American Idiot

The Sanctuary at Sandy Plaza
1785 NE Sandy Blvd Portland

Who would have guessed that punk rock band Green Day would be a big name in musical theater? Only director Michael Meyer, who heard a great story in their concept album American Idiot and approached the band about adapting the album for theater. Having seen Meyer's Spring Awakening, the band enthusiastically agreed and gave the director free reign for his adaptation, though he ended up changing very little. In the musical, three lifelong friends struggle with the conflict between their dreams and the comfort of suburbia. Johnny, an anti-hero who calls himself "the Jesus of suburbia," moves to the city on a journey to find himself but can't escape his self-destructive rage. The combination of Green Day's smash hit songs, including "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)," the gripping story and compelling characters kept American Idiot on Broadway for more than 400 performances and earned the musical a Tony nomination for "Best Musical." Now the hit musical comes to The Sanctuary at Sandy Plaza, so Portland can experience the exhilarating journey of one of Broadway's most exciting new musicals.