American Idiot: If a Tree Falls... | Playbill

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PlayBlog American Idiot: If a Tree Falls... Die-hard theatre fans know the drill: Check out the theatre message boards after 11 PM on the night of the first preview of a new musical to get the earliest scoop on the show. Theatrical producers and creatives decry the practice, but it seens first-preview commentary is here to stay.


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

 
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