Before Performances Start, Berkeley Rep's American Idiot Extends by Three Weeks

Berkeley Repertory Theatre has announced it will extend its world premiere of Green Day's American Idiot by three weeks. The previously announced new punk-rock musical, which begins performances September 4, was originally slated to close on October 11. The production, directed by Tony Award winner Michael Mayer, will now play through November 1.

American Idiot is based on the Grammy Award-winning album by rockers Green Day, with additional music from the trio's newest release, 21st Century Breakdown. The show 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 cast is led by Tony Award winner John Gallagher Jr., Matt Caplan, Michael Esper, Mary Faber, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Christina Sajous and Tony Vincent in featured roles, as well as Declan Bennet, Andrew Call, Gerard Canonico, Miguel Cervantes, Joshua Henry, Brian Charles Johnson, Chase Peacock, Theo Stockman, Ben Thompson, Alysha Umphress, Morgan Weed and Libby Winters.

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), Darrell Maloney (video). Choreographer Steven Hoggett and musical supervisor Tom Kitt (a 2009 Tony winner for composing Next to Normal) are also part of the creative team.