Amelia Lily, a finalist in the 2011 U.K. edition of "X Factor," will reprise her performance as Whatsername. In a press statement, she said, "I’m so excited to be a part of American Idiot on tour! 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 U.K., bringing this incredible show to a wider audience who haven’t had a chance to see it in London!”
She is joined by Alexis Gerred (Tunny), Llandyll Gove (Gerard), Lucas Rush (St. Jimmy) and Steve Rushton (Will), who will all be reprising their roles from the London run at the Arts Theatre. Further casting confirmed also includes Cellen Chugg Jones (Theo), Jemma Geanaus (Alysha), Karina Hind (Libby), Emma Housley (Heather), Lawrence Libor (Swing), Alice Stokoe (Extraordinary Girl) and Matt Thorpe (Johnny).
Thorpe will play Johnny through May 7, and will then be succeeded by double platinum-selling artist Newton Faulkner, a singer-songwriter who first came to prominence in 2007 with the album "Hand Built by Robots" that deposed Amy Winehouse from the top of the charts. In a press statement, he commented, "My first ever band was essentially a Green Day cover band, with one of the guys currently in the show, Lucas Rush, so it's amazingly strange to be reunited under these circumstances. I can't wait. The first record I ever bought was 'Dookie,' so yea, I was a massive Green Day fan, still am.”
Previously seen in the U.K. with the American touring cast that also had a London run at the Hammersmith Apollo in 2012, this new production is directed and choreographed by Racky Plews, with sound by Chris Whybrow, design by Sara Perks and lighting by Tim Deiling. Musical supervision is by Richard Morris. The musical features the music of Green Day with the lyrics of its lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong, and book by Armstrong and Michael Mayer, who was its original director. It tells the story of three boyhood friends, each searching for meaning in a post 9-11 world. The score includes the songs "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 album of the same same. Also included are several songs from Green Day's 2009 release "21st Century Breakdown" and an unreleased love song, "When It's Time."
For full touring dates, visit www.americanidiotthemusical.co.uk.
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