American Idiot: Swing-member P.J. Griffith is St Jimmy

P.J. Griffith (lead singer of the band Blue Movie), who was a member of the swing in the Broadway rock musical American Idiot, will play "St. Jimmy" from March 15 Mar 20011.

As previously announced, Green Day frontman and the musical's composer and co-author Billie Joe Armstrong, who has starred in the show as 'St. Jimmy' for two short engagements, is to return to the role on 5 Apr 2011, and will remain with the show through to its final performance on 24 Apr 2011. Griffith's assumes the role of 'St Jimmy' from Davey Havok - lead vocalist of the American rock band AFI, who played his final performance in the American Idiot on 13 Mar 2011.

Also on 15 Mar 2011, original cast member Joshua Henry - recently seen on Broadway in The Scottsboro Boys - will return to the ensemble on 15 Mar 2011 once again playing 'Favorite Son,' and newcomer to the musical David Larsen will assume the role of 'Tunny' from Stark Sand.

The Broadway rock musical American Idiot, based on the Grammy Award-winning album by the band Green Day, opened at St James Theatre on 20 Apr 2010, following previews from 24 Mar 2010. The show garnered the 2011 Grammy Award for "Best Musical Show Album" and two 2010 Tony Awards.

The musical opened to mixed reviews: Mostly unintelligible (newyorktheatreguide); Thrillingly raucous (NY Times); Hip veneer on vacant material"(Bloomberg); Loud, angry, & thrilling (Back Stage).

American Idiot features the music of Green Day and the lyrics of Billie Joe Armstrong. The musical is based on Green Day's Grammy Award-winning album of the same name, American Idiot.

The musical now stars Van Hughes (Johnny), David Larsen (Tunny), Justin Guarini (Will), Rebecca Naomi Jones (Whatsername), Libby Winters (The Extraordinary Girl), Jeanna de Waal (Heather) and P.J. Griffith (St. Jimmy).

American Idiot follows working-class characters from the suburbs to the city to the Middle East, as they seek redemption in a world filled with frustration.

Based on the Reprise Records Grammy Award-winning album of the same name, American Idiot features the music of Green Day and the lyrics of its lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong. The show is directed by Tony Award-winning director Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening), who also collaborated with Armstrong on the book, and choreographed by Olivier Award-winning Steven Hoggett (Blackwatch).

The show includes every song from the album, as well as several new songs from '21st Century Breakdown.' Green Day won two Grammys - Best Rock Album and Record of the Year - for its multi-platinum 'American Idiot.' The album sold more than 12 million copies worldwide.

The show features scenic design by Tony-nominee Christine Jones (Spring Awakening), costume design by Andrea Lauer, lighting design by two-time Tony-winner Kevin Adams (The 39 Steps, Spring Awakening), Sound design by Brian Ronan, as well as video design by Darrel Maloney.

The Tony-winning composer Tom Kitt (Next to Normal) is the music supervisor, orchestrator and music arranger. In addition, Kitt also provided string arrangements for Green Day's latest album, '21st Century Breakdown.'

American Idiot is produced on Broadway by Tom Hulce and Ira Pittelman in association with Berkeley Repertory Theatre