American Idiot Musical (Theatrical Production)

[J'net]

Hello all! After two more amazing performances (the evening ones are better for those considering a Saturday or Sunday viewing, John even admitted this himself), I am glad to report that I liked almost all of the changes that I saw. So, what exactly changed? Well........ (some of these may also be things I just didn't notice the two times)

- The opening wall of sound sequence of the various TV clips is less politically oriented now, and has clips for Dr. Phil and South Park prominently featured in it.

- Johnny mentions Will and Tunny in his first monologue, rather than just saying "the usual suspects" to further along their friendship plot

- Tunny interacts with Johnny and Will more during the first act of JOS.

- The ending of Tales of another broken home is much better. Before, Will automatically decided he is going to stay with Heather. Now, he has a moment of confusion where it shows him struggling with deciding whether to stay or go.

- Throughout the show, Will and Heather's breakup is built up to, rather than just randomly happening. Will starts disconnecting, shuddering away from Heather when she cuddles near him, refusing to move his legs out of the way when they're blocking her path, just little things like that that show their annoyance with one another.

- Whatshername sings more of the finally chorus of BOBD with Johnny than before.

- Novacaine and She's A Rebel are completely different in the way the band plays them. The first half of Novcaine building up to the tanks is different. Previously, Will sang and then was joined by Tunny before the shooting. Now, Will sings by himself all the way up the the shooting, and then Tunny joins in. Also, Jimmy's name is switched to Johnny for the line "Jimmy says its better than here"

She's a Rebel now has a more accoustic beginning with less drums. While this does allow us to hear the words MUCH better, I like the sound of the previous arrangement better.

- Whatshername now sings part of Last Night on Earth, starting with the first "My beating heart belongs to you"

- Death of St. Jimmy is different. He is no longer up above everyone else, and when he dies he is carried of in someones arms holding flowers in a bit of a funeral march.

There are more changes, but I'm very tired, and I will tell more tomorrow.

J'net, Ben sends his love!

THANK YOU, JUSTIN! Those are great details!

The only thing I don't like is the St. Jimmy death part. I loved it the way it was before. I loved it that he was up high on that platform and the kind of crazed vagueness of the death and his exit. Oh well, maybe I would love it the new way, too, if I could see it.

Hahaha - thanks for saying Hi to Ben for me.

I think my review will be published on GDA tomorrow (Andres has given it his stamp of approval, and I'm just going to re-read it today to make sure I'm still happy with it.

I'm so glad you got to go again, and I'm assuming you had a great time again. I'll look forward to hearing about the other changes, too.

[sallysimpson]

Hello all! After two more amazing performances (the evening ones are better for those considering a Saturday or Sunday viewing, John even admitted this himself), I am glad to report that I liked almost all of the changes that I saw. So, what exactly changed? Well........ (some of these may also be things I just didn't notice the two times)

- The opening wall of sound sequence of the various TV clips is less politically oriented now, and has clips for Dr. Phil and South Park prominently featured in it.

- Johnny mentions Will and Tunny in his first monologue, rather than just saying "the usual suspects" to further along their friendship plot

- Tunny interacts with Johnny and Will more during the first act of JOS.

- The ending of Tales of another broken home is much better. Before, Will automatically decided he is going to stay with Heather. Now, he has a moment of confusion where it shows him struggling with deciding whether to stay or go.

- Throughout the show, Will and Heather's breakup is built up to, rather than just randomly happening. Will starts disconnecting, shuddering away from Heather when she cuddles near him, refusing to move his legs out of the way when they're blocking her path, just little things like that that show their annoyance with one another.

- Whatshername sings more of the finally chorus of BOBD with Johnny than before.

- Novacaine and She's A Rebel are completely different in the way the band plays them. The first half of Novcaine building up to the tanks is different. Previously, Will sang and then was joined by Tunny before the shooting. Now, Will sings by himself all the way up the the shooting, and then Tunny joins in. Also, Jimmy's name is switched to Johnny for the line "Jimmy says its better than here"

She's a Rebel now has a more accoustic beginning with less drums. While this does allow us to hear the words MUCH better, I like the sound of the previous arrangement better.

- Whatshername now sings part of Last Night on Earth, starting with the first "My beating heart belongs to you"

- Death of St. Jimmy is different. He is no longer up above everyone else, and when he dies he is carried of in someones arms holding flowers in a bit of a funeral march.

There are more changes, but I'm very tired, and I will tell more tomorrow.

J'net, Ben sends his love!

Hey ya MassH -

Thanks so much for the change details! I love hearing about how the show is evolving! Makes me kinda feel like an insider.

Based on the shows on Sept 10 and 11, the first seven items had made their way into the show by the time I had seen it. And I think I saw the last of the St. Jimmy's elevated death on the 10th, because he was on the stair scaffolding on the second night.

I find that Whatshername singing Last Night on Earth along with St. Jimmy is really powerful and nicely sets up the conflict Johnny later faces when he's forced to choose his girlfriend and his addiction (I think St. Jimmy actually personifies Johnny's addition rather than being a tangible character (eg, a drug dealer).

Looking forward to your next installment!

[Guest Shangri-La]

http://www.ktvu.com/video/20966365/index.html

he's going to be the cutest old man ever.

[Sarahnade.]

^Thanks for the changes info!

[MassHysteria]

Some more changes I'm remembering at the moment:

- When Johnny meets Tunny again during Homecoming, he is not immediately happy to see him like before. Now He is angry at first, feeling betrayed by Tunny. A very logical change

- Rather than launching straight into 21 Guns after Know Your Enemy, they have added a pause to give Whatshername a chance to react in shock to what has just happened (Johnny charging her with the knife).

- Johnny's slip-up during the beginning part of When Its Time is played up a bit more, and is not as subtle as before. Before it seemed very really, which is probably why they changed it, because people thought John Gallagher was indeed messing up. So sad as I was to see this change, it makes sense.

Next post I'll tell you about funny things I noticed posted/written on stage.

[J'net]

Some more changes I'm remembering at the moment:

- When Johnny meets Tunny again during Homecoming, he is not immediately happy to see him like before. Now He is angry at first, feeling betrayed by Tunny. A very logical change

- Rather than launching straight into 21 Guns after Know Your Enemy, they have added a pause to give Whatshername a chance to react in shock to what has just happened (Johnny charging her with the knife).

- Johnny's slip-up during the beginning part of When Its Time is played up a bit more, and is not as subtle as before. Before it seemed very really, which is probably why they changed it, because people thought John Gallagher was indeed messing up. So sad as I was to see this change, it makes sense.

Next post I'll tell you about funny things I noticed posted/written on stage.

Keep it coming!!!

[Tripe]

Oooh, it's fun to read about these changes! Many seem for the better.....

[MassHysteria]

Some funny details I got from sitting dead center in the front row last night:

- Joshua Henry's uniform does read Favorite Son on the name tag, and during Homecoming, all the office workers have name tags with there actual names, except John Gallagher. His of course just said, Johnny.

- Above the toilet someone wrote, "You just got a fucking STD".... this made me laugh.

- There is a shotgun on the stage as well as a Coke machine... totally did not notice this before.

- Michael Esper (Will) doesn't seem to ever actually play his guitar like John and Matt do.

- Whatshername's boots that she wears during Letterbomb have the lyrics to "We Are The Waiting" written on them.

- Some of the actors are actually smoking a bong of to the side during their scene when their on but not in the spot light. What exactly their smoking, well, I wasn't close enough to smell.

- Several people in the cast (who shall remain anonymous) made a point of making funny faces or singing at me during the show.

[PhePheBill]

can somebody tell me if its gonna be possible to see the american idiot therrical thing watevr its called without actually going to see it? like is anybody gonna go see it and film it? and then maybe put it on youtube?

[J'net]

- Some of the actors are actually smoking a bong of to the side during their scene when their on but not in the spot light. What exactly their smoking, well, I wasn't close enough to smell.

And you wouldn't be able to recognize any smell other than tobacco, right? Right, Justin???

[GDM]

can somebody tell me if its gonna be possible to see the american idiot therrical thing watevr its called without actually going to see it? like is anybody gonna go see it and film it? and then maybe put it on youtube?

Something like this probably wouldn't happen until it goes to Broadway. I doubt that they will put something out on tape prior to that. Equity actors have a lot of rules that have to be followed, and it would take a lot of negotiation to film it at this stage. Unless of course, someone bootlegged it, but it would be underground, not something that would go on Youtube. Too many union rules and AFTRA/SAG/Equity stuff. They would yank if off Youtube in a heartbeat.

[sallysimpson]

Something like this probably wouldn't happen until it goes to Broadway. I doubt that they will put something out on tape prior to that. Equity actors have a lot of rules that have to be followed, and it would take a lot of negotiation to film it at this stage. Unless of course, someone bootlegged it, but it would be underground, not something that would go on Youtube. Too many union rules and AFTRA/SAG/Equity stuff. They would yank if off Youtube in a heartbeat.

Plus I suspect anyone filming/photographing it without permission would be booted out of the theater. They tend not to be as stringent in concerts, but they are pretty dogmatic about it in theater, both for legal reasons and because it really is dangerous for the actors on stage if lights pop from the audience.

Some funny details I got from sitting dead center in the front row last night:

- Joshua Henry's uniform does read Favorite Son on the name tag, and during Homecoming, all the office workers have name tags with there actual names, except John Gallagher. His of course just said, Johnny.

- Above the toilet someone wrote, "You just got a fucking STD".... this made me laugh.

- There is a shotgun on the stage as well as a Coke machine... totally did not notice this before.

- Michael Esper (Will) doesn't seem to ever actually play his guitar like John and Matt do.

- Whatshername's boots that she wears during Letterbomb have the lyrics to "We Are The Waiting" written on them.

- Some of the actors are actually smoking a bong of to the side during their scene when their on but not in the spot light. What exactly their smoking, well, I wasn't close enough to smell.

- Several people in the cast (who shall remain anonymous) made a point of making funny faces or singing at me during the show.

fabulous details! Thanks!

[Jess:)]

Plus I suspect anyone filming/photographing it without permission would be booted out of the theater. They tend not to be as stringent in concerts, but they are pretty dogmatic about it in theater, both for legal reasons and because it really is dangerous for the actors on stage if lights pop from the audience.

It will be bootlegged for sure if it goes to Broadway. Every show is. I doubt they'd do a proshot, though. Not many shows get this, especially not if the show is still running in theatres.

[elanorelle72]

They recorded my verbal comment onto the Mercury News!!!

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_13350343?nclick_check=1

its the first on the list:)

[GDM]

They recorded my verbal comment onto the Mercury News!!!

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_13350343?nclick_check=1

its the first on the list:)

i got it now... nice review!

[J'net]

hmm... i can't get the link to work....

It worked for me, but it wasn't the first on the list. I clicked on the first one, though, and then one showed up that said Victoria. At first I thought it was the commenter's name, and then I remembered, Suzanne is from Victoria! Loved the comment, too.

[GDM]

It worked for me, but it wasn't the first on the list. I clicked on the first one, though, and then one showed up that said Victoria. At first I thought it was the commenter's name, and then I remembered, Suzanne is from Victoria! Loved the comment, too.

The fellow's comment afterwards started out nice and then it took a turn...

[J'net]

The fellow's comment afterwards started out nice and then it took a turn...

I didn't actually listen to that one. I'll have to go back tomorrow and hear what he has to say.

[elanorelle72]

sounds like I have a sinus infection

[MassHysteria]

So some more interesting things that I found out:

- During WMUWSE, the projection on the wall is of a single piece of paper floating around, and by the end it is joined by hundreds of papers. Anyone have a guess what this means? (I want to hear some theories before I reveal what they told me... maybe I was just being stupid and its obvious to everyone else)

[MassHysteria]

OK, so anyways heres what they told me they signify:

- The fluttering papers in WMUWSE were meant to represent the papers that were fluttering around downtown NYC on 9/11, but in reverse. I found this interesting that Billie allowed this connection, since we all know the song is NOT about 9/11, nor does such a connection in anyway relate to the story.

[justcause]

OK, so anyways heres what they told me they signify:

- The fluttering papers in WMUWSE were meant to represent the papers that were fluttering around downtown NYC on 9/11, but in reverse. I found this interesting that Billie allowed this connection, since we all know the song is NOT about 9/11, nor does such a connection in anyway relate to the story.

That's beautiful.

[farley drexel hatcher]

OK, so anyways heres what they told me they signify:

- The fluttering papers in WMUWSE were meant to represent the papers that were fluttering around downtown NYC on 9/11, but in reverse. I found this interesting that Billie allowed this connection, since we all know the song is NOT about 9/11, nor does such a connection in anyway relate to the story.

Wow, that's amazing. I'm glad I let myself see this spoiler.

I really hope this show makes it to London because the more I hear about it, the more I want to see it.

[sundaymorning6am]

Hey again everyone - so I saw the show on the 17th from Row L and then on the 20th from Row A. I just got back from San Francisco last night around 11pm, and I'm at work now, but when I'm home later, I will construct something that resembles a review/opinions/thoughts/criticisms, etc and post it here. I absolutely loved it though, though I think I was far too tired to completely enjoy it on the 17th (I had been awake for 20+ hours). I'm really hoping it transfers to New York. And I just have to give a shout out to Tony [Vincent] who was probably one of the best in the cast and portrayed St. Jimmy exactly as I'd imagined him.

[sallysimpson]

OK, so anyways heres what they told me they signify:

- The fluttering papers in WMUWSE were meant to represent the papers that were fluttering around downtown NYC on 9/11, but in reverse. I found this interesting that Billie allowed this connection, since we all know the song is NOT about 9/11, nor does such a connection in anyway relate to the story.

Interesting . . . . I had wondered if that's what it was.

But I do think 9/11 implicitly is connected with American Idiot because of the geo-political turmoil it spawned. Not to mention the fact that GWB the noob (not the bridge) got alot of mileage out of it (still can't believe people voted that guy in TWICE). While 9/11 wasn't the inspiration for WMUWSE, it was definitely the catalyst for the AI album itself and the anger/angst portrayed in the musical -- and the war Tunny goes to fight in.