AMERICAN IDIOT Cast Reveal What They Love About Green Day

Manila, Philippines--When mobile network giant Globe and professional theater company 9 Works Theatrical ("La Cage Aux Folles," "The Last Five Years") decided to stage together punk rock band Green Day's sung-through rock opera, "American Idiot," at the new Globe Iconic Store in Bonifacio Global City starting on Friday, June 24, newly announced cast members Jason Fernandez, Miggy Chavez, Mako Alonso, and Mark Tayag have been on cloud nine since their auditions because they are huge fans and they love the music of Green Day.

Jason Fernandez, former Rivermaya band vocalist and "The Voice" contestant, breaks new ground as he clinched the lead role of Johnny. During the auditions, he came along with fellow "The Voice" contestant Bradley Holmes and was only armed with his strong singing voice with little dancing skills. But his natural flair for performing, which he began exploring since he was only five years old, who loved turning his bed into a makeshift stage (surrounding it with several chairs), shone through and got the nod of the audition panel.

A newcomer to musical theater, Jason, who also grew up loving the music of Green Day, holds theater performers in high regard: "Hindi po biro ang teatro, Broadway. Saludo po ako sa lahat ng nasa teatro."

Miggy Chavez, the vocalist of the emo-pop band Chicosi, landed the role of Will, Johnny's best friend who's about to leave town until he finds out his girlfriend, Heather (Alex Godinez), is pregnant with his child.

Miggy, who's also a theater neophyte, says, "I've been a big fan of Green Day since the mid-'90s when they had their hits 'Dookie' and 'American Idiot.' The band is able to combine punk and the music of The Beatles and Beach Boys."

Mako Alonso and Mark Tayag, the more experienced theater actors during the auditions, made it to the cut.

"Green Day is angsty, quite young. 'American Idiot,' on the other hand, is very raw; the more raw and vulnerable you are, the more believable the story becomes. It's about young ideas, young emotions," says Mako.

Mark handily describes the music of Green Day as a "totally different kind of rock. It has that character edge as opposed to the music of Jonathan Larson's 'Rent,' which is alternative rock."

Nel Gomez (Tunny), Ela Lisondra (Extraordinary Girl), Ariel Reonal (Favorite Son), Yanah Laurel (Whatsername), Basti Artadi (St. Jimmy), Norby David, Kai Atienza, Shalee Vicencio, Gian Gloria, Kendric Ibasco, Sarah Facuri, and Chesko Rodriguez complete the cast.

Photo shows Miggy Chavez and Jason Fernandez (Erickson Dela Cruz)

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