Official: Newton Faulkner Joins Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT UK Tour as 'Johnny', May 2016

Double Platinum selling artist Newton Faulkner joins the cast of Green Day's explosive Tony Award ® winning musical, American Idiot, on it's UK Tour. Newton will be taking on the role of Johnny from May 2016 after Matt Thorpe, who will open the role from 19 March at the Curve Theatre, Leicester until 7 May at the New Theatre, Oxford. One of the UK's finest contemporary singer-songwriters, Newton's unique style of guitar playing and soaring vocals have made him a worldwide success since he burst onto the music scene back in 2007.

Newton will join the previously announced X Factor finalist Amelia Lily (Whatsername), Alexis Gerred (Tunny), Llandyll Gove (Gerard), Lucas Rush (St Jimmy) and Steve Rushton (Will), who will all be reprising their critically acclaimed roles from the London production, at the Arts Theatre. Further casting confirmed also includes Cellen Chugg Jones (Theo), Jemma Geanaus (Alysha), Karina Hind (Libby), Emma Housley (Heather), Lawrence Libor (Swing), Alice Stokoe (Extraordinary Girl) and Matt Thorpe (Johnny).

Newton Faulkner said "My first ever band was essentially a Green Day cover band, with one of the guys currently in the show, Lucas Rush, so it's amazingly strange to be reunited under these circumstances. I can't wait. The first record I ever bought was Dookie, so yea, I was a massive Green Day fan, still am."

Confirmed venues for the UK Tour include the Curve Theatre, Leicester (19-26 March), Churchill Theatre, Bromley (30 March - 2 April), Palace Theatre, Manchester (5-9 April), New Theatre, Cardiff (19-23 April), Kings Theatre, Portsmouth (26-30 April), New Theatre, Oxford (3-7 May), New Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham (10-14 May), Exeter Northcott Theatre (18-22 May), Sunderland Empire (24-28 May), King's Theatre, Glasgow (31 May - 4 June), Spa Theatre, Bridlington (7-11 June), Theatre Royal, Nottingham (14-18 June), Empire Theatre, Liverpool (21-25 June) and the Grand Opera House, Belfast (28 June - 2 July).

Winner of two Tony Awards® and the 2010 Grammy Award winner for Best Musical Show Album, American Idiot is the story of three boyhood friends, each searching for meaning in a post 9/11 world. The show features the music of Green Day with the lyrics of its lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong and book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer. The production is directed and choreographed by Racky Plews, with musical supervision by Richard Morris, sound by Chris Whybrow, design by Sara Perks and lighting by Tim Deiling.

Its hit songs include "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," "21 Guns," "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 are several songs from Green Day's 2009 release "21st Century Breakdown," and an unreleased love song, "When It's Time."

American Idiot has recently won five Broadway World UK Awards and seven WhatsOnStage Award nominations, including a nomination for Best Musical Revival, Best Direction and Best Choreography, as well as a number of nominations and awards for our returning cast members, Steve Rushton, Lucas Rush and Alexis Gerred.

American Idiot The Musical is presented by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Limited on behalf of Music Theatre International of New York.

Newton picked up his first guitar aged 13 and began playing along to the Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, CSNY and Bert Jansch records in his parents' collection at home in suburban Redhill, Surrey. An unlikely period at the Italia Conti stage school in London was followed by a stint at the Academy Of Contemporary Music in Guildford, where he studied under the late Irish finger-style guitarist Eric Roche. It was in there that he developed a playing style that enables him to produce a bewildering array of percussive effects on his instrument. After playing the part of bassist Mike Dirnt in a short-lived Green Day tribute band - one show involved the Dookie album in its entirety - he graduated to gigging on his own.

His first album, Hand Built By Robots, topped the charts in 2007, deposing Amy Winehouse, with over a million in sales and spending a year in the Top 40. The follow-up, Rebuilt By Humans, was a tribute to the surgeons who saved his career after his right wrist was shattered in a freak mishap in the French Alps. His third album, the upbeat Write In On Your Skin, gave him a second chart-topper in 2012, while 2013's Studio Zoo was made over five weeks in his East London home studio, with every move streamed online and open to comment on social media.

Newton's audacious new album, Human Love, is a colorful statement of intent. His fifth studio collection, and his first for new label BMG, it is an alluring maelstrom of rhythm and harmony. Moving on from what he dubs 'an interesting, if weird, experiment', he completed Human Love with a renewed sense of purpose, which he will be touring again as the fulcrum of a three-piece band featuring drummer Toby Couling and his brother Toby, before making in theatrical debut in the UK Tour of Green Day's American Idiot the musical, from May 2016.

Amelia Lily (Whatsername) is a singer who finished third on the eighth series of The X Factor in 2011, mentored by Kelly Rowland. Her debut single, "You Bring Me Joy", was released in 2012 and reached number two on the UK Singles Chart, while her follow-up singles "Shut Up (and Give Me Whatever You Got)" and "Party Over" (both 2013) reached the top 20 and the top 40 respectively. Amelia made her West End debut, earlier this year, in American Idiot the musical at the Arts Theatre and previously starred as the Narrator in the UK tour of Joseph And His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Cellen Chugg Jones' (Theo) stage credits include Jesus Christ Superstar on a UK/International Tour, Beauty and The Beast at the Camberley Theatre, A Night With Maria Friedman at the Pheasantry, Marvin Hamlisch at the St James Theatre, Dogfight at the Southwark Playhouse, Songs From the Playground at the Union Theatre, Momentous Musical on UK Tour, The Hired Man at the Hull Truck Theatre and Godspell at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Jemma Geanaus' (Alysha) stage credits include Dusty at the Charing Cross Theatre, The BFG at Birmingham Rep Theatre, Jungle Juke Box for the Zoological Society of London at London Zoo, Hairspray at the Grand Opera House, York, Bare The Rock Pop Musical at Greenwich Theatre and Saturday Night Fever at the Troxy, London for Future Cinema. Internationally Jemma performed on the Indian Tour of Madonna Forever. Jemma's screen credits include Silk, X Factor, One Man Walking and Pineapple Studios. Jemma has also performed in Twerk Du Soleil at the Leicester Square Theatre and in London's 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony.

Alexis Gerred's (Tunny) stage credits include American Idiot at the Arts Theatre, Our House at the New Wolsey Theatre and on UK Tour, Dreamboats and Petticoats at the Playhouse Theatre and on UK Tour, The West End Men on Tour of Asia, Dirty White Boy: Tales of Soho at Trafalgar Studios, Rooms: A Rock Romance at Finborough Theatre, Fresher: The Musical at Pleasance Theatre, Islington and Edinburgh, Sleeping Beauty at the New Theatre, Cardiff, Hotel S.A.L.I.G.I.A at the Bloomsbury Theatre and Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens at Bromley Churchill Studio. Alex's screen credits include Eurovision: Your Country Needs You and Cardinal Burns.

Llandyll Gove's (Gerard) stage credits include American Idiot at the Arts Theatre, London, Saturday Night Fever on UK Tour, 20th Century Boy on UK Tour, Grease at Cork Opera House and on UK Tour, Dancing Queen on UK Tour, Aladdin at Cork Opera House and Beauty and the Beast, Snow White and Cinderella all at Glasgow's SECC. Llandyll's screen credits include Walking On Sunshine, Kiss Me Again, Stanger and Deus Ex Machina.

Karina Hind's (Libby) stage credits include Wonder.Land for the National Theatre at the Manchester International Festival, Ghost on Asian Tour and Mamma Mia! at the Novello Theatre. Karina has also appeared in Kerry Ellis Live at the London Palladium and the Olivier Awards Ceremony in 2013.

Emma Housley's (Heather) stage credits include The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium, Beauty and the Beast at the Hexagon and Carousel at the Broadway Theatre. Emma's screen credits include Children in Need and Down. Emma also appears on Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Wizard of Oz Cast Recording and was the assistant director for Spring Awakening and Parade at the London Studio Centre.

Lawrence Libor's (Swing) stage credits include Adam and Eve at the Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh, Freak Show at the Roundhouse, Camden, A Doll's House, Macbeth, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot and A Man of No Importance whilst training at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Lawrence's screen credits include Teacup Travels, God Help the Girl, The Perfect Stranger and Wasteland 26. Lawrence is also a former member of the indie band Dog is Dead who had UK Tour as well as performing on E4's Skins, at the Glastonbury Festival, Latitude Festival, Leeds Festival and the Maida Vale Studio Recording for Radio 1. Lawrence is also the founder of Clay Shaped Boy which has released multiple EP's.

Lucas Rush's (St Jimmy) stage credits include Cabaret at the Arts Centre & Theatre, Aberdeen, American Idiot at the Arts Theatre, Mark Rylance Sonnet Walks at The Globe, Shitfaced Showtime at The Old Red Lion Theatre and Brighton Fringe, Jesus Christ Superstar on World Arena Tour, Saturday Night Fever RCCL and USA, Grease at the Piccadilly Theatre, Bloodbath at the Edinburgh Festival, We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre, Fame on UK Tour, Much Ado About Nothing on Italian Tour, Blood Brothers at the Manoel Theatre, Malta, The Merry Wives Of Windsor for the RSC and Barbican Theatre and Les Misersables at the Palace Theatre. Lucas appeared in the Les Miserables 10th Anniversary Concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Lucas' screen credits include Walking On The Moon and Exploits.

Steve Rushton (Will) was the co-lead singer/bass player of UK Pop Punk band Son Of Dork. The band had a number 3 single and their debut album Welcome To Loserville went Gold. Steve then wrote, performed and produced two songs on the number one box office/worldwide Triple Platinum album for Hannah Montana: The Movie Soundtrack, as well as starring in the movie itself. He has written songs for Jerry Bruckheimer's G Force, Disney's Santa Buddies, Camp Rock 2, Good Luck Charlie and wrote & performed on the soundtrack of Disney's Race To Witch Mountain. Steve also performed an original song on the nationally televised star-studded ABC TV Christmas Day Parade 2009. Additionally Steve has written songs for The Jonas Brothers, Aiden Grimshaw, Amelia Lily, as well as further Disney movies. Steve made his stage debut in American Idiot at the Arts Theatre.

Alice Stokoe's (Extraordinary Girl) stage credits include Mamma Mia! at the Novello Theatre, An Evening with Sir Tim Rice and Friends at the Sage Gateshead, Weather to Fly at the OddManOut Theatre, Moving Family at the Northern Nomads Theatre, Romeo and Juliet for the Complete Works Theatre Company, Dick Whittington at Theatre Royal, Newcastle and Little Me with the National Youth Musical Theatre.

Matt Thorpe (Johnny) is currently performing in Jersey Boys at the Piccadilly Theatre in the West End. Matt's previous stage credits include We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre, Mamma Mia at the Prince Of Wales Theatre, Hairspray on UK Tour and High School Musical 2 on UK Tour.

Racky Plews (Director/Choreographer) was the resident director at Trafalgar Studios on Rodgers and Hammerstein's State Fair and also the choreographer in residence at The Gatehouse where credits include: Guys and Dolls (Best Production nomination - thirteen Off West End nominations); The Drowsy Chaperone (Best Off West End Production nomination What's On Stage); Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story; A Slice of Saturday Night; The Hot Mikado and Into The Woods. Her choreography credits include: the UK Premiere of the musical comedy Cougar (The Belgrade, Coventry); Jekyll and Hyde (UK Tour); the Asian Premiere of Seussical (and director- The Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong, Singapore and Middle East); Guys and Dolls (director- Tring Park); Josephine Baker (The Beckett Theatre, New York); Liza Liza Liza by Richard Harris (Bill Kenwright Tour); Respect La Diva (Garrick Theatre); Momentous Musicals (New Wimbledon Theatre, ATG); Aladdin (Hastings, Qdos); Blockbuster (assistant/resident director, UK Tour); Shitfaced Sondheim (UK Premiere); A Dolls House (UK Tour); Seussical (The Arts Theatre); Wagner's The Ring Cycle (and co-director- The Scoop Amphitheatre, South Bank); West End Bares 2013 and 2014 (Jerry Mitchell/Darren Carnall); An Evening with Marvin Hamlisch (St. James Theatre, main space); The Jewish Legacy (UK Tour); Oedipus & Antigone (The Scoop Amphitheatre, South Bank); A Tale of Two Cities (Charing Cross Theatre); Lost Boy (Liverpool Playhouse); Billy Elliot's West End Eurovision Entry 2013 and 2014 (Dominion Theatre); Denise Pearson - The Jackson's World Tour (UK Arena Tour/Birmingham Pride/G.A.Y. London); Forever Plaid (UK & International Tour); Sophie Tucker's One Night Stand (UK Tour); the European Premiere of Bare - The Rock Musical (Best Choreography nomination Broadway World); Bernarda Alba; and Once Upon A Mattress (Best Choreography nomination Off West End Awards, The Union Theatre); A Christmas Carol (Kings Head Theatre); Assassins (The Landor); La Traviata and The Marriage of Figaro (and director- Hampstead Garden Opera); Freshers (Edinburgh Festival - Best Musical Whats On Stage Award); Dangerous Daughters (Perfect Pitch); The Wild Party (Mountview); How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying (CPA); The 48hour Musicals - The Boy Friend (Her Majesty's Theatre); Crazy For You; and Me & My Girl (London Palladium).

Billie Joe Armstrong, is frontman of the rock band Green Day. Green Day's albums include 1039/Smooth Out Slappy Hours; Kerplunk; 1994's Dookie, which sold 15 million copies and garnered their first Grammy, Insomniac; Nimrod; Warning; 2004's landmark American Idiot, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard chart, spawned five hit singles, and earned seven Grammy nominations (winning two, including Best Rock Album); 21st Century Breakdown (Grammy Award, Best Rock Album); and 2012's consecutively released ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, and ¡Tré! (as well as the behind the scenes DVD,¡Cuatro!). Last year, Armstrong and Norah Jones released Foreverly, a tribute to the Everly Brothers' 1958 Songs Our Daddy Taught Us. The Tony and Grammy winning musical American Idiot, featuring lyrics by Armstrong, music by Green Day, and a book written by Armstrong and director Michael Mayer, opened on Broadway in 2010. Throughout its run, he made cameo appearances in the role of St. Jimmy. The recent documentary, Broadway Idiot, chronicles his road to the Great White Way. Armstrong also composed the music for These Paper Bullets staged last year at the Yale Repertory Theatre. His other film and TV credits include This is 40, Nurse Jackie, and the upcoming feature film, Like Sunday, Like Rain. greenday.com

Green Day

Vocalist/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, Bassist Mike Dirnt, and Drummer Tré Cool - were kids from working-class backgrounds who came of age in the underground punk scene in Berkeley. Even though they had released two records prior (1039 / Smoothed Out Slappy Hours and Kerplunk), they announced their arrival with 1994's Dookie, a dynamic blast of exuberant punk-pop that sold 15 million copies and earned the band its first Grammy® Award for Best Alternative Music Performance. Over the years, Green Day continued to top the charts with their subsequent studio albums Insomniac, Nimrod and Warning, while entertaining millions of fans with their frenetic live shows. But it was their landmark 2004 album American Idiot that launched Green Day into the stratosphere. American Idiot debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard chart, spawned five hit singles, earned seven Grammy® nominations (winning two, including Best Rock Album), and raised the bar for modern rock and roll. In 2009, Green Day released 21st Century Breakdown, which won the 2010 Grammy® Award for Best Rock Album. It spawned two hit singles: the gold "Know Your Enemy," which was the first song ever to top Billboard's Rock, Alternative, and Mainstream Rock charts simultaneously, and the double-platinum "21 Guns," which earned them three 2009 MTV Video Music Awards including Best Rock Video. Green Day also took home an American Music Award for Favourite Alternative Rock Music Artist. Later that year, Green Day collaborated with Tony Award winning director of Spring Awakening, Michael Mayer, for the stage musical of American Idiot. The play bowed at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in September 2009 and set attendance records during its limited engagement. The play went on to Broadway and ran for a year at the St. James Theatre and won two Tony Awards Green Day's highly anticipated album trilogy kicked off with the release of Green Day ¡Uno!, (September 25, 2012) followed by Green Day ¡Dos! (November 13th), and Green Day ¡Tré! (December 11th). The band recently completed the Soundwave Festival in Australia. For more info visit www.greenday.com.

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