Jason Bozzi

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.

Lovers of the hair bands of 70s, 80s and 90s who find Rock of Ages just too intellectually complex shall rejoice at the arrival of Power Balladz, the show that puts the 'z' in 'rock anthem.'  I'm just not certain where exactly it puts it.

Some of the greatest rock anthems of the 70's, 80's and 90's take center stage in the new rock cabaret musical POWER BALLADZ, debuting Off-Broadway at the Midtown Theatre (163 W. 46 St.) in Manhattan, which opened officially last night, August 20th.