John Gallagher Jr. Headed to Broadway's Jerusalem with Mark Rylance

Tony Award winner John Gallagher Jr. will jump from his starring role in American Idiot to a featured part in the forthcoming Broadway production of Jerusalem. Jez Butterworth's drama, featuring previously announced stars Mark Rylance and Mackenzie Crook, will begin previews at the Music Box Theatre on April 2 and open on April 21 for a 16-week limited engagement, directed by Ian Rickson.

Gallagher (a Tony winner for Spring Awakening and vet of plays such as Rabbit Hole and Farragut North), is set to depart American Idiot on February 27 and will play the role of Lee in Jerusalem. He will be joined by Max Baker (Cyrano de Bergerac) as Wesley, Geraldine Hughes (Translations) as Dawn and Molly Ranson (August: Osage County) as Pea, alongside seven members of the original Royal Court and West End company: Alan David as The Professor, Aimeé-Ffion Edwards as Phaedra, Danny Kirrane as Davey, Charlotte Mills as Tanya, Sarah Moyle as Ms. Fawcett, Harvey Robinson as Mr. Parsons and Barry Sloane as Troy Whitworth. Aiden Eyrick and Mark Page alternate in the role of Marky.

Set in the woods of South West England, Jerusalem centers on Johnny ‘Rooster’ Byron (Rylance), former daredevil motorcyclist, modern-day Pied Piper and wanted man. The council officials want to serve him an eviction notice, his son wants to be taken to the country fair, a stepfather wants to give him a serious kicking and a motley crew of friends wants his ample supply of drugs and alcohol.

Jerusalem opened at the Royal Court Theatre in July 2009 for a sold-out run before moving to the Apollo Theatre in the West End in January 2010, where it received five-star reviews from 12 London newspapers. Rylance, who has already starred in La Bete this season on Broadway, won the 2010 Olivier Award for Best Actor for Jersusalem.