AMERICAN IDIOT National Tour Kicks Off in Toronto

Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT, the two-time Tony Award®-winning Broadway hit called "wonderfully raucous" and "emotionally charged" by The New York Times, will premiere in Toronto today through January 15 before continuing on to 14 other markets across the United States.

Original Broadway cast member Van Hughes will star as Johnny, a role in which he concluded AMERICAN IDIOT’s Broadway run, along with original Broadway cast member Joshua Kobak as St. Jimmy, Jake Epstein as Will, Scott J. Campbell as Tunny, original Broadway cast member Leslie McDonel as Heather, Gabrielle McClinton as Whatsername and Nicci Claspell as The Extraordinary Girl.

AMERICAN IDIOT will also feature Talia Aaron, Krystina Alabado, Gabriel Antonacci, Larkin
Bogan, Matt DeAngelis, Dan Gleason, Kelvin Moon Loh, Tommy McDowell, Jillian Mueller,
Jarran Muse, Vince Oddo, Okieriete Onaodowan and Kaitlyn Terrill.

"I am thrilled that soon we will get to share AMERICAN IDIOT with audiences across North America," said director Michael Mayer. "The creative team and I couldn't be happier with the stellar group of actors we've assembled which includes original Broadway cast members Van Hughes and Leslie McDonel along with many wonderful and talented new additions to the AMERICAN IDIOT family."

AMERICAN IDIOT, a 2010 Tony Award®-nominated Best Musical and 2010 Grammy Award winner for Best Musical Show Album, features the music of Green Day with lyrics by lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong. The book is by Armstrong and Michael Mayer and direction is by Tony Award®-winner Mayer ("Spring Awakening").

The show is choreographed by Olivier Award-winner Steven Hoggett ("Black Watch") with music supervision, orchestrations and arrangements by Pulitzer Prize-winner Tom Kitt ("Next to Normal"). The tour features Tony Award®-winning scenic design by Christine Jones and Tony Award®-winning lighting design by Kevin Adams.

The acclaimed creative team also includes costume design by Andrea Lauer, sound design by Brian Ronan, video and projections design by Darrel Maloney, music direction by Jared Stein, associate choreography by Lorin Latarro and associate direction by Johanna McKeon.

Winner of two Tony Awards®, AMERICAN IDIOT is the story of three boyhood friends, each searching for meaning in a post 9-11 world. Through incredible spectacle, thrilling performances and with the hope embodied by a new generation, AMERICAN IDIOT will give audiences the time of their lives night after night on tour in the same way it did during its acclaimed Broadway run at the St. James Theatre from March 2010 to April 2011.

The musical features the hits "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," "Wake Me Up When September Ends," "Holiday" and the blockbuster title track "American Idiot" from Green Day's 2004 Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum album. Also included in the score are several songs from Green Day's Grammy Award-winning 2009 release "21st Century Breakdown" including "21 Guns" and an unreleased love song, "When It's Time."

AMERICAN IDIOT premiered at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in September 2009 and played through November of that year. In April 2010, the musical opened on Broadway where reviews were unanimously positive with Charles Isherwood of the New York Times calling the show "the most adventurous musical to brave Broadway in the past decade" and the Toronto Star naming it "the first great musical of the 21st century!"

For more information on AMERICAN IDIOT, visit www.americanidiotthemusical.com.

Van Hughes (Johnny) recently starred as Johnny opposite Billie Joe Armstrong in the Broadway
production of American Idiot. Other Broadway credits: 9 to 5 and Hairspray. He originated the role of Patrick in Saved at Playwrights Horizons, NYC and performed in Hairspray Las Vegas. Film: Sex And The City: The Movie and SATC 2, Tenure, Rachel Getting Married, Book of Love. TV: Royal Pains, voice of "Chibila" on Nickelodeon, Law & Order: SVU & Criminal Intent, Six Degrees, As the World Turns, One Life To Live, NASA Connect, Step Toward Tomorrow, and Araby. B.A. in Theatre, Fordham University.

Joshua Kobak (St. Jimmy) is thankful to be here and to RAGE with the cast. Broadway: RENT
(Roger), Original Casts of Tarzan, American Idiot, Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark. Off-Broadway: FUERZA BRUTA (original NY cast). Tours: RENT-Benny and Broadway companies (Adam Pascal's first cover). Joshua toured as a singer/songwriter and with his band across America, Canada, Japan, South Africa and the Netherlands. He's written, produced and performed two musicals with his company The Liilaa Company, The Colors of Love and Subway Train, with works in progress. Special thanks to Green Day and the whole creative team, you are all superheroes to me.

Jake Epstein (Will) went to see Green Day when he was 12, and it blew his freaking mind. Theatre:
Tony in Billy Elliot and Melchior in Spring Awakening (1st National Tours), Dani Girl (world premiere), Dog Sees God, Dangerous Liaisons. Film/TV: Craig on Degrassi: The Next Generation (Gemini Award), Charlie Bartlett, Being Erica, My Babysitter’s a Vampire, Living In Your Car, Radio Free Roscoe, and The Zack Files. Graduate of The National Theatre School of Canada. Big thanks to Michael, Tom and Ira for the chance, Shari and Joannie for the support, and Mom, Dad and Gubs for all the love in the world.

SCOTT J. Campbell (Tunny) is thrilled to be part of the 1st National Tour of American Idiot.
Broadway: Jersey Boys; International: Disney Cruise Line; TV: White Collar; Graduate of Sheridan
College, Canada. scottjcampbell.net

Leslie McDonel (Heather). Leslie spent the last exciting year in the Original Broadway Cast of American Idiot, performing with Green Day at the Tonys, the Grammys, Jets Monday Night Football, and numerous other TV appearances. Other Broadway/Tours: Hairspray (LouAnn) and Legally Blonde (Kate/Chutney). Regional: Grease (Marty), Two Gentlemen of Verona: the Musical (Julia), Chicago (Velma). A Dallas native, she has also appeared numerous times at the Dallas Theater Center and Casa Manana. BFA from the New School University. Many thanks to Green Day for their heart and the whole American Idiot family. Missing Sissies, but glad to have lesmueschies.

Gabrielle McClinton (Whatsername). Gabrielle is a recent graduate of Carnegie Mellon University with a BFA in Drama and could not be more thrilled or blessed to be a part of American Idiot. Regional: MUNY-Hairspray, Annie, The Music Man; PCLO- West Side Story, The Producers, Mame, Annie Get Your Gun, Joseph..., The Student Prince, Oliver. Film: Fun Size, Steel Town. She would like to thank the American Idiot team for this incredible opportunity, BRS, her teachers, friends, family, boo bear, and most of all her parents for their constant guidance, support, and endless love. www.GabrielleMcClinton.com.

Nicci Claspell (The Extraordinary Girl). Nicci is a native of California and graduate of AMDA in Los Angeles & is very excited to be on national tour with American Idiot! She has appeared in regional productions such as: Rent (Mimi), Chicago (Velma Kelly), and Chess (Florence). Other favorite performances include City Of Angels, A Midsummer Nights Dream, and West Side Story. Nicci also continues to build her film/TV work and was the female lead in the award winning musical comedy film Zombo. Nicci is repped by Shelter Entertainment and would like to extend many thanks to friends, family, and all those close to her for their constant love and support.

Talia Aaron (Ensemble; u/s Extraordinary Girl). Favorite credits: Scaramouche/Oz understudy in We Will Rock You (Original Canadian Company, Canon Theatre), Ali/Lisa understudy in Mamma Mia! (Royal Alexandra Theatre), Ensemble in Grease (Elgin Theatre), Narrator in Joseph... (Leah Posluns Theatre), three seasons as Madison in Strange Days at Blake Holsey High (NBC/Discovery Kids, Young Artist Award Nomination). Love and admiration to B&Z, heartfelt gratitude to Mom, Dadheart, Doodle, my beautiful friends and family, agent Shari Quallenberg at AMI and The Big Light.

Krystina Alabado (Ensemble; u/s Whatsername, The Extraordinary Girl). Krystina is so happy to be an Idiot once again!! Broadway: American Idiot. 1st National Tour: Spring Awakening. Off-Broadway: Camp Wanatachi. NY Workshops: Pregnancy Pact, Freckleface Strawberry. Love love love and thanks to the incredibly supportive people in my life: my family, Matt (kees kees), my managers Terry and Marilyn, and the whole Idiot team! I couldn't do it without you guys! Check out www.krystinaalabado.com.

Gabriel Antonacci (Ensemble; u/s Johnny, Tunny) is so excited to be doing this show. Originally from Toronto, ON Canada. Theatre credits include Hank Majewski in the Original Canadian cast of Jersey Boys, Big Deal in West Side Story, Ethan in The Full Monty and Richie Cunningham in Happy Days. Thanks to friends and family for their support and his love Robin for everything always and their best dogs in the world Sophie and Bella. www.twitter.com/GabrielNacci

Larkin Bogan (Ensemble) made his Broadway debut in HAIR and later toured the country with the show performing eight different roles including Claude and Woof. Having first cultivated his love for music with a rock band growing up in SC, he is excited to show some of his roots in this show. Love to Nicolosi, NYC, SC, all the Bogans, and a beautiful Gemini. Proud member of AEA. Buttery beats, crunchy grooves, tasty tunes.

Matt DeAngelis (Ensemble; u/s St. Jimmy, Will) comes direct from spreading love on Broadway, West End, and Nat'l Tour of HAIR as Woof. He's blessed to be performing with this new bunch of crazy rock stars. He believes in Optimism, Kindness, Spirituality, Marriage Equality, Actors' Equity Association and the Red Sox! Thanks to Leading Artists and my amazing family. www.mattdeangelis.com

Dan Gleason (Ensemble; u/s Tunny). Dan is thrilled to rock out across the country with American Idiot! Regional credits include My One and Only (Goodspeed Opera House), Shenandoah, The King and I (Mount Gretna Theatre), and Baby (Pennsylvania Centre Stage). A graduate of Penn State University's BFA Musical Theatre program, he would like to thank the faculty and MTX! A special thanks to family, friends, Julia, Bobbie Merritt and The Entertainment Goup, Jim Carnahan Casting, and FSPA.

Kelvin Moon Loh (Ensemble; u/s Will). After back to back tours in Siam and Saigon, Kelvin is pumped to represent his surburbia Long Island roots with American Idiot. Kelvin is also a "free"lance musical librettist, a Marvel comics enthusiast, and a former guy-liner addict. Rage and love to The Mine, Matt Corozine Studio, Jen Waldman, Sheri Sanders, Peter and Liza, Carnahan/Gardner and co., and the Idiot crew! NYU Steinhardt. www.kelvinmoonloh.com

Tommy McDowell (Swing). Credits include -- New York: Urinetown, Hudson Guild Theatre (Bobby Strong); National Tours: The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley (Flat Stanley), A Year With Frog and Toad (Snail); Regional: The Who's TOMMY (Tommy), Hairspray (Link Larkin), Grey Gardens (Joe Kennedy, Jr.), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Levi), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, La Bohéme, and Sweeney Todd. Many thanks to SG, my loving family, and of course my lil' onion.

Jillian Mueller (Swing; u/s Whatsername) is ecstatic to finally be able to do this show! Broadway: Bye Bye Birdie, two holiday seasons of How the Grinch stole Christmas. New York Theatre: Susan Stroman's new show Dancer Project. TV: A Gifted Man (CBS). Many thanks and love to Carnahan and the American Idiot team, Liz, Aimee, Erin and everyone at CESD. And of course Mom, Dad and Jack.

Vince Oddo (Swing; u/s Favorite Son) hails from Buffalo, NY and is a graduate of Fredonia State University. Favorite credits include: Hairspray (Link Larkin), Cabaret (Cliff/Fight Director), Rocky Horror Show (Rocky), Little Shop Of Horrors (Orin Scrivello), a few operas, couple plays, and one amazing journey so far. Would love to thank Matt Farnsworth, The Luedtke Agency, Scotty Kriendler, and of course my wonderful family, Dad, Momma, and Nicholas, who have supported me through my endeavors. This one is for my rock, MJ.

Okieriete Onaodowan (Ensemble; Rock & Roll Boyfriend, u/s Favorite Son). Okieriete is excited to be going on tour with American Idiot. Off Broadway: Neighbors, The Public; Langston in Harlem, Urban Stages. Off Off Broadway: The Shipment, Young Jean Lee/The Kitchen; Pontious Pilate The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Richmond Shepard Theatre; Regional: Ruined, Huntington Theater Co., Berkely Rep, La Jolla Playhouse; Coalhouse in Ragtime, NJPAC; Okieriete is excited, enthused and honored to be a part of this wicked production.

Kaitlyn Terrill (Ensemble; u/s Heather) is excited to be on tour with American Idiot. She has appeared in various roles in San Diego over the last four years. Roles include Eileen in Irving Berlin's I Love A Piano, Rosemary in Angel's Arms, Alice in Alice: A Wonderful New Musical, Gertrude McFuzz in Seussical: The Musical, and Minnie Fay in Hello, Dolly. She could not have gotten this far without the loving support of her family, agents, and God.