Fayetteville, AR (PRWEB) April 07, 2016
This month, the Department of Theatre at the University of Arkansas will perform the musical created and based off of Green Day’s ’04 album, “American Idiot.” The musical takes place at 7:30 p.m. on April 15-16 and 20-23. Additional matinee shows will be held at 2 p.m. on April 17 and 24. All performances are held in the University Theatre in the Fine Arts Center.
The musical “American Idiot” features music by Green Day, lyrics by Billie Joe Armstrong and a book by Billie Joe Armstrong and Michael Mayer. The musical opened at the Berkley Repertory Theatre in September ’09 before moving on to the St. James Theatre on Broadway the following year. The musical has won multiple awards, including two Tony Awards and the 2011 Grammy Award for “Best Musical Show Album.”
The University of Arkansas production is directed by special guest artist Gary John La Rosa. La Rosa has directed more than 200 productions nationwide, including the World Premiere of Michael Ching’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” for Opera Memphis and recorded the Albany label. La Rosa also directed the 10th Anniversary National Tour of “Footloose.”
On Broadway, La Rosa conceived and directed “Raising the Roof”, the historic, star-studded gala celebrating the 50th Anniversary of “Fiddler on the Roof.” He is also a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society — a national theatrical labor union.
La Rosa’s visit is made possible through the McIlroy Family Visiting Professorship in Performing and Visual Arts.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens and University of Arkansas faculty, staff and students is $5. Wednesday and Thursday shows are free to students with a valid University of Arkansas ID. Students may email the Box Office at theatre(at)uark(dot)edu to reserve a free student ticket for one of these nights.
Tickets are available online at theatre.uark.edu or by calling 479-575-6067. Audience members are encouraged to make reservations in advance.
About the company:
The University of Arkansas Department of Theatre has been providing exciting and affordable live theatre for more than 60 years. They combine a first-rate theatrical education full of hands-on experience with a wide selection of titles to challenge their students and delight the community. The Theatre Department produces six to eight shows each year: four large-scale productions at the University Theatre and two to four smaller shows in their Second Stage Series. Shows range from new works to classic favorites, from period pieces and Shakespeare plays to Broadway musicals. For more information, visit their website at http://theatre.uark.edu/.