Outre Theatre Company Presents AMERICAN IDIOT at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center

Green Day's punk opera American Idiot, adapted for the stage by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer, will continue Outré Theatre Company's sixth full season as a provocative cultural institution in South Florida. This is Outré's second production in its new home at the recently opened Pompano Beach Cultural Center.

"In this time of 'fake news,' heightened racial tension, gun violence, nuclear tensions, name calling and lies, who do we believe?" asked Doug Wetzel, Outré's Managing Director and the director of the production. "Although American Idiot is set in the time of the Iraq War and circumstances have evolved, it is as poignant today as when it premiered on Broadway. The more things change, the more they stay the same."

In this Tony- and Grammy Award winning punk rock opera, three working-class young men struggle to find meaning against a backdrop of suburban anesthesia, forced patriotism, and dreams hovering forever just out of reach. Johnny, Will, and Tunny each strive to escape the prepackaged, commodified existence of American consumerism and jingoism, trying to find some sort of meaningful existence.

The cast includes:

Dimitri Gann (Johnny): Dimitri studied performance and directing at George Mason University in Virginia. Credits include Sir Robin in Spamalot at the Little Theatre of Alexandria, for which he received a DC Metro Arts nomination for Best Performance in a Musical. Recent credits include Augustin Magaldi in Evita, Saturday Night Fever, Urinetown, and Joey Primo in Rock of Ages.

Eytan Deray (Will): Eytan received his Associate's in Arts at Broward College, and is currently pursuing his Bachelor's in Theatre at Florida Atlantic University. Prior credits include Cousin Kevin in The Who's Tommy and Craig in The Normal Heart, both at Outré Theatre Company, Prince Dauntless inOnce Upon a Mattress at the FAU Festival Repertory, Georg in Spring Awakening at Slow Burn Theatre, Eddie in The Rocky Horror Show at Evening Star/Infinite Abyss Productions, and the Bishop of Basingstoke in Jekyll & Hyde at Marquee Theater Company.

Patrick Rodriguez (Tunny): Patrick is a Miami-based actor, and received his BFA in Theatre from Florida International University. He is a company member of Villain Theatre - where he performs and teaches long form improv - and Lost Girls Theatre. Credits include productions at the Actors' Playhouse, City Theatre's City Shorts, Florida Grand Opera, and Slow Burn Theatre, where he played Ted Hinton in Bonnie & Clyde.

Hilleah Neve (Whatsername): Hilleah is making her debut with Outré. Previously she has been seen on South Florida stages in Nine at the Broward Stage Door Theatre, as well as in Minnie's Boys and Evita.

Jordana Forrest (Heather): Jordana has her degree in Musical Theatre from Florida State University, where she had the opportunity to travel to London and study at the Royal Shakespeare Company. Her stage credits include Annie in Annie, Get Your Gun, Woman #2 in 35mm (Regional Premiere), Maureen in Rent, Madame Thernardie in Les Mis, Woman #2 in Songs For a New World, and Aldonza in Man of La Mancha. She is the former Artistic Director of Fresh Theatre Project and the current Artistic Director of All Girl Band

Elisa Dannielle (Extraordinary Girl): Elisa is a South Florida native who received her theatre training from Broward College and Valencia College. Her credits include Chiffon in Little Shop of Horrors with Slow Burn Theatre Company, Michelle in Dreamgirls with Marquee Theatre Company, and Aida at Slow Burn Theatre Company. This will be her first show with Outré.

Conor Walton (St. Jimmy): Conor was recently seen as Albert in It Shoulda Been You at Actors' Playhouse, Thalia in Xanadu at Slow Burn Theatre, and Felix in The Normal Heart at Outré Theatre Company, for which he was nominated for a Carbonell Award. Other credits include Hermes in Rock Odyssey at the Adrienne Arsht Center, Reggie in First Date at Actors' Playhouse (Carbonell Award nomination and Broadway World Award winner), and Richard Loeb in Thrill Me (Broadway World Award winner) at Outré. He is also a proud member of the Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers.

Nicole Dikun (Ensemble): Nicole is a local Florida actress. She recently appeared as Muzzy Van Hossmere in Marquee Theater Company's production of Thoroughly Modern Millie. Other recent credits include Dream Girls, also at Marquee Theater Company, Little Shop of Horrors at Slow Burn Theatre Company, and Hair at MNM Productions at the Kravis Center.

Sara Grant (Ensemble): Sara graduated from Cornish College of the Arts and received her BFA in Acting. Some past productions include: Oleanna, Fancy Nancy, Love's Labour's Lost, The Last 5 Years, Howl's Moving Castle: a staged reading, and Kittens in a Cage. As a choreographer she has worked with Evening Star Productions, Teatro ZinZanni (Seattle), the Florida Renaissance Festival, and Sol Children Theatre's Performing Arts Camp. Choreography and dance direction credits include The Addams' Family, Aladdin (Jr), Honk, The Christmas Carol, Mary Poppins, and Beauty and the Beast (Jr).

Mark Hernandez (Ensemble): Mark is making his debut with Outré in American Idiot. He was most recently seen on stage as Jack in Maplewood Playhouse's production of Glory Days and as Bun Foo in Marquee Theatre Company's production of Thoroughly Modern Millie.

Eric Daniel O'Keefe (Ensemble): Eric is a native New Yorker and graduate of Florida Atlantic University. Theatre credits include Buzz Adams in South Pacific at The Wick, Man #2 in 35mm: A Musical Exhibition at Evening Star Productions, Simon in Big River with Slow Burn Theatre Company, and Drew Boudreaux in the world premiere of Diego and Drew Say I Do! at the Broward Center.

Bridget Parente (Ensemble): Bridget graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a BFA in Performance. Some recent roles include Callie in Stop Kiss, Kayleen in Gruesome Playground Injuries, and the ensemble in She Loves Me. This is Bridget's first production with Outré, and her professional debut. She will also be seen in Outré's upcoming production of Reservoir Dolls adapted by Erika Soerensen.

IF YOU GO:

American Idiot by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer

November 2-19, 2017

Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 pm, Sundays at 2 pm

Tickets: $39 adults, $19 students and industry

Tickets available at www.ccpompano.org or by calling (954) 545-7800

Photo credit: Ary Milligan

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