Berkshire on Stage

Unfamiliar with Green Day’s music, but aware it attracts a younger crowd, I had few preconceptions about American Idiot, performed at SLOC Musical Theater and co-directed by Michaela Torres and Michael Camelo. Walking into the theater and seeing it covered with graffiti, much like the theater where I saw Rent on Broadway, I prepare myself for an immersive rock and roll experience. This jukebox musical successfully pulls me in.

The opening number, American Idiot, presents the large 16-member cast representing a rough young crowd ready to act-out, sing and dance, present their unique identities, and easily show their anger and resistance to a post 9/11 world. The seven-member band, under the expert musical direction of James W. Alexander, performs upstage behind a chain-linked fence, yet in full view of the audience.

We see three good male friends: Johnny (Matthew Joseph), Will (Benjamin Hogan), and Tunny (Justin Nadal) make three very different choices in how to enter the next chapter of their lives. Deciding to go across country to New York City with their guitars, we see Will discover that his girlfriend is pregnant and reluctantly stay home. Tunny makes the decision to join the army and fight in the Middle East. Johnny hooks up with a young woman, Whatshername (Adrienne Parker), and easily gets swept up with her in the world of hard drugs, provided by dealer, St. Jimmy (Kevin Miner). All these young men are on a troubling path.

As often happens with a jukebox musical, the plot is threadbare, with songs conveniently, yet forced to fit into each plot point. For example, when Will stays home with his pregnant girlfriend, he sings, ‘Tales of Another Broken Home.’ When Tunny deals with a painful injury from the war and is in the hospital with other wounded soldiers, he sings, ‘Before the Lobotomy.’

Nevertheless, with a cast that is all in, with excellent choreography by Mahogany Akita and Mani Velvet McCalmon, and performed with enthusiasm by this motley ensemble, and with some excellent solo voices, the lack of plot is less troubling. All three young men sing beautifully, with Nadal as Tunny reaching and holding notes American Idol style. Miner as St. Jimmy is a remarkably fit and agile drug dealer, flipping himself over fences and leaping across the stage.

The female leads: Heather (Mcayla Humphrey), the pregnant girlfriend, Parker, as Johnny’s strung-out girlfriend, and The Extraordinary Girl (Ari Silva), a seductress Tunny imagines in a morphine induced hallucination, all have strong moments with vocal talent to match. Parker, too, can reach and hold notes leading the audience to break out into applause.

Despite my lack of familiarity with Green Day, it was fun to recognize ‘Boulevard of Broken Dreams,’ and ’21 Guns,’ to name a few. Also pleasing was having a mix of hard rock and softer, lyrical songs.

This rock opera ends on a high note with all three men in better places, compared to the destructive path each was traveling. Remarkably, their friendship endures. One of their final numbers, ‘Wake Me Up When September Ends,’ rewards the audience with these men singing beautifully in harmony.

My only difficulties are with lighting and sound. A huge cast needs to be well lit and well heard. The audience needs to know who is singing when there are solos. I struggled with both. Laura Darling, as Lighting Designer sometimes leaves actors in the dark when they are singing. I found myself often asking from whose mouth I was hearing a song. The ensemble numbers are not as well-mic’d as the solos. Sound Designer, Katie Fitzmorris has a difficult job ensuring all can be heard at the right volume while indicating who is singing alone.

As noted previously, the set, designed by Regan Zlotnick, provides a perfect inner-city vibe. Video projections, designed by Sophie Burke and Fitzmorris, augment the setting with news clips and personal photos.

Costume Designer, Marissa Lounello, and Hair and Make-Up Designer, Jennifer Canale do a wonderful job with a diverse bunch of actors dressed at different times in camouflage, sequins, white underwear and grungy attire, able to convey an ensemble and individuality.

Green Day’s American Idiot at SLOC, provides an entertaining theatrical experience with a talented bunch of young adults. While the chaotic world depicted is still present today, these actors devote themselves to working together in this musical to make us feel encouraged about our future.

CAST

Johnny: Matthew Joseph
Will: Benjamin Hogan
Tunny: Justin Nadal
Heather: Mcayla Humphrey
Whatshername: Adrienne Parker
St. Jimmy: Kevin Miner
The Extraordinary Girl: Ari Silva
Ensemble: Max Barker, Claudia Bertasso, Kody Carpenter, Vanessa Granato, Emily Herschlag, Kason Mulderry, Ashley Polidore, Elizabeth Sherwood-Mack & Daniel Watson

CREATIVE TEAM

Directors: Michaela Torres & Michael Camelo
Music Director: James W. Alexander
Choreographers: Mahogany Akita & Mani Velvet McCalmon
Producer: Sara Fredericks
Stage Managers: Haley Kastler & Ella Mboma
Assistant Producer: Taylor Ramsey
Rehearsal Accompanist: Sean Koehler Obach
Dance Captain: Ashley Polidore
Set Designer: Regan Zlotnick
Master Carpenter: Jamie Dorvil
Set Construction: Michael Camelo, Vanessa Granato, Benjamin Hogan, James Hogan, Sebastian Hogan, Kason Mulderry, Justin Nadal, Adrienne Parker, Jeff Rauhauser, Elizabeth Sherwood-Mack, Jennie Sinnott, Janae-Marie Smith, Daniel Watson & Regan Zlotnick
Scenic Artists: Jess Cogswell, Sara Fredericks, Jennie Sinnott, Janae-Marie Smith & Regan Zlotnick
Costume Designer: Marissa Lounello
Lighting Designer: Laura Darling
Light Board Operator: Stacy Hyson
Sound Designer: Katie Fitzmorris
Sound Assistant: Ryan Colpitts
Video Designers: Sophie Burke & Katie Fitzmorris
Hair & Make-up Designer: Jennifer Canale
Property Designer: Wren DiCocco✧
IDEA Liaison: Mani Velvet McCalmon
Board Liaison: Matthew Dembling