St. Billie Returns To The St. James

[Fuzz]

Yea, I'm going to have to agree with this, though I do sometimes shout out "Amen" during BOBD and I do actually move to the songs. But seriously, whether anyone thinks so or not, it's still B'way, and unless it calls for out and out participation, like bad audience sing-a-longs, don't do it. Flame us if you will, but if I pay $127 to see a musical, I am not paying that money to hear the person behind me loudly singing. And yes, I realize you can say the same thing about paying that kind of money, too.

I don't think the cast minds moving to the music, but out and out singing... please, just don't do it.

Or for that matter talking throughout the performance because Tre or Mike are there. I was sitting next to some teenies and Tre was sitting in our row and for the entire performance they were talking about him until I asked them first politely to be quiet. The second time I wasn't so polite.

Again, fuck that etiquette. If people feel like singing, then they should fucking sing. At all the performances I went to, there were people around me singing. None of them obnoxiously loud or trying to scream louder than the cast - just singing along to these songs that they appreciate. I thought it was pretty great to see Green Day fans get into the music during the show.

I'm not telling people to go and be obnoxious or to try and disrupt. I've been looking for the past 15 minutes for an interview I'm unable to find, I can't remember if it's with Billie Joe or John Gallagher, when they mentioned that they would love to see the audience participating. The more I think about it, the more I remember it being a video with John Gallagher Jr but yeah, anyways.

Who fucking cares if people sing. I don't bitch at a Green Day concert because I can't hear Billie Joe. I recognize the difference in the setting, but as Alex pointed out, this isn't an old school musical or Broadway show - it's an adapted rock opera from Green Day. No need for people to be obnoxious or act like they're at a Foxboro show, but no need to act like a complete stiff either.

blah fucking blah. i hope someone runs naked thru the crowd. bunch of theater babies.

Now THAT would make the event even better.

[captain peroxide]

Yeah, I'm not saying scream like you're at a concert, but if you can't deal with people singing along at a reasonable level, you shouldn't be paying $127 dollars to see the show, especially if you've already seen it multiple times.

[farley drexel hatcher]

Anyone know of really cheap places to stay around the 17th of Feb?

I have - near enough - money for flights ... it's somewhere to stay that's the other main issue.

[Adeline.Hearts.You]

if they outfit the ushers dominatrix style (avec whips), i will happily comply. just an idea...

Lol Best idea I've heard.. mabey you should put it forward to the St.James!

[Abbey.]

i saw the show during billie's run and the theater was absolutely electric. it was how i wish the theater always felt during AI performances. and the crowd was loud, excited, enthusiastic and it brought the show to a chaotic pulsating level that i wish it always lived at.

and yes, i have been given the hairy eyeball by theatergoers at a non-Billie AI performance. and i was only enthusiastically mouthing the words to the songs.

as andres said...FUCK THAT (and i would kindly add:) SHIT

[GDM]

Again, fuck that etiquette. If people feel like singing, then they should fucking sing. At all the performances I went to, there were people around me singing. None of them obnoxiously loud or trying to scream louder than the cast - just singing along to these songs that they appreciate. I thought it was pretty great to see Green Day fans get into the music during the show.

I'm not telling people to go and be obnoxious or to try and disrupt. I've been looking for the past 15 minutes for an interview I'm unable to find, I can't remember if it's with Billie Joe or John Gallagher, when they mentioned that they would love to see the audience participating. The more I think about it, the more I remember it being a video with John Gallagher Jr but yeah, anyways.

Who fucking cares if people sing. I don't bitch at a Green Day concert because I can't hear Billie Joe. I recognize the difference in the setting, but as Alex pointed out, this isn't an old school musical or Broadway show - it's an adapted rock opera from Green Day. No need for people to be obnoxious or act like they're at a Foxboro show, but no need to act like a complete stiff either.

No, fuck not being polite in a B'way theater. If the show completely called for it, then fine. I was at five of the talkbacks, and yes, they did say that they thought the audience should participate, but I'm sure they don't mean singing loudly to every song. And if you noted, I actually said that I did move to the music, but I don't sing to it. That's great for YOU that you enjoyed everyone singing along, but NOT EVERYONE will enjoy it and some people ACTUALLY WANT TO HEAR THE SINGERS on stage sing.

Listen, I studied the craziest theater out there, experimental theater, so I understand all about the participatory theater onstage and I am not the biggest fan of B'way because of the etiquette. But it's also about the actors onstage and they can get as distracted by hearing people talking and singing and texting in the house as the audience can. If you all can't understand respecting an actor onstage, who can hear you because they can, I can't really help that, but all we're saying is don't sing along to the songs.

[Fuzz]

My searching for that interview has somehow led me to "High class NY Escorts". I guess, you know, just in case I need a date for the night.

[plaid ducky]

Okay, like I said, let's agree to disagree. No need to get riled up and calling people names.

Moving on...

I wonder if they're going to do the modified version of "Good Riddance" like they did last time or if they're do it how it's normally done.

I'm torn to think on which they would do.

On one hand, it's Billie singing. On the other hand, it's a longer time period and the ensemble members who don't get a lot of spotlight during the show don't get their parts in the encore either, which is why it's mostly sung by the ensemble to begin with...

If they do the modified version with Billie only a certain nights, then people might complain so I feel like it's all or none. Plus, he takes Christina's spot in front for the line-up.

Hmmm... it'll be interesting to heard Billie with Jeanna during "Last Night On Earth."

[Adeline.Hearts.You]

Surely Ai Isn't you standard musical, so you can't really expect to have standard theater etiquette..

after all the place must be full of Green Day fans.. And well we are a pretty manic bunch

[dria021772]

Sweet, my wife and I are front row center on the 9th. Have a fan-fucking-tabulous time!!!

My daughter and I will be 3 rows behind you!!! Can't wait for St. Billie!

[GDM]

i saw the show during billie's run and the theater was absolutely electric. it was how i wish the theater always felt during AI performances. and the crowd was loud, excited, enthusiastic and it brought the show to a chaotic pulsating level that i wish it always lived at.

and yes, i have been given the hairy eyeball by theatergoers at a non-Billie AI performance. and i was only enthusiastically mouthing the words to the songs.

as andres said...FUCK THAT (and i would kindly add:) SHIT

It was electric those nights that he was there. And I saw him perform five times. But I don't recall too many people singing along to "Last Night on Earth" though it was great through some of the louder songs, but just not all of 'em.

And no one is calling anyone names... at least not yet, lol. Oh wait, Abbey did go there... lol...

[greendepent]

All I can speculate is that even way back when he was just a little kid, what was he practicing to? Broadway show tunes...he's always had the show bug in him and I think it's great that he's had a chance to explore this professionally now. But "boring" of making music and touring? No way.

It's quite possibly that thing that you say. I saw few videos of him the last time that he did as St. Jimmy, and he is better than the other guy. This show us that AI is an history of himself. He is St. Jimmy, thats why he is so good on this.

[GDM]

Surely Ai Isn't you standard musical, so you can't really expect to have standard theater etiquette..

after all the place must be full of Green Day fans.. And well we are a pretty manic bunch

Well, that's true, there will be more Green Day fans on the whole in the audience during Billie's Joe's performance, that's for sure.

And John Gallagher did say that he loved it when people egged him on just before St. Jimmy comes out onstage. I remember talking with him about that after one of the shows.

Anyway, do whatever you want, go for it. Rush the stage, tear it down during the show! Strip and run wild, ha, that would be something.

[Abbey.]

if they outfit the ushers dominatrix style (avec whips), i will happily comply. just an idea...

good for you.

it could be.

[Fuzz]

I just can't imagine Billie Joe on stage wanting people to sit quietly in their seats. I know fuck-all about Broadway etiquette, but I know enough about Green Day to think that they didn't intend for the show to be a quiet show sensitive to the typical Broadway crowd. I remember this old man and his wife bitching the first 10 minutes before the show started about how unacceptable their seats were (they weren't bad), and then hoping "this wouldn't be a loud event". I really disliked those people. Seriously, what the fuck do people expect going to see a show produced around a punk rock band.

[GDM]

it could be.

have you seen those ushers?

[M1KEY]

I'm probably gonna get crap from the rest of the team for this, but I'm siding with the "don't sing along" group. Conventional or unconventional, this is a broadway show where people are paying a lot of money to see and hear the actors. When I go again, I want Johnny and the rest of the cast to hook me from the very first note and keep me hooked until the end. If I start hearing people around me singing at different parts, it will completely take me out of it, and I shall be annoyed. A concert is a very different experience. At a concert, the artist is directly interacting with the audience, talking to them, getting them excited and getting them to make noise. They want the audience to sing along.

I have performed both in theatre and on stage with bands. The two are so very different, it's unreal. And they aren't only different for the artists, they are different for the audience.

[GDM]

I just can't imagine Billie Joe on stage wanting people to sit quietly in their seats. I know fuck-all about Broadway etiquette, but I know enough about Green Day to think that they didn't intend for the show to be a quiet show sensitive to the typical Broadway crowd. I remember this old man and his wife bitching the first 10 minutes before the show started about how unacceptable their seats were (they weren't bad), and then hoping "this wouldn't be a loud event". I really disliked those people. Seriously, what the fuck do people expect going to see a show produced around a punk rock band.

Billie Joe is one performer out of an ensemble of performers in American Idiot. Really, it's not all about him in the show, though it seems like it. And again, I said moving is great to me, and maybe during some of the songs like AI or Holiday. But I'd rather hear Rebecca sing Letterbomb than some chick sitting near me. That's just me.

And old people complain all the time.

[Adeline.Hearts.You]

Well, that's true, there will be more Green Day fans on the whole in the audience during Billie's Joe's performance, that's for sure.

And John Gallagher did say that he loved it when people egged him on just before St. Jimmy comes out onstage. I remember talking with him about that after one of the shows.

Anyway, do whatever you want, go for it. Rush the stage, tear it down during the show! Strip and run wild, ha, that would be something.

Don't get me wrong I'm not saying people should scream out at the top of their lungs, or if Its St. Billie be screaming his name, or people texting or doing whatever with their phones. I Just feel that with a work like American Idiot, with it rebellion and anger mabey Standar etiquette wouldnt apply.

[Abbey.]

have you seen those ushers?

good point. ugly as fuck. they do give good shush.

[GDM]

Don't get me wrong I'm not saying people should scream out at the top of their lungs, or if Its St. Billie be screaming his name, or people texting or doing whatever with their phones. I Just feel that with a work like American Idiot, with it rebellion and anger mabey Standar etiquette wouldnt apply.

Ha, no, sorry, no, I was taking that last line in general, not to you.

I do agree it's a different kind of ballgame with AI, and like I said, I do think it's great during certain songs, and John Gallagher really wanted people to get into it just before St. Jimmy comes on. And that kind of spontaneity and interaction is great, the talkback with the audience during the show, but I'm pretty sure that they don't mean for the audience to sing along to every song. There are definite points were audience participation is called for, that's for sure, and it was prominent when Billie was in the show.

[TAG]

I don't know if someone mentioned this already, because it won't let me go back pages.... do you think they would put Billie in the playbill since Tony won't be there anymore?

[Daughter.of.Rage.and.Love]

Well, as Green Day fan and musical around a rock album as the musical is, it still is a Broadway musical, and I think you should respect the Broadway rules. Of course you can move in your seat and mouth along, during the louder songs like American Idiot or something softly sing along, and do the "amen" stuff in Holiday, things like that, but nothing more than that, imo. I think most people are paying 130 bucks for seeing the show, not for hearing people in the crowd sing along to it. Because it is quite annoying if you're trying to enjoy a musical and someone is singing along. As much as it's a kick-ass musical, it's a musical, which is most of the time (and, as far as I can judge, in this case as well), a passive experience, and I think that you should conform to that. It's not like you're being forced to go see it, so if you do see it, you get to do the whole deal including respecting the etiquette to some extent.

[GDM]

I don't know if someone mentioned this already, because it won't let me go back pages.... do you think they would put Billie in the playbill since Tony won't be there anymore?

It depends if they have the printing budget for it, I would think. But there is a good chance that they might. You should tweet Jordan_Roth and ask him.

[Adeline.Hearts.You]

Ha, no, sorry, no, I was taking that last line in general, not to you.

I do agree it's a different kind of ballgame with AI, and like I said, I do think it's great during certain songs, and John Gallagher really wanted people to get into it just before St. Jimmy comes on. And that kind of spontaneity and interaction is great, the talkback with the audience during the show, but I'm pretty sure that they don't mean for the audience to sing along to every song. There are definite points were audience participation is called for, that's for sure, and it was prominent when Billie was in the show.

Yeah yeha, totally. I mean by all means to song like st jimmy, or AI. But i see what you mean if i were watching and some person started to scream along to when its time or last night on earth Id get pretty mad! ahah!