Photo Flash: AMERICAN IDIOT Kicks Off UK Tour Today at the Curve

As previously announced, double platinum selling artist Newton Faulkner joins the cast of Green Day's explosive Tony Award-winning musical, AMERICAN IDIOT, on its UK tour this spring. Newton will be taking on the role of Johnny from May 2016 after Matt Thorpe, who will open the role from tonight, 19 March at the Curve Theatre, Leicester until 7 May at the New Theatre, Oxford. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

Newton will join the previously announced X Factor finalist Amelia Lily (Whatsername), Alexis Gerred (Tunny), Llandyll Gove (Gerard), Lucas Rush (St Jimmy) and Steve Rushton (Will), who will all be reprising their critically acclaimed roles from the London production, at the Arts Theatre. Further casting confirmed also includes Cellen Chugg Jones (Theo), Jemma Geanaus (Alysha), Karina Hind (Libby), Emma Housley (Heather), Lawrence Libor (Swing), Alice Stokoe (Extraordinary Girl) and Matt Thorpe (Johnny).

Confirmed venues for the UK Tour include the Curve Theatre, Leicester (19-26 March), Churchill Theatre, Bromley (30 March - 2 April), Palace Theatre, Manchester (5-9 April), New Theatre, Cardiff (19-23 April), Kings Theatre, Portsmouth(26-30 April), New Theatre, Oxford (3-7 May), New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham (10-14 May), Exeter Northcott Theatre (18-22 May), Sunderland Empire (24-28 May), King's Theatre, Glasgow (31 May - 4 June), Spa Theatre,Bridlington (7-11 June), Theatre Royal, Nottingham (14-18 June), Empire Theatre, Liverpool (21-25 June) and the Grand Opera House, Belfast (28 June - 2 July).

Winner of two Tony Awards and the 2010 Grammy Award winner for Best Musical Show Album, AMERICAN IDIOT is the story of three boyhood friends, each searching for meaning in a post 9/11 world. The show features the music of Green Day with the lyrics of its lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong and book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer. The production is directed and choreographed by Racky Plews, with musical supervision by Richard Morris, sound by Chris Whybrow, design by Sara Perks and lighting by Tim Deiling.

Its hit songs include "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," "21 Guns," "Wake Me Up When September Ends," "Holiday" and the blockbuster title track "AMERICAN IDIOT" from Green Day's 2004 Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum album. Also included are several songs from Green Day's 2009 release "21st Century Breakdown," and an unreleased love song, "When It's Time."

AMERICAN IDIOT The Musical is presented by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Limited on behalf of Music Theatre International of New York. For more information, visit www.americanidiotthemusical.co.uk.

Photo Credit: Lara Genovese at Naiad Photography