American Idiot Announces Closing; Billie Joe Armstrong to Return for Final Weeks

American Idiot, the Broadway musical adaptation of Green Day's Grammy-winning album, will play its final performance on April 24, with Green Day lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong set to return on April 5 for the final three weeks of the run.. The alt rock tuner, which has been gracing the stage of the St. James Theatre since beginning previews on March 24, 2010, will have played 27 previews and 421 performances upon closing.

American Idiot follows working-class characters from the suburbs to the city to a war zone as they seek redemption in a world filled with frustration. The production features Green Day songs from both American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown. The show began life in a twice-extended run at Berkeley's Roda Theatre in 2009.

The return of Armstrong for the show's final weeks is sure to help American Idiot end its Broadway run on a high note. On weeks when he has played drug dealer St. Jimmy, the musical has taken in up to $1 million extra at the box office.

Helmed by Tony-winning director Michael Mayer, American Idiot currently stars Van Hughes as Johnny, AFI’s lead singer Davey Havok as St. Jimmy, Tony Award nominee Stark Sands as Tunny, Justin Guarini as Will, Rebecca Naomi Jones as Whatsername, Libby Winters as The Extraordinary Girl and Jeanna de Waal as Heather. The cast also features Krystina Alabado, Declan Bennett, Jennifer Bowles, Andrew Call, Gerard Canonico, Miguel Cervantes, P.J. Griffith, Brian Charles Johnson, Jason Kappus, Lorin Latarro, Omar Lopez-Cepero, Leslie McDonel, Chase Peacock, Wallace Smith, Ben Thompson, Alysha Umphress, Aspen Vincent and Mikey Winslow.

As previously announced, a national tour of American Idiot is scheduled to launch in fall 2011.