OFFBEAT: Actor eager for this week's Chicago stage run of 'American Idiot'

The last time actor Jake Epstein was in Chicago was August 2009 for a the first national tour of the Tony stage hit "Spring Awakening."

"I really didn't get to enjoy much of Chicago because we were in rehearsals much of the time," Epstein told me last Friday when we chatted by telephone.

"This time, I'm really looking forward to seeing and enjoying the Windy City."

Epstein, who is originally from Toronto, is one of the starring leads of the Broadway musical tour of "American Idiot," opening tonight in Chicago at the Oriental Theatre and playing until Feb. 19.

He worked with Michael Mayer, who won a Tony for "Spring Awakening," and recalls Mayer talking to the cast about a new "cutting edge" stage musical he was working on based on the music of Green Day.

This proposed idea became "American Idiot," also written and directed by Mayer, which became last year's two-time Tony Award-winning Broadway hit.

Epstein joined the cast just before the holidays when the musical had its national tour premiere in Toronto before continuing on to 14 other markets across the United States for 2012.

Original Broadway cast member Van Hughes stars as Johnny, a role in which he concluded for "American Idiot's" Broadway run, along with original Broadway cast member Joshua Kobak as St. Jimmy, Scott J. Campbell as Tunny, original Broadway cast member Leslie McDonel as Heather (who plays the girlfriend of Epstein's character's girlfriend), Gabrielle McClinton as Whatsername and Nicci Claspell as The Extraordinary Girl.

The musical tour also features Talia Aaron, Krystina Alabado, Gabriel Antonacci, Larkin Bogan, Jennifer Bowles, Matt DeAngelis, Dan Gleason, Kelvin Moon Loh, Omar Lopez-Cepero, Tommy McDowell, Jillian Mueller, Vince Oddo and Okieriete Onaodowan.

"American Idiot" stars the music of Green Day with lyrics by lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong, who also helped Mayer write the show's book.

It is the story of three boyhood friends, each searching for meaning in a post 9-11 world. It thrilled Broadway audiences in New York during its run at the St. James Theatre from March 2010 to April 2011.

The musical features the hits "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," "Wake Me Up When September Ends," "Holiday" and the blockbuster title track "American Idiot" from Green Day's 2004 Grammy Award-winning, multiplatinum album.

"This is a musical that really moves audiences of all ages, and when they leave the theater, they have a new perspective," Epstein said.

Tickets are $27 to $95. FYI: (800) 775‐2000 or americanidiotthemusical.com or www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at philip.potempa@nwi.com or (219) 852-4327.