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Full disclosure: I love Green Day. From Dookie on down this is the music I grew up to. 2004’s Green Day Presents: American Idiot is a personal favourite.

Admittedly I was skeptical when the band announced plans to turn their rage and love charged concept album into a musical. Why would I go to a Green Day concert without the band? But when Green Day’s American Idiot the rock opera opened to triumphant reviews on Broadway and started winning top awards, I checked my attitude.

With an open mind and real excitement I sat centre orchestra for opening night of the North American tour in Toronto. You know what? It is a great show! Much like an actual Green Day concert, the performers explode onto the stage for the first number and the energy doesn’t give up until the last note is played. By the second number I was literally sitting on the edge of my seat, rocking out and singing along. Loudly.

What I hadn’t anticipated was how these songs I’ve come to love, analyze and memorize could be given new meanings. It’s really cool how Green Day front man Billie Joe Armstrong was able to expand the songs to relate to more characters than just the ones initially written about. The show is a testament to just how good American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown are, spawing hit after hit after hit.

This touring company features four Canadian performers, including Jake Epstein, who you’ll remember from Degrassi: The Next Generation and Talia Aaron, along with Gabriel Antonacci and Scott J. Campbell who took us on a backstage tour.

With this musical, Green Day may have turned the single most punk rock trick in music history; truly subverting the mainstream. Green Day’s American Idiot runs in Toronto until January 15th. Visit www.DancapTickets.com to hook it up.

Check out American Idiot when it comes to a city near you!

Toronto, ON
Dec. 28 – Jan. 15
Toronto Centre for the Arts

Detroit, MI
Jan. 17 – Jan. 22
Opera House

Boston, MA
Jan. 24 – Jan. 29
Opera House

Raleigh, NC
Jan. 31 – Feb. 5
Memorial Auditorium

Chicago, IL
Feb. 7 – Feb. 19
Oriental Theatre

Minneapolis, MN
Feb. 21 – Feb. 26
Orpheum Theatre

State College, PA
Feb. 28 – Feb. 29
Eisenhower Auditorium

St. Louis, MO
Mar. 2 – Mar. 4
Peabody Opera House

Denver, CO
Mar. 6 – Mar. 11
Buell Theatre

Los Angeles, CA
Mar. 13 – Apr. 22
Ahmanson Theatre

Tempe, AZ
Apr. 24 – Apr. 29
ASU Gammage

Dallas, TX
May. 8 – May. 20
AT&T PAC

Costa Mesa, CA
May. 29 – Jun. 3
Segerstrom Center

Seattle, WA
Jun. 5 – Jun. 10
Paramount Theatre

San Francisco, CA
Jun. 12 – Jul. 8
Orpheum Theatre

Written and produced by Jessica Capobianco.