Michael Esper News

Green Day and AMERICAN IDIOT director Michael Mayer recently sat down to discuss the parallels of their album-turned-musical AMERICAN IDIOT to more classic musical theatre shows.

Green Day stopped by Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and discussed their show American Idiot as well as Green Day 1999 and their new Green Day rock band video game. AMERICAN IDIOT began performances at the ST. James Theatre on March 24, 2010 and open on Broadway on April 20, 2010. In anticipation of the opening next week, BroadwayWorld brings you the first production shots of the cast performing on Broadway, following by tribute shots to their world premiere performance at Berkeley Rep this past fall.

Today, as Green Day's American Idiot takes Broadway by storm, the Tony Award-winning Berkeley Repertory Theatre announced a rare opportunity for fans to bid on exclusive items from the show's world-premiere run in California.

AMERICAN IDIOT began performances at the ST. James Theatre on March 24, 2010 and open on Broadway on April 20, 2010. In anticipation of the opening next week, BroadwayWorld brings you the first production shots of the cast performing on Broadway, following by tribute shots to their world premiere performance at Berkeley Rep this past fall.

Reprise Records will release The Original Broadway Cast Recording of American Idiot on April 20, 2010, the same day the show will open at the St. James Theatre in New York City. The official album features the 24-member cast accompanied by Green Day, marking another incredible collaboration between the band and the musical. Based on Green Day's chart-topping 2004 album American Idiot, the musical and the cast recording include every song from American Idiot, as well as several songs from the band's GRAMMY® Award-winning current album 21st Century Breakdown.

Here, we've got a few great snaps of the 'signing wall' at the St. James Theatre where fans can (and HAVE!) leave messages by writing on the wall - similar to what was done for RENT at the Nederlander Theatre.

We're excited to present our full coverage of the cast of AMERICAN IDIOT performing the show's opening number for fans at their special final soundcheck earlier this week, including interviews with Green Day themselves, the show's creative team and more! Welcome to Broadway!

On March 23, AMERICAN IDIOT fans were treated to a special preview of the show at a final soundcheck event. BroadwayWorld was on hand to capture the experience and debut performance before performances officially began last night, March 24.

We'll have even more video coverage with interviews tonight up on BroadwayWorld.com, but we couldn't wait to rush up the fantastic cast performing the show's opening number for enthusiastic (and lucky!) fans at today's AMERICAN IDIOT soundcheck event! Stay tuned for more coverage!

The Broadway-bound 'American Idiot' musical is in talks with Playtone partners Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman to turn the musical into a film, reports Deadline.com.

According to published reports and rock trio frontman Billie Joe Armstrong, Green Day has begun to work on their new album.

AMERICAN IDIOT will begin performances at the ST. James Theatre on March 24, 2010 and open on April 20, 2010. VMedia featured a story on the making of American Idiot, based on Green Day's album of the same name. AMERICAN IDIOT will be produced on Broadway by Tom Hulce and Ira Pittelman, in association with Berkeley Repertory Theatre.

Yesterday, March 11, work on AMERICAN IDIOT was temporarily delayed when a fire broke out in the elevator shaft of the St. James Theatre. While an initial report into the FDNY indicated that someone was trapped inside the elevator, upon arrival firefighters confirmed that while the fire did indeed initiate in the elevator shaft, no one was inside. The building was evacuated and no one was harmed. The cause of the fire is still unknown and under investigation.

Ars Nova presents, as part of the Out Loud series, a FREE reading of: REVERBERATION by Matthew Lopez, directed by Keith Nobbs. The cast includes Chris Abbott, Aya Cash and Michael Esper.

Ars Nova presents, as part of the Out Loud series, a FREE reading of: REVERBERATION by Matthew Lopez, directed by Keith Nobbs. The cast includes Chris Abbott, Aya Cash and Michael Esper.

In recognition of the Character Approved honorees and their accomplishments, USA in partnership with Vanity Fair hosted an invitation-only VIP cocktail reception in New York City on Thursday, February 25.

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, the USA Network announced that the ten honorees for the second annual Character Approved Awards, include Green Day and playwright Nora Ephron. The Character Approved Awards are a multimedia campaign honoring individuals who are changing the face of American culture. Inspired by USA's Characters Welcome brand, the initiative is dedicated to celebrating the true trailblazers across a variety of disciplines such as art, philanthropy, new media and film.

USA Network announced today the ten honorees for the second annual Character Approved Awards, including Green Day and playwright Nora Ephrron. The Character Approved Awards are a multimedia campaign honoring individuals who are changing the face of American culture. Inspired by USA's Characters Welcome brand, the initiative is dedicated to celebrating the true trailblazers across a variety of disciplines such as art, philanthropy, new media and film.

The St. James Theatre Box Office, 246 West 44 Street, will open on Monday, February 22, 2010 at 10a.m. for the Broadway production of AMERICAN IDIOT.

The St. James Theatre Box Office, 246 West 44 Street, will open on Monday, February 22, 2010 at 10a.m. for the Broadway production of AMERICAN IDIOT.