Go Inside American Idiot Anniversary Concerts With Derek Klena, Taylor Iman Jones, Van Hughes, More | Playbill

Photos Go Inside American Idiot Anniversary Concerts With Derek Klena, Taylor Iman Jones, Van Hughes, More

The two 54 Below concerts celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Green Day album and the subsequent Broadway musical.

Derek Klena William Ruben Helms

The 21st anniversary celebrations of the Green Day album American Idiot and the subsequent Broadway musical of the same name were held September 21 at 7 PM and 9:30 PM at 54 Below.

Produced by Max Bartos, Matt DeAngelis, and director/producer Laura Pietropinto, the evening featured American Idiot Broadway and tour alum, including Van Hughes, Gerard Canonico, Nicci Claspell, DeAngelis, Francesca Granell, Carson Higgins, Brian Charles Johnson, Brandon Kalm, and Johnny Newcomb, as well as singer/songwriter Bartos (Sing Street), Dillon Klena (Jagged Little Pill national tour), and Trent Saunders (Dead Outlaw). Also taking part was Tony nominee Derek Klena (Wicked, Moulin Rouge!), J. Antonio Rodriguez (Hadestown), Teddy Grey (The British Invasion), Chelsea Turbin (American Idiot), Taylor Iman Jones (Six), and Omar Lopez-Cepero (American Idiot).

Check out photos from the celebration in the gallery below.

Photos: American Idiot Reunion

“This is more than a concert,” Bartos said in an earlier statement. “It’s a celebration of rebellion, heartbreak, and finding your voice in a world on fire.”

Added Pietropinto, “When Billie Joe Armstrong, Michael Mayer, Tom Kitt, Steven Hoggett, and the original Broadway cast collaborated to bring this rock opera to the stage, they created a movement for young people, Green Day fans, and theatregoers. Through this concert, we are privileged to be able to connect many of the original artists involved with American Idiot to a whole new generation at a time where the music, lyrics, and spirit of the album resonate as loudly now as they did then.”

DeAngelis concluded, “This show changed my life, and it’s an honor to be among these incredible artists and amazing production team celebrating a genre-defining rock opera that resonates now more than ever. Producing is always more fun when you believe in the material (and also when it melts faces this hard).”

The concerts also had music supervision by Julie McBride and music direction by Emmy winner Sean Pallatroni.

Based on Green Day's groundbreaking 2004 rock album, American Idiot—the 90-minute Broadway show about three suburban pals who take divergent paths in post-9/11 America—was a collaboration of Green Day and Tony-winning director Michael Mayer (who co-wrote the book), Tony-winning orchestrator Tom Kitt, and Olivier-winning choreographer Steven Hoggett.

American Idiot began previews March 24, 2010, and opened on Broadway April 20, 2010, following its world-premiere, twice-extended limited engagement at Berkeley Repertory Theatre's Roda Theatre in California. Its final Broadway performance was April 24, 2011. The original Broadway cast included Tony winner John Gallagher Jr., Michael Esper, and Stark Sands.

The musical, nominated for a 2010 Best Musical Tony Award, won two Tonys for its scenic and lighting design. The show also won the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album plus a Drama Desk Award and an Outer Critics Circle Award.

 
Today’s Most Popular News: