Theater Review: 'FCS ROCKS: American Idiot' by Fairfield Center Stage

Review by Connecticut Critics Circle member and Naugatuck Patch neighbor Nancy Sasso Janis

On Sunday, Fairfield Center Stage rocked “Green Day’s American Idiot” in a concert called “FCS ROCKS: AMERICAN IDIOT.” The full album was performed in its entirety at Park City Music Hall, a great performance space in Bridgeport. The performance was expanded with some music from the (fabulous) Broadway musical.

“Don’t wanna be an American idiot…”

Some background information about the album: “American Idiot" is Green Day’s 2004 high-energy rock opera concept album. It follows the gritty story of disillusioned young people in post-9/11 America.

Blending punk energy with theatrical ambition, it centers on a character called the “Jesus of Suburbia,” a lower-middle-class American adolescent anti-hero. The memorable punk rock anthems explore themes of rebellion, frustration, media overload, and the search for identity in a polarized world.

With hits like “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” “Holiday,” "Wake Me Up When September Ends" and the title track, the album marked a major creative reinvention for Green Day and became both a critical and cultural landmark.

The 2011 sung-through rock musical featured a book written by vocalist/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong and director Michael Mayer. The score includes "Last of the American Girls,” "Before the Lobotomy," "Last Night on Earth" and “21 Guns,” all from the Green Day album “21st Century Breakdown.”

While Green Day did not appear in the production, vocalist/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong performed the role of St. Jimmy occasionally throughout the run, to the delight of Broadway audiences.

On Sunday, the iconic album truly exploded on the beautifully lit stage with talented singers and a rockin’ live band for only two performances, one at 4:00pm for all ages and another at 7:30pm for 21+. Doors opened one hour prior to each show in order to enjoy food and drink before the show.

Following the success of previous album-in-concerts Carole King’s “Tapestry”, The Beatles’ “Abbey Road”, Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours”, Stevie Wonder’s “Songs in the Key of Life”, and more, musicians from local community theatre group Fairfield Center Stage recreated a very theatrical version of Green Day’s “American Idiot.”

The performance featured a rotating cast of gifted singers and a live band performing the rock-opera-flavored album in its entirety, followed by numbers from the musical.The concert began with projections of contemporary protests that set an appropriate tone, followed by other videos to enhance subsequent pieces. A few of the numbers included well-executed choreography in front of the stage.The singers and band members were dressed in a mix of punk-inspired outfits and basic black.

The audience at the early show that I attended was a mix of younger Green Day lovers and more seasoned fans. Everyone had a great time, complimenting the band members and performers after the show had ended.

Fairfield Center Stage is a community theater group led by Artistic Director Christy McIntosh-Newsom and Executive Producer Eli Newsom. The group utilizes local artists and staff from Fairfield County.

Inspired by the concept of environmental theatre, FCS aims to put Fairfield “center stage,” by highlighting several of the town’s unique venues. FCS returned to Park City Music Hall for a fifth time after last year’s productions of HAIR and Carole King’s “Tapestry” in concert.

Park City Music Hall, located in the heart of Black Rock at 2926 Fairfield Ave, is Connecticut’s premier venue to see and hear live music. Family owned and operated by the Torres family of Harborview Market, PCMH sports a full bar with 10 tap lines of local craft beer, a curated wine list, and craft cocktail selection. Park City also has a full service kitchen with food and drink including tacos, fried chicken sandwiches, delicious melts, house made onion rings and more. Free parking lot (behind venue) or area street parking.

Next up for FCS is “Jesus Christ Superstar” with an all-female cast.