Firehouse Theatre to Stage Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT, 6/23-7/23

"Welcome to a new kind of tension, all across the alienation, where everything isn't meant to be okay." These lyrics from the title song in Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT reflect Billie Joe Armstrong's embrace of and response to the anxiety of our post 9/11 age that helped make their music the anthem for a generation. AMERICAN IDIOT was recorded as a "punk rock opera" and won a Grammy in 2005 before it was adapted into an award-winning Broadway musical in 2009. Previews are Thursday, June 23 and Friday, June 24 at 7:30pm. Opening is Saturday, June 25 at 7:30, and this limited run engagement of ten performances continues through Saturday, July 23.

Praise for the rock opera includes Rolling Stone -- "You won't know what hit you. AMERICAN IDIOT knows no limits - it's a global knockout," and The New York Times raves "...the show is as invigorating and ultimately as moving as anything I've seen."

Directed by Firehouse's Associate Producer Adam B. Ferguson, AMERICAN IDIOT tells the story of Johnny, Tunny, and Will who struggle to find and make meaning in a seemingly meaningless world. Johnny flees the constraints of his hometown, lured by the possibilities of a new life in the big city; Tunny joins the armed forces; and Will gets trapped in a stultifying suburban lifestyle that his friends have abandoned. This adrenaline-fueled rock opera relies on the music and lyrics from Green Day's groundbreaking album to tell the story. In Firehouse's production, the ensemble of ten performers will also be the band and will accompany themselves.

The ensemble of AMERICAN IDIOT includes John Mincks (Johnny/Guitar), Mike Bamford (Tunny/Guitar), Ben Wilson (Will/Guitar/Violin), Anna Rose (Whatsername/
Guitar/Viola), Kelsey Cordrey (Heather/Ukulele), Rachel Hindman (St. Jimmy/Drums), Katy Burke (Extraordinary Girl/Bass Guitar), Starlet Knight (Ensemble/Keyboard), Chandler Matkins (Ensemble/Drums), and Caleb Wade (Ensemble/Bass Guitar). The production team includes Adam B. Ferguson (Director), Matt Koon (Musical Director), Kate Belleman (Choreographer), Dylan Bollinger (Scenic Designer), Andrew Bonniwell (Lighting Designer), Tad Burrell (Sound Designer), Jenna Mannix (Projections/Media Designer), Emily Atkins (Costume Designer), Daniel Burgess (Props Master), Andrew Scott (Production Stage Manager), Holly Rice and Sam Sweat (Assistant Stage Managers), and Travis Stoy (Production Assistant).

TICKET INFORMATION
Box Office: (804) 355-2001
www.firehousetheatre.org
http://americanidiotrva.bpt.me
Full Price Tickets: $15 - $25
All performances are at 7:30PM
Free parking across the street at Lowe's

CAST
Johnny - John Mincks (Guitar)
Tunny - Mike Bamford (Guitar)
Will - Ben Wilson(Guitar/Violin)
Whatsername - Anna Rose (Guitar/Viola)
Heather - Kelsey Cordrey (Ukulele)
St. Jimmy - Rachel Hindman (Drums/Percussion)
Extraordinary Girl - Katy Burke (Bass Guitar)
Ensemble - Starlet Knight (Keyboard), Chandler Matkins (Drums),
Caleb Wade (Bass Guitar)

PRODUCTION TEAM
Director - Adam B. Ferguson
Musical Director - Matt Koon
Choreographer - Kate Belleman
Scenic Designer - Dylan Bollinger
Lighting Designer - Andrew Bonniwell
Projections/Media Designer - Jenna Mannix
Sound Designer - Tad Burrell
Costume Designer - Emily Atkins
Props Master - Daniel Burgess
Production Stage Manager - Andrew Scott
Assistant Stage Managers - Holly Rice, Sam Sweat
Production Assistant - Travis Stoy

PRODUCTION SCHEDULE
Thu, Jun 23rd @ 7:30pm (preview)
Fri, Jun 24th @ 7:30pm (preview)
Sat, Jun 25th @ 7:30pm (opening)
Thu, Jun 30th @ 7:30pm
Fri, Jul 1st @ 7:30pm
Fri, Jul 8th @ 7:30pm
Sat, Jul 9th @ 7:30pm
Fri, Jul 15th @ 7:30pm
Sat, Jul 16th @ 7:30pm
Thu, Jul 21st @ 7:30pm
Fri, Jul 22nd @ 7:30pm
Sat, Jul 23rd @ 7:30pm