Michael Mayer Bringing Green Day's 'American Idiot' Album to the Stage at Berkeley Rep

The New York Times is reporting the Michael Mayer, the Tony Award-winning director of Spring Awakening, will begin work on a new musical production adapted from "American Idiot," the best-selling album by the punk band Green Day. The project is scheduled to make its debut in September 2009 at the Berkeley Repertory Theater in California.

The musical will be acollaboration between Green Day - the Bay Area rock trio consisting of Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool - and Mayer.

The project came as a shock to some of the band members, who acknowledge that they had big aspirations for "American Idiot" but perhaps not quite this grand, "It doesn't make a lot of sense," Armstrong, the Green Day singer and guitarist, said of this new partnership in a telephone interview with the Times, "but that's what I love about it. When people see it, it's going to be my wildest dream."

The cast is reported to include 19 performers playing characters in their early 20s, though no casting has been announced. 

Released in 2004, "American Idiot" was Green Day's conceptual response to the depressing realities of post-9/11 era America. 

"American Idiot" sold over 12 million copies worldwide and won the 2005 Grammy Award for Best Rock Album. Hit songs from the album include the title song, "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and "Wake Me Up When September Ends."

To read the full Times article click here.

Michael Mayer's Broadway credits include: Spring Awakening (Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics' Circle Awards); After the Fall; ‘Night, Mother; Thoroughly Modern Millie (Drama Desk Award and Tony nomination); An Almost Holy Picture; Uncle Vanya (Drama Desk nomination); The Lion in Winter; Side Man (Drama Desk and Outer Critics' Circle Awards); You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics' Circle nominations); A View From the Bridge (Drama Desk, Outer Critics' Circle Awards and Tony nominations) and Triumph of Love. Off-Broadway credits include: 10 Million Miles, Spring Awakening, The CredeauxCanvas, Stupid Kids, Baby Anger, Antigone in New York, True History and Real Adventures, View of the Dome, The Triumph of Love, America Dreaming (Drama Desk nomination); Missing Persons, Hundreds of Hats and Round About.

Regional US credits include: An Almost Holy Picture, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Triumph of Love.

National Tours include: Spring Awakening, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Angels in America (Jeff, Carbonell Awards). Film credits include: Flicka and A Home at the End of the World.

Photo Credit: Sarah DeBoer/Retna Ltd.