(OUTview NW) REview Part 2: Artswest's Brilliant Production of 'American Idiot, the Immersive Version is Exhilarating Fun!

We WANT You to Join OUR Tribe!                     Photo: Brunk

by MK Scott

Last week I gave you part ONE of Artswest's HUGE production of Greenday's American Idiot that was so BIG you needed to see it twice to get the full experience. Last week was the traditional version, so this past weekend we did the Immersive Experience, as someone who hasn't acted on the stage since High School, there was the excitement of doing Live theater and being part of the production that is the greatest feeling in the world.

This past weekend as promised, I joined the Millitary Tribe, headed by Super Ab-luscious, Jordan Taylor that included a dozen hunky chorus boys and we got to see Justin (Lizard Boy) Huertas' Tunny as he goes through Basic Training.

The story, expanded from that of the concept album, centers on three disaffected young men, Johnny, Will, and Tunny. Johnny and Tunny flee a stifling suburban lifestyle and parental restrictions, while Will (Michael Coale Grey) stays home to work out his relationship with his pregnant girlfriend, Heather (Chelsea LeValley). The former pair looks for meaning in life and tries out the freedom and excitement of the city. Tunny (Justin "Lizard Boy" Huertas) quickly gives up on life in the city, joins the military, and is shipped off to war. Johnny (Frederick Halgreen, fresh from 5th ave's Jasper and playing Freddie Mercury in SMC's Queen Concert) turns to drugs and finds a part of himself that he grows to dislike, has a relationship with Whatshername (Kirsten "Lizard Boy" Helland) and experiences lost love. Johnny becomes Drug dealer, St Jimmy (Trent Moury, fresh from last season's Angry Housewives) and Tunny loses a leg in Iraq and is treated by nurse, Extraordinary girl (Played by a Male actor for the first time, Jimmie Herrod). I had to relook at the program to be sure Herrod was male with a powerful and sounded female with great chemistry with Huertas's Tunny.

So, back to the immersive version, the first thing we did was being led through the trap door from the stage floor to the set of the Barracks and Army Hospital where we had to sign a waiver. Yes, Stage accidents happen.

Then we were escorted to the theater's far left side and sat on risers. When the show started we got a side back stage experience. Then all of the sudden we were brought to the back stairway to below the main stage and we were part of the Military Basic training, with women calling the shots, it felt like a haunted house we were from room to room and dark hallways back to the barracks as Johnny is singing "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" on stage (There are monitors Below), Tunny's group was singing the same song below during Basic Training. We see an overwhelmed Tunny too exhausted to continue, but the other guys push him along.

Get This Kid in Chippendales, Pronto!      Photo: Brunk

Then we come and stand behind the center audience during Jordon Taylor's big number, "Favorite Son". This is the number when he rips his shirt off. The audience goes wild! Soon after that, Taylor leads (Only me) down the trap door and I am in the barracks with the Military tribe getting dressed as one asks me where my uniform is? I was worried that they literally wanted me to join, so thankfully I am joined by the rest of the group as the team moves out to fight the war.

By the time, Tunny is wounded, we are standing on a specially constructed balcony made out of steel, and that took up 3/4 of the theater and we were looking down as Tunny struggles in the hospital and loses his leg but falls for the Extraordinary Girl (Herrod).

I think by the time we get to "Jesus of Suburbia", we are back to standing  behind the center audience and stayed there until the end of the show.

A Match made from War?     Photo: Brunk

After the curtain Call, we are invited to join the cast and the other 2 tribes as individuals serenade us with "Time of our Life". My Date and I got Will  (Michael Coale Grey) singing to us and everybody stood up and applauded, it felt like a Big Party of Love and Friendship. I think I was smiling the whole time and it was indeed an Exhilarating Experience.

'American Idiot' is running through Oct 11th at Artswest Playhouse. Be ready to want see it in both experiences.Click HERE for Tix. Remember Observational first, then Immersive. 

Special Thanks to the People at Artswest for the opportunity for both experiences.