Tony Winner John Gallagher Jr and More Set for American Idiot at Berkeley Rep

Berkeley Repertory Theatre has announced the cast for its world premiere production of American Idiot, based on the Green Day album of the same name, which starts performances on September 4. Tony Award-winning Spring Awakening star John Gallagher Jr. will headline the company of 19, which also includes Matt Caplan, Michael Esper, Mary Faber, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Christina Sajous and Tony Vincent in featured roles.

Gallagher, who plays the central role of Johnny in the musical, won a Tony Award for playing doomed Moritz in the original cast of Spring Awakening. Other credits include the Broadway play Rabbit Hole and off-Broadway productions of Current Events, Farragut North, Kimberly Akimbo and Port Authority.

Caplan (playing Tunny) has previously starred on Broadway in Rent and South Pacific. Esper (Will) was seen on Broadway in A Man for All Seaons and recently in the premiere of Tony Kushner’s The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures. Faber (Heather) played the dual roles of Kate Monster and Lucy the Slut in Avenue Q on Broadway. Jones (Whatsername) appeared in Passing Strange at Berkeley Rep, at Joe’s Pub, on Broadway and now in the film adaptation directed by Spike Lee. Sajous (Extraordinary Girl) appeared in the national tour of Rent. Vincent (St. Jimmy) starred as Judas in the 2000 Broadway revival of Jesus Christ Superstar and in We Will Rock You in both London and Las Vegas.

Also featured in the cast are Declan Bennet (Broadway’s Rent, London’s Taboo), Andrew Call (Cry-Baby, Glory Days, High Fidelity), Gerard Canonico (Spring Awakening), Miguel Cervantes (Happiness), Joshua Henry (In the Heights), Brian Charles Johnson (Spring Awakening), Chase Peacock, Theo Stockman (Hair), Ben Thompson, Alysha Umphress, Morgan Weed (Saved) and Libby Winters.

American Idiot follows working-class characters from the suburbs to the city to the Middle East, as they seek redemption in a world filled with frustration. The show features the music of Green Day and the lyrics of its frontman Billie Joe Armstrong and is helmed by Spring Awakening’s Tony-winning director Michael Mayer, who also collaborated with Armstrong on the story. The rock musical features the music of American Idiot, the album that won Grammys for both Best Rock Album and Record of the Year, as well as 21st Century Breakdown, the pop-punk trio's newest CD.

The design team for American Idiot includes Tony nominee Christine Jones (sets), two-time Tony winner Kevin Adams (lights), Andrea Lauer (costumes), Brian Ronan (sound) and Darrell Maloney (video). Olivier Award-winning choreographer Steven Hoggett is also part of the creative team.

American Idiot runs at Berkeley Rep through October 11.