot, Green Day's explosive Broadway hit called "wonderfully raucous" and "emotionally charged" by the New York Times, makes its Minnesota debut at Hennepin Theatre Trust's Orpheum Theatre February 21-26, 2012.

Casting has been announced for the upcoming national tour of Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT, the explosive Broadway hit called "wonderfully raucous" and "emotionally charged" by The New York Times, which will make its Raleigh premiere January 31 - February 5, 2012 at Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts.

The 1st National Tour of American Idiot launched last week in Toronto, and the cast celebrated New Year's Eve with a medley performance of Green Day hits in Toronto's Nathan Phillips Square. BWW is thrilled to bring its readers these exclusive photos of the cast backstage at City Hall and performing on the CityTV broadcast.

American Idiot launched its National Tour in Toronto last night at the Toronto Centre for the Arts, and BWW was on hand to capture photos from the pre-show press event and the post-show after party. The show runs until January 15th in Toronto.

The much-anticipated National Tour of Green Day's American Idiot kicked off in Toronto last night, and BWW was on hand to capture photos of the entire event. It was a very special evening as Toronto celebrated the four Canadians who were making their return to 'Broadway North' with the production, which will run for three weeks before hitting the road to tour the United States.

Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT premieres in Toronto through January 15 before continuing on to 14 other markets across the United States.

AMERICAN IDIOT launched its First North American tour, as well as launch the Dancap 2012 Broadway Series, at the Toronto Centre for the Arts, with an official opening night tonight, December 29, 2011. Want a look at the production? Below, we bring you a very first look at the official production photos!

The explosive Broadway hit AMERICAN IDIOT will launch its First North American tour, as well as launch the Dancap 2012 Broadway Series, at the Toronto Centre for the Arts, beginning tonight with the official opening night Thursday, December 29, 2011!