The Big Interview: Her.ie Speaks to the Cast of American Idiot

This Monday, rock musical American Idiot will be premiering in Ireland at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre.

Ahead of the opening night we spoke to two members of the cast, Thomas Hettrick who plays ‘Tunny’ and Alyssa Di Palma who plays ‘Whatsername’ in the Green Day-inspired stage show.

So, what attracted you to your respective roles?

Thomas: The casting director came to my senior showcase and they saw me perform two scenes so they called me in for guitar and vocal auditions. After that I got called back for dance calls and more vocal call backs and they put me through the gauntlet of doing a voice lesson and more dance call backs. They eventually offered me the role. They came out and said ‘You got the part,’ and I said, ‘Wow this is awesome,’ and then they said, ‘Oh yea and you’ll be going to Europe,’ and I was like ‘What?!’

Alyssa: I saw it on Broadway two and a half years ago and I remember being so blown away by the show itself and particularly by the role of Whatsername. I turned to my friend and said I’m going to play that role one day. And so as soon as I heard they were auditioning for the tour, I immediately knew this had to be my job.

What sort of preparation did it entail?

T: We did three weeks of rehearsals: 10-6, six days a week in New York. The mornings were dedicated to learning the music and the afternoons were dedicated to putting the music to the physical work. It was one of the most physically-demanding times on a show that I’ve ever had. Definitely the most physically-demanding preparation process because we’re doing such intense physical moves while also orchestrating our breaths so that we can sing at the same time. I definitely got into the best shape of my life!

A: A lot of dance training. It’s a very physical show for everyone involved so we did a lot of conditioning work and getting our bodies up to power which helped to build our stamina and really made us very strong. The show is extremely physical and extremely movement-based.

All of the cast had to do weeks of preparation before starting the tour.

Were you fans of Green Day before starting the show?

T: Yea, in eighth grade I bought the American Idiot album and it just resonated with me because I was a suburban kid wanting to get out of my home town and find something more. That story is told in the lyrics that Billy Joel wrote and really opened up the rest of their music to me.

A: I bought American Idiot when I was a freshman in High School and then once I got into it, I started listening to their older stuff and was kicking myself for not getting into it earlier because it’s amazing.

And have you met the band?

T: I actually did not get to meet them. There was a concert that they were playing but that night I had told a friend that I would go to his show instead. I wish I had gone!

A: I did meet Billy Joel. When we were on break from the tour, they played a show in New York so a few of us got to go and got to meet him. He was very kind, very humble and very supportive of what we’re doing and still doing. He worked really hard at the beginning of it and starred in the show. It was really cool.

The show is based around Green Day's American Idiot album.

Back to the show, what is it about?

T: It’s a coming-of-age tale. It’s pretty classic in that way. These guys are trying to find something more to their lives but they don’t realise that everything they need is right in front of them. There’s also a lot of heavy political undertones mixed with great punk rock music. It’s a rock concert as much as it is a theatrical piece. If you want to see a great concert, you can go and if you want to see a great show, you can go.

A: It’s a story about three boys who are coming of age. They separate and find their own paths, fall and hit rock bottom, and then they find what they need to get back to each other and find their way in the world.

There are a few risqué scenes in it: what are those like to perform?

T: It’s pretty scary. For one instance, there’s a sex scene and I’m on stage playing guitar at the time. But when something like that is going on onstage, all eyes are fixed on it so I can look around and see all these peoples’ reactions. It’s scary but it’s also a lot of fun and I think the point of theatre is to shock the audience about what’s going on.

A: They were challenging in the beginning but now it's just another part of the show. I still find the super emotional scenes more challenging than the risqué scenes because you can sort of block out your thoughts on those ones!

The show pushes a number of boundaries with it's story.

And if you could pick your favourite scene, what would it be?

T: I really like 21 Guns where all of us are on stage. It’s sort of a low point but it’s also a very moving scene.

A: I think it is probably Letterbomb because it’s the chance for the women of the show to exert their power and their strength and it’s just six women just raging out.

Last but not least, are you excited about bringing American Idiot to Ireland?

T: I’m excited because we feel it will be great to see an American cast have this opinion on their own country. It’s just a pleasure to be doing it over here. And I also hear that the audiences have a great time over here so I’m just pumped to do it for them.

A: I think we’re all very happy because we worked very hard and it’s a show that means a lot to us all. I’m thrilled. It’s been so much fun. I don’t want to leave!

American Idiot is showing in the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre from November 5th to November 10th 2012.