Preview: American Idiot at Sunderland Empire

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 NORTH EAST X-FACTOR STAR AMELIA LILY TO STAR IN GREEN DAY MUSICAL

American Idiot – the Muscial

Sunderland Empire

Tuesday 24^th – Saturday 28^th May 2016

Green Day’s explosive, Tony Award® winning Broadway musical American Idiot, will now embark on a national tour from 19 March 2016, following on from its hugely successful and critically acclaimed West End run, which is currently running at the Arts Theatre, Leicester Square until 22 November 2015. Read the North East Theatre Guide review of the West End show: LINK 

Middlesbrough-born Amelia Lily (X-Factor) will be reprising her critically acclaimed role, Whatsername, from 5 April at the Palace Theatre, Manchester, before heading back to the North East to play Sunderland Empire from 24-28 May 2016. Full casting to be confirmed in due course. 

Amelia Lily

Photo: Darren Bell

Amelia Lily said “I’m super excited to be coming back to the North East with American Idiot! I’ve always wanted to perform at the Sunderland Empire! I’ve seen many shows there in the past and can’t wait to perform there next year with such a cool show!”

Amelia added “It’s been an amazing experience playing Whatsername in the West End and now I get to do it all over again next year around the UK, bringing this incredible show to a wider audience who haven’t had a chance to see it in London!”

Amelia Lily

Photo: Darren Bell

American Idiot is directed and choreographed by Racky Plews, with designs by Sara Perks, lighting by Tim Deiling, sound by Chris Whybrow and musical supervision by Richard Morris.

The musical features the music of Green Day with the lyrics of its lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong, and book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer. The production is being directed and choreographed by Racky Plews, with musical supervision by Richard Morris, sound by Chris Whybrow, design by Sara Perks and lighting by Tim Deiling. 

Amelia with the West End cast

Photo: Darren Bell

American Idiot is the story of three boyhood friends, each searching for meaning in a post 9-11 world. Winner of two Tony Awards® and the 2010 Grammy Award winner for Best Musical Show Album, American Idiot premiered at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in September 2009, moving onto a critically acclaimed Broadway run in April 2010.

Its hit songs include “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” “21 Guns,” “Wake Me Up When September Ends,” “Holiday” and the blockbuster title track “American Idiot” from Green Day’s 2004 Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum album. Also included are several songs from Green Day’s 2009 release “21st Century Breakdown,” and an unreleased love song, “When It’s Time.”

American Idiot The Musical is presented by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Limited on behalf of Music Theatre International of New York.

The West End cast

Photo: Darren Bell

Amelia Lily (Whatsername) is a singer who finished third on the eighth series of The X Factor in 2011, mentored by Kelly Rowland. Her debut single, "You Bring Me Joy", was released in 2012 and reached number two on the UK Singles Chart, while her follow-up singles "Shut Up (and Give Me Whatever You Got)" and "Party Over" (both 2013) reached the top 20 and the top 40 respectively. Amelia made her West End  debut, earlier this year, in American Idiot the musical and previously starred as the Narrator in the UK tour of Joseph And His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Running time:                                  1hr 40 mins plus interval

On The Web:

Website:                       www.americanidiotthemusical.co.uk

Twitter:                          @ukamericanidiot

Facebook:                   American Idiot UK

Instagram:                            ukamericanidiot

Tickets:

Tickets on sale now and are available in person at the Box Office on High Street West, from the Ticket Centre on 0844 871 3022* or online at www.ATGtickets.com/Sunderland *

*Calls cost 7p per minute plus your standard network charge. Booking fees may apply to telephone and online bookings

Tour:

AMERICAN IDIOT - THE MUSICAL

DIRECTED BY RACKY PLEWS

UK NATIONAL TOUR

CURVE THEATRE LEICESTER 14 –  26 MARCH

0116 242 3595

PALACE THEATRE MANCHESTER 4 – 9 APRIL

0844 871 7627

NEW THEATRE CARDIFF 19 – 23 APRIL

01392 72 63 63

THE KINGS THEATRE PORTSMOUTH 26 – 30 APRIL

0239 282 8282

NEW ALEXANDRA THEATRE BIRMINGHAM 10 – 14 MAY

0844 871 3011

EXETER NORTHCOTT THEATRE 18 – 22 MAY

0139 272 6363

SUNDERLAND EMPIRE 24 – 28 MAY

0844 871 3022

KING’S THEATRE GLASGOW 31 MAY – 4 JUNE

0844 871 7648 

Review: American Idiot – the Musical at London Arts Theatre

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Have The Time Of Your Life

American Idiot – the Musical

London Arts Theatre

Extended until 22^nd November 2015

Photo: Darren Bell

Green Day are one of the most popular bands of its type since they formed in 1986. They are popular enough to play 2 nights in Milton Keynes in front of 130 000.  Their music resonated with Generation X as they sought to make sense of the world. It was only going to be a matter of time before their music found its way into that latest stage trend: the jukebox musical.

Photo: Darren Bell

With a book by Green Day’s front man Billie Joe Armstrong and original director Michael Mayer, American Idiot is different to the usual jukebox musicals. With its dialogue often limited to stating the date, this show relies more heavily of the song’s lyrics to tell the story. There is no cut and shunting in order to get the story to fit the songs here. The overall fell is much more of a rock opera than a traditional musical. The single act without an interval increases that feel. The fact that it was won 5 awards of which one was for the cast recording shows that it is both popular and features a strong soundtrack.

Photo: Darren Bell

Set in Jingletown, USA, the show begins with news footage of 9/11 before kicking straight into the memorable hit American Idiot. The split level stage frequently features both a lead guitarist (Tommaso Varvello) and a bass player (Brock Eddows), which adds to the authenticity of the piece, as the ensemble dance and sing without missing a note. The story then follows the paths taken by 3 friends. Will (Steve Rushton) stays in Jingletown to look after his pregnant girlfriend Heather (Natasha J Barnes). Tunny (Alexis Gerred) and Johnny (Aaron Sidwell) decide to leave town in order to seek a new future. Tunny is quickly sucked in by a tv ad for the army and enlists. Johnny wonders the big city meeting up with a drug dealer known as St Jimmy and a girl called “Whatsername” (Amelia Lily).

Photo: Darren Bell

Though the soundtrack the lives of the three friends are explored. Thrown in with the explicit lyrics of the American Idiot and 21^st Century Breakdown albums, from which the soundtrack is generated, are hard drugs use, violence and sexually explicated scenes. This is not a show to take the more sensitive members of your family to.

Photo: Darren Bell

The outfits are frequently stunning. The point in which Extraordinary Girl’s (Raquel Jones) nurse outfit suddenly changes into a lit up angel was particularly impressive. Through Racky Plews direction the show flows well into a kinetically charged assault on the senses. Great dance sequences pepper throughout the show despite the heat in the intimate confines of the Arts Theatre. The band, under musical director Mark Crossland, are very tight and the drumming by Alex Marchisone can rival Tré Cool.

Photo: Darren Bell

The show will hit the right note for the fans of Green Day.

This review was written by Stephen Oliver  the North East Theatre Guide Preview from Jowheretogo PR (www.jowheretogo.com). Follow Jo on twitter @jowheretogo, Stephen @panic_c_button or like Jowheretogo on Facebook www.facebook.com/Jowheretogo

Read the original North East Theatre Guide preview here: Preview Link

Photo: Darren Bell

On The Web:

Website:  www.americanidiotwestend.com
Twitter:     www.twitter.com/ukamericanidiot
Facebook:  American Idiot UK
Instagram:  ukamericanidiot

Tickets

American Idiot – The Musical at Londons’s Arts Theatre, Great Newport Street, London, WC2H 7JB
Performances:  Tuesday – Friday at 8.00pm
Saturday – 2.30pm & 8.00pm
Sunday – 3.00pm & 6.00pm

Photo: Darren Bell

Running time:   90 minutes (no interval)
Ticket Prices:  £15.00 – £65.00 (all seats £25.00 during previews)
Groups 20+    £25.00
Groups 10+    £32.50
Groups of 6   £35.00
* All group rates valid Tues – Fri & Sunday
Main Booking Line:                 020 78368463
Group Booking Line:               020 7836 8463
Access Booking Line:             020 7836 8463

Preview: American Idiot at London Arts Theatre

 X Factor Star Amelia Lily Will Star

In The Tony Award Winning Musical

American Idiot
London Arts Theatre
17 July – 27 September 2015

X Factor star, Amelia Lily (playing Whatshername), will star in Green Day’s explosive, award-winning Broadway musical American Idiot, as it blasts into the UK for its West End premiere from the 17July at The Arts Theatre, Leicester Square. Running until 27 September 2015, with press night on 22 July, American Idiot – The Musical features the music of Green Day with the lyrics of its lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong, and book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer. The musical is being directed and choreographed by Racky Plews, with sound by Chris Whybrow, design by Sara Perksand lighting by Tim Deiling. Further casting will be announced in due course.

American Idiotis the story of three boyhood friends, each searching for meaning in a post 9-11 world. Winner of two Tony Awards® and the 2010 Grammy Award winner for Best Musical Show Album, American Idiot premiered at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in September 2009, moving onto a critically acclaimed Broadway run in April 2010.
Its hit songs include “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” “21 Guns,” “Wake Me Up When September Ends,” “Holiday” and the blockbuster title track “American Idiot” from Green Day’s 2004 Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum album. Also included are several songs from Green Day’s 2009 release “21st Century Breakdown,” and an unreleased love song, “When It’s Time.”

The producers of American Idiot – The Musicalsaid, “We are absolutely delighted to be bringing American Idiot to the Arts Theatre this Summer and Autumn, following its very successful life on Broadway. It’s a cracking musical for fans old and new, and we have had a fantastic relationship with the Arts Theatre for years. We can’t wait to bring this musical to the heart of London”.

The musical is produced by David Hutchinson and Philip Rowntree for Sell A Door Theatre Company and Stephen McGill Productions. The Associate Producers are  Hartshorn – Hook Productions, London Contemporary Theatre, and Nathan Gardner/Danny Brooke. 
American Idiot The Musical is presented by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Limited on behalf of Music Theatre International of New York.

On The Web:

Website:  www.americanidiotwestend.com
Twitter:     www.twitterc.om/ukamericanidiot
Facebook:  American Idiot UK
Instagram:  ukamericanidiot

Tickets

American Idiot – The Musical at Londons’s Arts Theatre, Great Newport Street, London, WC2H 7JB
Performances:  Tuesday – Friday at 8.00pm
Saturday – 2.30pm & 8.00pm
Sunday – 3.00pm & 6.00pm
Running time:   90 minutes (no interval)
Ticket Prices:  £15.00 – £65.00 (all seats £25.00 during previews)
Groups 20+    £25.00
Groups 10+    £32.50
Groups of 6   £35.00
* All group rates valid Tues – Fri & Sunday
Main Booking Line:                 020 78368463
Group Booking Line:               020 7836 8463
Access Booking Line:              020 7836 8463