23 Year Old Theatre Producer/Director Matt Powell is set to announce ambitious plans to examine and redefine the genre of Musical Theatre.
“For the past five years, I’ve directed and produced musical theatre in all it’s variations. My focus has now shifted on how we can produce, challenge and redefine the powerful genre by looking at new production and performance opportunities across the UK. Musical theatre has a unique quality: it unifies anyone it touches through expressing larger than life emotions through the power of music. The artistry of the genre is often overlooked, and it’s time now to look at how we can best support Musical Theatre artists and create truly moving and inspiring works.”
The ‘revolution’ is set to be announced at a Symposium Event at Derby Theatre on 11th July. Industry Experts will join Matt in a panel discussing the future of Musical Theatre followed by announcements and provocations for the future of the genre. This event is followed by Powell’s dynamic community staging of Green Day’s epic, American Idiot. The 2004, grammy award winning album became an anthem to the frustrated post 9/11 generation. Powell believes that now, more than ever, a contemporary restaging of the work is needed, which is what inspired him to create the new production.
“In a time where speaking up and action is more important than ever before, American Idiot seems the perfect show to launch the #MTRevolution. The production will transport audiences into a timeless protest of the ongoing cycles of conflict and political tension around the world, encouraging us to come together, speak up and cause change in the 90 minute epic Rock Opera.”
The staging works with a variety of talent and experience: “The production has community at its core: we’ve worked with a broad array of individuals spanning all generations, first time performers and up and coming musical theatre stars of the future, led by a diverse creative team to create a piece of Musical Theatre that challenges the genre and its audiences.”
American Idiot opens for five performances only at Derby Theatre, 10th-13th July. For details on the production and the #MTRevolution, visit www.mtexperiments.co.uk.
ABOUT AMERICAN IDIOT:
MT Experiments & Creatio Arts present
AMERICAN IDIOT
In the first fully staged MT Experiment, Matt Powell presents the high-octane, Grammy and Tony Award-winning hit musical: Green Day’s AMERICAN IDIOT.
A dynamic restaging of the hit musical, American Idiot transports you into a timeless protest of repeated history, the show follows stories of friendship, the ongoing cycles of conflict across the Western World, and how we can speak up, act out and cause change in the 90 Minute epic of a Rock Opera.
Johnny, Tunny and Will struggle to find meaning in their lives. When the three disgruntled men flee the constraints of their hometown for the thrills of city life, their paths are quickly estranged when Tunny enters the armed forces, Will is called back home to attend familial responsibilities, and Johnny’s attention becomes divided by a seductive love interest and a hazardous new friendship. An energy-fuelled rock opera, American Idiot, features little dialogue and instead relies on the lyrics from Green Day’s ground-breaking album to execute the story line.
Featuring a cast spanning all generations and Musical Theatre stars of the future, this theatrical event promises to be an unmissable epic that will immerse you into a site of protest, speaking against the dangers our world faces.