For American Idiot, the stage adaptation of the huge-selling CD by punk rockers Green Day, theatre message boards have been eerily silent, even though the show's first preview at Berkeley Repertory Theatre took place Sept. 4.
The reason? The show was offered as a presale to Green Day fans, who most likely don't post on theatre chat boards but scooped up tickets early for the show's first two performances, which were sold out by the time the tickets went on sale to the general public.
Interest in the show is high, given the massive popularity of the CD, which has sold 14 million copies worldwide, and because director Michael Mayer's last rock musical, Spring Awakening, transferred to Broadway, garnering critical accolades, eight Tony Awards, and a hit commercial run.
So what's an information-deprived theatre junkie to do? Theatre fans may have to content themselves with Green Day message boards, which have lit up with comments by first-nighters, including breathless accounts by fans about meeting their idols, Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool, who were in the first preview audience.
—Andrew Ku