Contra Costa Civic Theatre to Conclude 56th Season with Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT

Contra Costa Civic Theatre (CCCT) concludes its 56th season with the two-time Tony award-winning musical, American Idiot, directed and choreographed by Alex Perez, who returns to CCCT following his acclaimed Bay Area premiere production of The Addams Family, with music direction by Kevin Roland, who helmed CCCT's recent productions of The Secret Garden and The Sound of Music. American Idiot plays from June 10 through July 17; performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, and Sundays at 2pm at the theatre.

Adapted from Green Day's 2004 Grammy Award-winning album, American Idiot (the musical) began life in a 2009 limited run at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, then transferred to Broadway, where Charles Isherwood of the New York Times called it a "show that possesses a stimulating energy and a vision of wasted youth that holds us in its grip...the show is as invigorating and ultimately as moving as anything I've seen on Broadway this season. Or maybe for a few seasons past." And Peter Travers from Rolling Stone wrote, "Though American Idiot carries echoes of such rock musicals as Tommy, Hair, Rent, and Spring Awakening, it cuts its own path to the heart. You won't know what hit you."

The story, expanded from that of the concept album and almost entirely sung through over the course of 90 high-octane minutes, centers on Johnny, Tunny, and Will. These three disgruntled young men, struggling to find meaning in a post-9/11 world, flee their provincial hometown lives in search of big city thrills. Their paths quickly and irrevocably diverge when Tunny enters the armed forces, Will is called back home to attend familial responsibilities, and Johnny's attention becomes divided between the seduction of love and the hazards of drugs.

The cast of American Idiot includes includes Sage Georgevitch-Castellanos (Johnny), Jeffrey Holmes (Will), Kamren Mahaney (Tunny), Travis Reaves (St. Jimmy), Tosca Maltzman (Whatshername), Tiffany Quintana (Heather), Melody Perera (Extraordinary Girl), John Holst (Rock n' Roll Boyfriend), Connor Johnson (President of Jingletown/Holiday), Briel Pomerantz (Heather's Best Friend), and ensemble members India Derewetzky, Aurelia Jordan, Jessie Anne Lukban, Christian McCooey, Justin Sabino, Garrick Sather, Caroline Schneider, Scott Tsubota, and Joel Vega.

The production features set design by TBA Award winner Kuo-Hao Lo; costume design is by Lisa Danz, lighting design is by Courtney Johnson, sound and design is by Michael Kelly, and props design is by Devon LaBelle.

ALEX PEREZ (Director/Choreographer) recently helmed the 20th anniversary production of RENT at Harbor Lights Theatre in NYC, Julian and Romero for the NYC Fringe Festival, A Chorus Line for Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Hudson Guild Theatre in NYC. Upcoming projects include joining the assisting direction team for the Off-Broadway return of Runaways at NY City Center Encores! and Addams Family in Portland, Maine. He is the recipient of Directing and Choreography Awards from Papermill Playhouse and NJ Perry Awards and has led productions to various awards. He began early in his career as a casting director for MTV Productions and worked on many TV programs for MTV. As a performer Alex can be seen in television and film including 'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt', 'The Good Wife', 'Blue Bloods', and 'Saturday Night Live' and has acquired an array of stage credits including aerialist work for 'De La Guarda' and dancing in music videos.

KEVIN ROLAND (Music Director) is a professional pianist, music director, conductor, composer, and orchestrator. He has music directed and played for over 200 productions including nearly a dozen Broadway, Off-Broadway, and regional productions which include Wicked, Avenue Q, The Addams Family, Motown, Legally Blonde, and Next to Normal. Kevin has performed as a guest pianist at the White House on several occasions, and has accompanied such Broadway stars as Idina Menzel, Audra McDonald, Elaine Paige, Liz Callaway, Laura Benanti, and Sutton Foster, among others. Kevin has also performed with such artists as John Legend, Roberta Flack, Reba McIntyre, Bruce Springsteen, and was most recently the Associate Music Director for the 1st National Broadway Tour of Motown the Musical. Kevin is also the creator and composer for the upcoming "Off Broadway" musical version of Waiting for Guffman.

Single tickets for American Idiot are available online at www.ccct.org or by phone at 510.524.9132. Adult tickets are $29 in advance, or $35 at the door; youth tickets for ages 16 and under are $15 in advance, or $20 at the door. Discounts available for groups of 15 or more. All performances take place at CCCT's intimate and fully accessible theatre in the Flynn building located at 951 Pomona Avenue (cross street Moeser) in El Cerrito. Free parking is available in the adjoining lot. For more information, visit www.ccct.org.

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