I didn’t get invited to the Deaf West Theatre revival that premiered 9 October 2024 and now runs through 16 November 2024, but that was the cheap seats’ day at the re-opened Mark Taper Forum. We’re in mourning but were searching from something to do on Halloween so dressed predominately in green and a ghostly theme, we spent an evening watching this ASL-infused revival.

If you’re not familiar with Deaf West Theatre, which is based Los Angeles, they were founded in 1991. Since then, they have taken many classics and adapted them, often pairing an actor/actress signing in ASL with a voice actor, and, in addition, words are screened. That’s where I saw Tony Kotsur in several production before his Oscar win. Early on, they tackled musicals such as “Oliver!” for the 1999-2000 season. Then there was “Big River” which was performed at the Mark Taper Forum, but also on Broadway (Roundabout Theatre Company) and went on a national tour for the 2004-2005 season. There was “Pippin” in 2009-2010 and “Spring Awakening” at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts.

Now Deaf West is back at the Taper, performing on its thrust stage. If you’re a fan of Green Day this is a definite must-see, even if the band Green Day isn’t there.

For those who don’t know, “American Idiot” was Green Day’s seventh studio album (21 September 2004 release by Reprise Records). The tracks were recorded in California (Oakland at Studio 880 and Hollywood at Ocean Way Recording). The concept album has been called a punk rock opera and gives us the story of a lower-middle class American, Jesus of Suburbia.

The musical uses the music by Green Day and lyrics by Billie Joe Armstrong, and Armstrong and Michael Mayer (who one a Tony Award in 2007 for directing “Spring Awakening”) wrote the book, expanding the story which centers on three young men: Johnny (Daniel Durant with Milo Manheim as the voice of Johnny), Will (Otis Jones IV with James Olives as the voice of Will) and Tunny (Landen Gonzales with Brady Fritz as the voice). Johnny and Tunny leave for the city, but soon part ways with Tunny joining the military forces. Will originally plans to leave with his two friends, but his girlfriend Heather is pregnant. Both Johnny and Will fall into alcohol and drug use.

All three men will have love troubles. Johnny’s love for Whatsername (usually played by Mars Storm Rucker was played by Monika Peña for the performance I attended) is complicated by his entanglement with the drug dealer St. Jimmy (Ty Taylor). Heather (Ali Fumiko Whitney) will tire of Will’s depression and find romance elsewhere. Tunny will return from war with physical disabilities. At the end, the three men will reunite and re-evaluate their lives.

The staging by Snehal Desai in his directorial debut is high energy and the choreography by Jennifer Weber is kinetic chaos that fits with the punk rock music. The ensemble is earnest and great for grunge, but the open captioning and some of the staging is better suited for a proscenium stage. All the leads give strong performances. You might recognize Durant; he was in the Oscar-winning “CODA.” Disney and zombie fans will recognize Manheim, who is part of the Disney musical franchise “Zombies.” Otis Jones IV is a social media influences with 128K followers on Instagram and 632.2K followers on TikTok.

Because of the themes, the show is only recommended for ages 16 and up due to adult situations, simulated drug use, strong language, strobe lights, theatrical haze effects and e-cigarettes. Ear plugs are available for audience members sensitive to loud music. We brought our own ear plugs.

“American Idiot” continues until 16 November 2024  at the Mark Taper Forum and is fully accessible with American Sign Language and integrated captioning throughout the entire production. Guests requiring American Sign Language or Open Captioning can attend any performance. Running time: 95 minutes without intermission. For tickets or more information, visit the Center Theatre Group website.