Last night at Radio City Music Hall in New York, American Idiot, the Green Day rock opera created by Berkeley Rep and debuted there last year, took home two Tony Awards, theatre’s most coveted prizes.
Christine Jones from American Idiot accepted the Tony Award for Best Scenic Design of a Musical and Kevin Adams earned the Tony Award for Best Lighting Design of a Musical.
After an introduction from the star of American Idiot John Gallagher, who shouted out: “From Oakland, California, it’s Green Day!”, the Bay Area band that honed its skills at clubs such as 924 Gilman in Berkeley, burst onto the stage and performed “Holiday” and “Know Your Enemy”.
The American Idiot show, which is based on Green Day’s Grammy-winning album of the same name, made its world premiere in Berkeley Rep’s Roda Theatre in September 2009. Its record-breaking run brought in the biggest advance sale in the theatre’s 42-year history and the biggest day at the box office. It is currently showing at the St. James Theatre in Manhattan.