Watch American Idiot: A Green Day Musical
By Kelsey Cheng
“Don’t wanna be an American idiot!” Green Day's punk rock album is reimagined in the revival musical American Idiot: A Green Day Musical, presented by Deaf West Theatre at the Mark Taper Forum (October 2 to November 16, 2024). The production uniquely combines American Sign Language (ASL) with spoken English, making it accessible for both Deaf and hearing audiences. I saw American Idiot with friends and loved it! If you enjoy Green Day, musicals, or are a part of or want to learn about Deaf culture, check it out!
The story of American Idiot centers on Johnny, a disillusioned guy who feels trapped in his suburban hometown and leaves for the city. The musical dives into themes of drug use, lost love, and rage against a broken sociopolitical system. The original album released in 2004 featured lyrics like, “Now everybody, do the propaganda/And sing along to the age of paranoia,” which protested the war and media after 9/11. 20 years later, these lyrics still feel oh so relevant.
This rendition goes beyond just expressing frustration with the state of our nation; it also captures the anger and resilience of Deaf, POC, and queer people confronting bigotry. There’s even a subplot where one of the characters gets rejected from the military based on a hearing test. American Idiot isn’t just a time capsule of the '90s and 2000s—it's since taken on a life of its own.
The cast features both Deaf and hearing performers, with some lead characters portrayed by two actors: one Deaf, who primarily uses sign language, and one hearing, who sings and speaks. Deaf actor Daniel Durant delivers an angsty, complex portrayal of Johnny. Partnering with him is Milo Manheim, a hearing actor who provides Johnny’s voice. Since they’re playing one character, sometimes Manheim sings behind Durant. Other times, they face each other, mimic one another, or banter. The two actors have fantastic chemistry, working together to deliver a raw, emotional performance.
Let’s not forget the wonderful band and ensemble too. Live drums and guitars shake the stage, creating an infectious energy that had the audience rocking out to the songs of rebellion. Performers danced to the beat, mixing choreography, ASL, and a few (okay, a lot of) middle fingers.
Surrounding our actors is a stage framed by industrial beams and colored lights, creating that signature grunge vibe. Lights and subtle physical cues help keep the actors in sync throughout the show. While the captions got a bit out of sync during a couple of songs, the technical team quickly fixed the issues.
Leaving the musical, I couldn’t believe how well Green Day’s music has stood the test of time. We, as young adults, struggle to live in a polarized political landscape. How can we focus on our own interests, career, and love life when the world seems like it’s falling apart? Maybe we can find our answers in the powerful anthems of the past, knowing that our parents’ generation felt the same. With each generation facing its own battles against systemic bias and inequity, American Idiot reshapes itself, striking familiar chords that resonate in fresh ways.
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