Melissa Etheridge rocks Broadway in American Idiot

Grammy winning rocker Melissa Etheridge is about to become a drug dealer… on the Broadway stage that is. You see, Etheridge, one of my favorite music artists ever, is joining the cast of the Tony winning rock musical American Idiot for one week beginning tomorrow Feb. 1st. She’ll be replacing Green Day frontman and Idiot composer/producer Billie Joe Armstrong in the role of the drug dealing punk rock powerhouse St. Jimmy. According to Billboard, Etheridge was rather wary of performing without her signature guitar, but soon warmed up to the challenge. I have no doubt she’ll be awesome and if you’re in New York, I highly recommend seeing this incredible show… As for Armstrong, he’ll return to the show to finish his limited engagement next week… For more on the show, head to the American Idiot website here.

And here’s a taste of Billie Joe and the cast on “The Time of Your Life”

And here’s Melissa’s first appearance on Broadway from last summer as she was a one night only guest performer for the jam session that follows the hit Million Dollar Quartet (co starring my friend Tony winner Levi Kreis)

I’m off to Broadway!

I’m off on vacation this week headed to NYC and Broadway. I thought I’d give you a taste of at least two of the shows I’m seeing, the Tony Award winning revival of La Cage Aux Folles and the Tony Award winning Green Day musical American Idiot. I will be seeing something else while I’m there (hopefully Billy Elliott or Promises, Promises) and will update ya when I’m back. Not sure what I can get in to see yet… Nonetheless, after you watch these vids, I bet you’ll want to head to the Great White Way for a little vacay yourself!

La Cage Aux Folles on the Tonys…

Green Day and the American Idiot Cast “21 Guns”

FYI~ I am on Vacation this week…

Hey readers,
FYI~ I am on vacation this week, so the post will be few and far between. Hope everyone has a good week…. If you’re looking for something to do, the new season of Project Runway starts on Thursday, Adam Lambert is in concert in LA this week on Tuesday (my bday) and Wednesday with Allison Iraheta (who will also be performing on So You Think You Can Dance with Orianthi on Thursday), and there are actually a few good movies out there.

Here are my updated summer movie grades:

Inception: A
The Kids are Alright: A
Toy Story 3: A
Joan Rivers~ A Piece of Work: A
8~ The Mormon Proposition: A-
Salt: B
The A Team: B
Sex and the City 2: B (yeah, maybe that’s generous)
Robin Hood: B-

Shrek Forever After: C
Iron Man 2: C
Despicable Me: C-
Knight and Day: D+
Prince of Persia~ The Sands of Time: D
MacGruber: D-

Have a great week! I’ll be in NYC seeing some Broadway shows (La Cage Aux Folles and American Idiot and hopefully Promises, Promises). So, I’ll have some good stuff for ya next week.
J

Green Day Rocks MTV AND Broadway!

Multiple Grammy winning music superstars Green Day have been a staple of MTV going back to the early 90′s when they actually played videos and not dreck like Jersey Shore. Now, Green Day is collaborating with MTV again to trumpet their latest venture, the Broadway debut of their fantastic sure-to-be Tony nominated new musical American Idiot. The show combines music from Green Day albums American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown in a story about disenchanted youth searching for identity and meaning in a post 9/11 world. After a successful tryout at the Berkeley Rep, Idiot opens on Broadway on April 20th featuring a great ensemble cast including Tony award winner John Gallagher Jr. (Spring Awakening) and Tony nominee Stark Sands. MTV will be highlighting the show with a behind-the-scenes special about the making of American Idiot called “Green Day Rocks Broadway” premiering April 16. For more info on the MTV special, click here.

For a preview of this rockin’ new musical, check out the following link:

And here’s the special performance of “21 Guns” the cast of American Idiot performed with Green Day on this year’s Grammy Awards: