Billie Joe Armstrong Urges High School Not To Cancel Edited AMERICAN IDIOT
By: Michael Dale Jan. 25, 2016
Even the most ardent Green Day fans would probably agree that the 2010 Broadway musical based on the grunge band's landmark album, AMERICAN IDIOT, would need a bit of tinkering before being considered appropriate material for a high school production.
Certainly some of composer/lyricist Billie Joe Armstrong's language would need to be replaced and some of the imagery used in his story of three young men trying to make sense of their lives in a post-9/11 America would have to be toned down from what was presented at the St. James Theatre.
But, as reported by noted theatre producer and arts administrator Howard Sherman, Nate Ferreira, faculty director of Connecticut's Enfield High School drama group, The Lamplighters, had worked with the musical's licensing agent, Music Theatre International, to create a revised version of the text that was not only acceptable to both parties, but that MTI was interested in using as an official High School version of the show.
The students were very excited to be working on a contemporary rock musical with a social message that had relevance in their lives, but the excitement turned to disappointment when Ferreira sent an email to the school community announcing that he and school principal Andrew Longey have decided to "set aside AMERICAN IDIOT for the time being" due to "a very small number of extremely vocal people (who) have complained about our choice of production."
Working with an anonymous source, Sherman admits that the details are sketchy, as school officials have not as of yet answered his inquiries.
One person who did respond, however, was Billie Joe Armstrong, who learned of the situation after Sherman informed the Broadway production's set designer. Christine Jones.
Armstrong's response came in the form of the Instagram post seen below. Click here for full details on HeSherman.com.
dear Enfield high school board, #enfieldhighschoolmusical #highschoolidiot #enfieldidiot It has come to my attention that you cancelled your high school theater production of American Idiot. I realize the content of the Broadway production of AI is not quite "suitable" for a younger audience. However there is a high school rendition of the production and I believe that's the one Enfield was planning to perform which is suitable for most people. it would be a shame if these high schoolers were shut down over some of the content that may be challenging for some of the audience. but the bigger issue is censorship. this production tackles issues in a post 9/11 world and I believe the kids should be heard. and most of all be creative in telling a story about our history. I hope you reconsider and allow them to create an amazing night of theater! as they say on Broadway .. "the show must go on!" rage and love Billie Joe Armstrong ps. I love that your school is called "Raiders"
A photo posted by Billie Joe Armstrong (@billiejoearmstrong) on Jan 25, 2016 at 10:59am PST
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