Green Day Musical Premieres

Green Day's "American Idiot" musical debuted this weekend, and with ticket sales soaring, the Berkeley Repertory has just extended the show through Nov. 1. Tickets for the new dates go on sale this Wednesday.

The musical, which kicks off the Berkeley Rep's new season at the Roda Theatre, is based on the Green Day concept album "American Idiot," which sold 12 million copies and earned Grammy trophies for Best Rock Album and Record of the Year. Band vocalist-lyricist Billie Joe Armstrong worked with Tony Award-winning director Michael Mayer on the storyline. Tom Hulce and Ira Pittelman, the lead producers of "Spring Awakening," oversaw the new production.

John Gallagher, Jr., a Tony-winning actor, leads 19 young performers in a story about working-class individuals who journey from the suburbs to the city and eventually to the Middle East. Empowering this story of frustration, redemption and discovery are all the songs from the "American Idiot" album as well as select tracks from Green Day's latest release, "21st Century Breakdown."

For information on tickets, call the Berkeley Rep box office at (510) 647-2949 or visit their website. The theater group, who founded a "Green Committee" to improve its eco-activism, provides tips for other organizations here.