September 19, 2025 • 36 mins
It is a privilege to welcome Max Bartos and Chelsea Turbin as guests for a special edition of The Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.
On Sunday, September 21, Max (from Sing Street) and Chelsea (from Off-Broadway’s Little Shop of Horrors) will join an all-star lineup of performers at the New York City-based 54 Below to celebrate the 21st anniversary of Green Day’s iconic album, American Idiot, and its subsequent Broadway musical.
Max co-produced this tribute concert with director/producer Laura Pietropinto and actor Matt DeAngelis. The two explosive shows mark over two decades since the band released the Grammy and American Music Award-winning album, and a decade since the curtain fell on its musical counterpart. With music supervision from Moulin Rouge and SpongeBob SquarePants alum Julie McBride and music direction by Sean Pallatroni, the shows will offer unforgettable performances of classic tracks, storytelling moments, and a nostalgic journey through the themes of rebellion, hope, and the quest for identity that American Idiot so brilliantly encapsulates.
In addition to Max, Matt, and Chelsea, there is Tony Award-nominated and Green Day superfan Derek Klena; Van Hughes, a member of the Original Broadway Cast and the first national tour who starred opposite Billie Joe Armstrong; and other American Idiot Broadway and tour alumni, including Gerard Canonico, Nicci Claspell, Francesca Granell, Carson Higgins, Brian Charles Johnson, Brandon Kalm, and Johnny Newcomb. Broadway standouts such as J. Antonio Rodriguez (Hadestown), Taylor Iman Jones (Six), Teddy Grey (The British Invasion), Dillion Klena (Jagged Little Pill national tour), and Trent Saunders (Disney’s Aladdin, Hadestown, and Dead Outlaw) are also involved.
On this special edition of Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Max Bartos and Chelsea Turbin preview the 54 Below celebration, the first time they heard Green Day’s American Idiot, and share their most memorable moments from participating in the regional and touring productions.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jake-s-take-with-jacob-elyachar--4112003/support.
On Sunday, September 21, Max (from Sing Street) and Chelsea (from Off-Broadway’s Little Shop of Horrors) will join an all-star lineup of performers at the New York City-based 54 Below to celebrate the 21st anniversary of Green Day’s iconic album, American Idiot, and its subsequent Broadway musical.
Max co-produced this tribute concert with director/producer Laura Pietropinto and actor Matt DeAngelis. The two explosive shows mark over two decades since the band released the Grammy and American Music Award-winning album, and a decade since the curtain fell on its musical counterpart. With music supervision from Moulin Rouge and SpongeBob SquarePants alum Julie McBride and music direction by Sean Pallatroni, the shows will offer unforgettable performances of classic tracks, storytelling moments, and a nostalgic journey through the themes of rebellion, hope, and the quest for identity that American Idiot so brilliantly encapsulates.
In addition to Max, Matt, and Chelsea, there is Tony Award-nominated and Green Day superfan Derek Klena; Van Hughes, a member of the Original Broadway Cast and the first national tour who starred opposite Billie Joe Armstrong; and other American Idiot Broadway and tour alumni, including Gerard Canonico, Nicci Claspell, Francesca Granell, Carson Higgins, Brian Charles Johnson, Brandon Kalm, and Johnny Newcomb. Broadway standouts such as J. Antonio Rodriguez (Hadestown), Taylor Iman Jones (Six), Teddy Grey (The British Invasion), Dillion Klena (Jagged Little Pill national tour), and Trent Saunders (Disney’s Aladdin, Hadestown, and Dead Outlaw) are also involved.
On this special edition of Jake’s Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Max Bartos and Chelsea Turbin preview the 54 Below celebration, the first time they heard Green Day’s American Idiot, and share their most memorable moments from participating in the regional and touring productions.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jake-s-take-with-jacob-elyachar--4112003/support.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Hello, you wan to welcome to a special edition of
the Jakes Stake with Jacob Eli Shar podcast. I'm your
host Jacob Eli Shar, chief concentrator and writer at jakesak
dot com, a pop culture entertainment news website. If you're
watching your Sundaytube, please give your thumbs up. If you're
listening to this on audio, please download this episode and
more episodes, and please consider leaving us a five star rating.
(00:51):
Green Gays, American Idiot is celebrating its twenty first birthday
and on September twenty first, fifty four below is hosting
a massive birth the celebration with two special shows. Amongst
the performers that are going to be joining the cast
include Van Hughes, Tony Award nominee, Derek Klanna, Gerald Kenna,
(01:12):
I'm So Sorry, Kensico, Nikki Caspell, and one of our
dear friends, Matty Angels. But however, joining me today are
two more of stars that are going to be part
of this special event. There are former American Idiot than
musical performers Max Bartos whose co is also co producing
the events and this was also seen on Steen Street,
and also Chelsea Turbin, a gay the original Audrey understudy
(01:34):
for the off Broadway revival Little Shop of Horrors. So
Max and Chelsea welcome guys, say the Buck cast.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Hello, Yeah, thank you so much for having us.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
It is so good to have both of you here,
and it's such a pleasure to take take time on
your schedules. I'm a huge Green Day fan and I'm
so sorry I'm gonna not be there, but this set
concert sound exciting.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
Yesie, definitely Green Day fans over here too.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Oh yeah, oh yeah, I got I think two Green
Day tattoos and then I got all of their American
Idiot paraphernalia around my room.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
So sore, let's get started with the concert. So how
did this event come about?
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Yeah? So I like, like I just previously said, I'm
a huge, huge Green Day fan and I love fifty
four below I produced. I co produced a concert there
earlier this year as like a fundraiser for a mental
health organization, and I was kind of sitting at home
and I was like, oh, you know, American Idiot. When
(02:38):
did that come out? And I was like, ohyah, two
thousand and four, so it's twenty one. Oh, we should
like do a celebration concert for it. So I reached
out to fifty four Below and I was I pitched
the idea and they they were like, that sounds awesome.
The actual anniversary date is available, so September twenty first
is actually the day when the album came out in
two thousand and four. Was so it's pretty cool that
(02:59):
we get to do on the actual day. And then
I after we got that approval, I reached out to
Matt DeAngelis, who obviously was you know, you know, Broadway
and a million things and has did the American Indian
National Tour, and he was like, if you want me
to help co produce that, I love to and I
(03:20):
was like please. And then I was talking to my manager,
Laura Pietra Pinto about it and she was like, if
you want to help co produce it, I would love to,
and I was like, please do. So then the three
of us kind of you know, tackled this beast and
got this incredible group of people together to perform it
and we're just really really excited about it.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Okay, Chelsea, where did you get involved with the performance.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
So with this particular one, I'm also a buddy of
Matt DeAngelis, and I had heard the ruminations of this happening,
and I knew that I had to be a part
of it. We were trying to get something going for
the anniversary of the Broadway shows opening back in twenty twenty,
and that unfortunately never happened because we ended up having
(04:05):
to shut down the industry. So I, you know, I
heard anything having to do with American Idiot, and I
jumped at the chance because I have been dying to
sing these songs again for the last Johan rears.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Its good, all right, So I want to go back
to the beginning, So let's start out. When when could
you describe to my audience the first time you heard
American Idiot the meat the album.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Well, I'm a I mean, I'm a true millennial, so
I remember when it came out, but at the time,
I had really only heard the hits. I knew American Idiot,
I knew Holiday. It wasn't until I was in the
show that I'd actually listened to the album all the
way through, and I thought it was brilliant. I did
not know it was a concept album. I didn't know
that it had this really cool point of view and
(04:55):
characters and a story, and I mean, like the first,
the first song is what like eight nine minutes something
like that. It is it is a masterpiece of an album,
I think.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Yeah, I mean it's it's truly like their their their
their seminal work. And in my in my opinion, I
mean I Green Day was my first band. I became
like super super super into. I remember listening to American
Idiot probably when I was like, I have really cool parents,
so they got me into Green Day when I was
(05:29):
probably like five or six, which was probably too young,
but you know, taking me as I am today. And yeah,
I I remember listening to Boulevardo Broken Dreams and I
remember listening to one of the lyrics when he when
he dropped the F word, and that was that was
actually how I learned what the F word was. Was
was from Green Day. So I was like, wow, thank
(05:50):
you Billy Joe teaching me, teaching me young how to swear.
Oh yeah, I mean it's it's great influencing the next generation,
but uh, you know it's it's American Idiot is one
of those albums that, like, truly I remember my life
being in like two different phases. It's like before I've
found out about that album and after I found out
about that album, and weirdly enough, I back in high school.
(06:15):
I was a four season lacrosse player, boxer or in
elementary school, and then I got into a really bad
bike accident and I had to stop doing that. And
a very close family friend of ours was like, when
the things that you can't do, the things I used
to are now impossible for you, because he was a
(06:36):
mountain climber who broke his back. He was like, art
and music will always be there for you. So I
bought a record player, and I bought American Idiot, and
I started teaching myself how to play guitar along to it.
And now here we are, you know how many years later,
like fifteen sixteen years later, and I, you know, now
lead guitarist and lead singer in my band, and like,
(06:57):
I owe that really all to that album because of
its influences.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
How on me, dude, I love that play the guitar
because of this album, except much older.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
I first of all, I have not had the opportunity
to learn how to play guitar. But I do get
to say this. Chelsea and I were talking offline, and
we do think it's one of the most important albums
that still holds its power at the test of time,
because like there's so many albums I'm thinking of and
like Britney Spears Made More Time, I'm Sated again and
(07:32):
back to your Boys Millennium and now in multipre Day's
American Idiot from our childhood that still stand the test
of time as so many others have gone onto the wayside.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Yeah, the album is definitely I feel like it definitely
matters right now, especially in the current climate. It's I've
been hearing a lot of people saying, like, God.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
We should get a revival, we should get a revival.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Oh.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Same, Yeah, I've been hearing those rumblings too, like I'll
like all over the place. Yeah, I mean, it's it's
one of those albums that, like, the themes of it
are so universal, and you know, I don't think that
the young generation will ever stop being angry about their
current you know, situation in life and in this country
and politically, so you know, it's sort of that it
(08:21):
really is not just a phase. I mean, it's it's
why you know, my Chemical Romance also just sold out,
you know, met Life Stadium. It's it's it's the themes
are so universal. And that's just why they're such great
songwriters and musicians. Is not only is it a snapshot
of a time, but it's also just such a huge
universal feeling.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Absolutely, I totally agree with that sentiment. So, however, what's
amazing is both of you were involved with the tourings
productions uh of American Idiots. And the thing is, it's like, so,
what words your action when you heard that the musical
was turning into the out into a mean and when
(09:01):
and what motivated you to audition for it?
Speaker 3 (09:05):
It kind of found me the first time I was
actually I was in my freshman year at Boston Conservatory,
so I had just turned eighteen, and I came into
the city because they were having an open call for
Bye Bye Bertie, and so I went in for Bye
By Bertie, and Jim Carnahan, who's casting for this, he said, well,
(09:27):
you're not really right for this, which left me kind
of gobsmax.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
He said, but I'm going to call you in.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
We're doing this Green Day show, so I'm going to
call you in for that, and ended up going in
for that.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
So at seventh or eighteen, which was I was.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Maybe a little green for it at that point, No
fun intended, but then I ended up.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
It found me again.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
We had a casting associate come when I was a
senior and they said, you know, we're doing a workshop,
but we're also actually casting some shows, and so I
kept just getting called back in for that and that's
that's how it found me.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
That's awesome. Yeah. Yeah, so I was not a part
of the touring company. I did it regionally in Pennsylvania.
But yeah, the show kind of fell back into my lap.
I you know, I was a part of the original
cast of Singh Street and we were set to open
(10:25):
on Broadway. It was our first day of tech when
we got shut down because of the pandemic, so, you know,
kind of dashed our Broadway dreams a bit. It was
nine of our Broadway debuts. I was, I mean, I'm
twenty two now, but I was seventeen doing sing Street
and it you know, it was a heartbreaker. But I
was going to graduate from high school and I was like,
you know what, I really it's my dream to do
(10:47):
this show. And the COVID restrictions were just lifted a bit,
you know, so I caught up my equity rep and
I was like, Hey, I want to do this show.
I got the rights from MTA, so can I do
this because I'm union And they were like, yeah, you
just have to follow all the COVID protocols. So my
dad got certified in COVID safety and he was our
(11:10):
COVID you know, our COVID task master in a way,
and he was setting up all the air pure fires
backstage and stuff. But I, you know, I got I
cast like eight of my friends and we were like,
let's just do this thing. You know, theater is limping
back to you know, Lancaster, Pennsylvania post pandemic. Let's just
like do this thing. So I played Johnny and a
(11:31):
bunch of my friends were in the show as well,
and they're actually all coming back to do a song
with us at fifty four. It's gonna be our first
time singing together for I mean I did them on
twenty twenty one, so yeah, like four four years. So
it's pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
That is amazing. That is so amazing that you're it's
a full circle moment for both of you. And it's
like I was in New York at the time of
the pandemic and I from March to from I still
remember I think I earned my Honor in New Yorker
strives from March to twenty twenty all the way to
August twenty twenty when they reopened it, and then I
(12:08):
just immediately went home to see my family and also
my young nephew, Nash, Shout out, Nash. But the thing is,
it's like you only have that opportunity present itself. It's
like it's such a unifying show. And what were some
of the memories from each of you, Because I know
it's different from regionally and nationally, but like, what are
some of the poor memories that stick with you from
(12:30):
your times on these shows?
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (12:33):
Man, there were a lot.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
I was with the show for I stayed for two years,
a lot of memories. I mean, the first time I
ever I understudied Heather, and so the first time I
ever went on is Heather. I had only gotten about
a half of the show under my belt in rehearsals,
so it was kind of kind of like being shot
out of a cannon. But everybody had my back and
(12:56):
that was amazing. It was another other fun memories that
there is kind of an encore at the end of
the show where we all sing good riddance and if
we were in a particularly special city like Tokyo, or
you know, we had a closing night, they would let
us do another encore and we'd get to do something
(13:17):
like brain stew or you know, just like a classic
hit that has nothing to do with the show at all,
and we've got to have these like rock star moments.
I mean, too many memories. There was also a show
where somebody that's kind of punk rock. Somebody threw a
cell phone onto the stage because they were getting into
a fight. Someone in the front row decided during the
(13:40):
opening to answer their phone, and the person behind them
didn't like that very much, so he grabbed his phone
and threw it onto the stage as we're doing opening.
So we just had this like phone floating around that
we had to kick off the stage. I don't know
why that sticks out, but it feels appropriate that it
was a kind of a.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
Punk rock moment.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Yeah, there were, I mean endless memories. Also, Billy Joe's
wife eighty was really present with us.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
During year we did.
Speaker 3 (14:09):
We did end up getting to kind of meet each
one of the members and their family, which was really
really cool.
Speaker 4 (14:14):
She was also super present.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
She would bring us like care packages and threw us
a bowling party at one point, so it really it
really felt like we were a part of this family.
And at that point there really only had been the
Broadway cast, the first National, and then second and third
for us, so it really is kind of like an
intimate thing. Yeah, lots of lots of fun memories.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
Yeah, that's awesome. That's so punk. Though with the phone
of just like that's awesome.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
Ended up getting into a fight and had to be
removed because person who lost their phone then turned around
and hit the guy who threw the phone.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
So there was q happening, I mean, and a phone
on stage.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
That's kind of deserved in the face, you know, Like
I feel like that's you know, I like, violence is
never the answer. But if somebody like took your phone
and threw it on stage, like I think you get
a free pass on that one. Yeah, I mean it's
you know, it's it's the wild Frontier and once once
the curtain rises, anything can happen. Yeah, I mean, the
(15:19):
the biggest memory for me, uh is that. So we
did a few shows, a few two show days, but
it was our last two show day and it was
like we had a matinee and then a closing performance
that night, and I was tying my doc Martin backstage
right before a matinee, and somebody came up on me
(15:41):
and smacked me on the back to be like, hey,
have a good show, dude, and the thing I had
my foot on shifted, my knee popped out of place
completely tore my a cl right before, like literally like
five seconds before we were supposed to go on stage,
like we were all gathering in the wings. So immediately
I just start flop sweating, and I'm like, oh my god,
(16:02):
oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, oh
my god. What do I do? What do I do?
Because we also didn't have like a true understudy for
this production, because this was, you know, just like regional.
I mean it was like a you know, ninety nine
seat ors three hundred seat house, which was really cool, great,
and we yeah, I mean I was it was great
because yeah, we were under a special appearance agreement contract
for that. I was like, was that was that a
(16:23):
showcase agreement? No, it was a special appearance agreement. So
we were actually able to sell the true house, which
was great. But yeah, I was like, what do I do?
So backstage of the theater, I just got a roll
of gaff tape and a bunch of paper towels, and
I just like did paper towel layer, gaff tape layer,
(16:43):
paper towel layer, gaff tape player, paper towel layer, gaff
tape layer until it was like an inch thick and
I could like barely get my jeens on over it.
And I did two shows on it. So we did
our sector, our penultimate closing, and our closing, and I
was just like I took like retile and all and like, yeah, man,
you know.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
American, It's just we had a permanent thing of viyberprofen backstage.
Like the I mean, the injuries were. We had stitches,
I had a knee brace, I broke my thumb. I
wore a collar at one point for a cervical next
strain because of all the what we'd call a bangover
when you head bangs, you end up getting a bangover.
But yeah, man, I mean the injured is kind of
(17:24):
like welcome to the ranks.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
I did not know American idiot was this aggressive.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
Oh yeah, yeah, you also can't like fake that sort
of like you know, it's it's like it's like I
love the the the tiktoks that are like, oh, when
the musical theater kid is singing a rock song and
it's like like it's American. It's like the opposite of that.
It's like you can't do like the stage magic of
(17:51):
like we're gonna pretend to head bang. It's like you
just gotta like grip it and rip it and hope
for the best.
Speaker 4 (17:56):
Yeah, I was.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
They thought I was a marathon runner because they could
get my pulse and they're like, oh, do you do
you do marathons? I was like no, but I'm in
a show that's really hard right now.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
Yeah, it's it's insane. When I was prepping for the
role of Johnny, I was talking with John Goliger Junior,
who originated the role on Broadway, about it, and he
was like, get ready, man, because as Johnny, you don't
leave the stage until after Boulevard are Broken Dreams, and
that's like thirty minutes and you have to go get
through like American Idiot, Jesus, Suburbia, Holiday, and Boulevard, which
(18:29):
are all like primarily led by Johnny and most of
the talking is Johnny. So yeah, man, yeah.
Speaker 4 (18:37):
I was this track.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
I was the only girl that didn't leave the stage
in between the big opening and then the next one,
So like I was on stage for I want to say,
five straight numbers before I got to go back.
Speaker 4 (18:49):
And it's one of those.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
Shows where there are constant backup vocals, so you're doing
backup vocals while you're doing quick changes, while you're sprinting.
It was just it's intense, but it's such a labor
of love, and meanwhile you're doing like the coolest show,
the coolest music. Like yeah, it really does feel like
(19:12):
you are being shot out of a cannon.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
It's brutal, and it's like, you know, most shows start
with like a nice little opening number to welcome the onience.
I know, it's like we're going album order and some
new songs in twenty first century breakdown. It's like you
were just like on a sprint until the end of
the show.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
To say even because you know, on tour you get tired,
especially we would have strings of one night ers every
once in a while, and we would always say, even
if you're not in the mood to do the show
that day, the second you hear that opening and.
Speaker 4 (19:45):
Yeah, you're just you're you're down.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
Yeah, And I's like how can you not love it?
Speaker 1 (19:51):
Yeah, absolutely, And it feels like it's like this is
like on par with hair spray and linking with how
muchical intensity there is further actors and possibly Rock of
Ages too, We're going to throw that in.
Speaker 4 (20:07):
Is so physically i've ever done.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
We're also moving set pieces and you know, we've got
this giant two story double decker set piece that's turned
on its side that turns into a bus. We're moving
staircases and the staircase has our our cello player inside
of it.
Speaker 4 (20:24):
So it was, Yeah, it's a lot.
Speaker 1 (20:26):
It's a lot scarier dealing with the Audrey to plants
or dealing with that kind of stage Chelsea.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
Yeah, you know, funny enough, I would say probably probably
idiot only because with Little Shop, the most puppeteering I
did with that was crawling into or out of the plants. Now,
if I were actually one of the manipulators of Audrey too,
I might have been, and this is the how he
(20:54):
has to do the mouth inside of it.
Speaker 4 (20:59):
Yeah, Luckily Audrey Audrey is a little bit more.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
Of a princess track than the full physical labor of
American Idiot.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
Oh yeah, absolutely, absolutely So, speaking of American Idiots. Multiple
American Idiot alums, including our mutual friend Matt de Angelis,
along with Van Hughes, Taylor Iman Jones, and Nikki Klaspo
are participatings for in this concert. So what did it
mean to have some of these performers take out time
of their schedule to participate.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Yeah, I mean, it's it's honestly crazy, because I mean
as much as I, you know, I and no I
did did this show to the level that you know,
ninety five percent of the people in our concert did
it to. But to be able to sing these songs
with such incredible performers and such such like skilled singers
(21:51):
and actors and people that have have like really like
dedicated years of their life to this piece is truly
like mind blowing that they're like, yeah, let's do this thing,
you know. And and also the fact that they're like, yeah,
let's do it with some people that have done it
regionally and some you know more you know, like like
I said, like the Pennsylvania people that are coming up
to do it, like you know, like they're they're true
(22:12):
like up and comers in the industry. So it's it's
incredible that we all kind of are united by this
piece that spoke in different levels to all of us.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
Yeah, we're all We're all very excited, like not only
just to be reunited, but it's We've had a rehearsal
where it really felt like it was all still there.
It felt like it had just been a day and yeah,
it was just it was really exciting to just get
(22:42):
to sing all these songs again and it feels again
like it just felt like it came right back.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
Yeah. Our music director Sean Palatroni he plays piano in
my band, but he's also an incredible composer and lyricist
and he actually has an Emmy. But he we were
talking before our gig are like big album release show yesterday,
and I was like, how are you feeling about the
American Idiot Show? And he was like, yeah, it's great.
It's the easiest music directing job I've ever had in
(23:08):
my life because everybody literally already knows because everybody's already
done the show. So he's like, I'm just there to
make sure that we all start on time.
Speaker 1 (23:19):
And it's amazing too, because the thing is, like I
was listening before we got on to Good Riddance, the
time of your Time of Your Life and I got
chilled from the from the ritual Broadway adaption of that,
and like I wish I could see be there for
like holiday and for all the stuff. So it's like
it's just amazing. It's just amazing song. It's like we
(23:40):
got child see so really quickly. Right back. Hey everyone,
(24:15):
we are back with Max and Chelsea. Right now. We
are continuing our conversation about American Idiot right now. We're
talking about the concert. That's the rehearsal right now. And
I was just telling them before we had to go
on our break how much good Britain's Time your Life
gave me chills. And I'm looking forward to hearing about
(24:35):
the Order to Show and like how the arrangements you
have been doing, especially because the challenge is with Time
of your Life in that space, because I've been to
fifty four below multiple times, is how can you play
goods multiple guitars on the one stage without everybody prop
against each other.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
Yeah, I think we are just going to bump into
each other. But it's okay, you know, that's punk, it's
I know love, Yeah, yeah, yeah, I mean yeah, we'll
just you know, a good apology and then we'll you know,
have a we can yell about it in the green room. No,
it's it's uh yeah, it's gonna be amazing. We have
a full band, so we have piano, bass, two guitars.
(25:17):
I'm actually both co producing performing in the show, and
I'm the guitar too in the pit band as well,
so I'll be doing that, which is cool. I've just
built all my tones today for it on my little
pedal boards, so got all that going. And then we
have a full string section as well, which is really
really cool. You know, it's it's gonna be it's gonna
(25:38):
be a blast, and we have the best group of musicians,
best group of singers, so it's uh yeah, it's gonna
be a really special night.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
And I gotta say this, this is like I've been
the fifty four Below and it's just been like calm
and like classical crossover. But this is the first time
I've heard fifty four below actually going to rock out.
Speaker 4 (25:59):
Yeah, it's definitely gonna be.
Speaker 3 (26:03):
We keep saying, blowing the roof off of it is
kind of what it feels like we'll be doing, which
is which is what we should be doing.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
Yeah, agreed, it's a. You know, it's it's such a
legendary spot that it's it's so well. First of all,
it's incredible that they're like having us. I'm super thrilled
about that. And they're being so generous by giving us
both performances, both time slots, which is incredible, and they've
been amazing with We actually had to secure the rights
(26:31):
from mt I to do to do this concert because
we're doing i think it's more than three songs from
one specific musical production. You have to get the Yeah,
you have to get the licensing from mt I. So
MTI has been talking to us, and then we actually
had to get approval from Warner to go on. Me
(26:53):
and Van Hughes and Derek Klena just went on Good
Day New York yesterday to do a promotional spot that
air where we all did Wake Me Up on September ends.
So we got permission from Warner and we're we've been
putting out put in contact with Green Day's manager, so
we now have it on their radar, which is pretty cool.
So that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
Yeah, and here's the thing. It would be a little
bit surprising if Billy Joe and his family and or
the guys side to say, Hi, surprise.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
I don't think they are. I think I mean they're
on tour. So as a musician who is on a
much smaller scale tour, it's so hard to like, I
don't know how they're gonna fly up from Central America
and then come back. So you know, maybe they'll do
a video. Who knows, but.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
Yeah, you know that would be the great thing. And
then also before we leave, guys that want to talk
to you guys about because right now it's back to
school and many colleges and high schools or in the
process of picking out shows. And if some of my
listeners are drama teachers, are students that want to go
and play and bring American idiotan mus school in that
(28:00):
and get the permission to get to perform this show,
what advice do you have for the for the kid
actors and also for the directors and these and the
musician and the se musicians to say, what what advice
do you share with them if they do perform American
Idiot the Musical at their schools.
Speaker 3 (28:19):
I mean, first of all, congrats on getting your school
to approve it, because I know some you know, there
are some adult themes, although how adult are they They're
more like teaen themes, but yes, they are slightly adult.
But I definitely say make it yours.
Speaker 2 (28:37):
You know.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
Every I've seen it done a bunch of different ways,
and I think the beauty of the show is that
it is so open to interpretation.
Speaker 4 (28:47):
There's not so much a script. There are letters home.
Speaker 3 (28:52):
And the show itself, you know, because it is a
concept album itself is open to interpretation, you know, like
who what's your name is?
Speaker 1 (29:00):
To you?
Speaker 3 (29:01):
That sentence will make sense if you know the show.
So yeah, i'd say, if you're considering doing the show,
make it yours. Be punk about it.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
Yeah, oh yeah, yeah. I mean I think the first
thing is don't censor it. I saw a production online.
I saw a production online where, instead of saying the
actual lyric I don't know if I can swear on here,
but fuck yeah, okay, cool, So the lyric the subliminal
(29:31):
mind fuck America.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
So this high school did a production of it where
they were like the subliminal mind norm America and immediately, dude,
come on, you cannot do that.
Speaker 4 (29:42):
So change the lines, but it can't change the lyrics.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
Absolutely giving them. I got talent. I would give them
a buzzer because the thing is, you don't touch that thing.
And the thing is you would have the principle and
the drama teacher would have said, there are some language,
and there's some language, so there would be very.
Speaker 4 (30:05):
I mean my sensor a show that's anti censorship exactly.
Speaker 2 (30:10):
I mean Johnny's Johnny's first line of the show that
is spoken is February second. Last night I jerked off
into oblivion, and today I forgot to shower. Oh well,
And I think that like perfectly sets the tone of like,
this is the show that you're seeing and it's it's incredible.
Speaker 3 (30:24):
Going through Middle America and specifically we also went to
George Bush's hometown of Midland, Texas, we got more so
it was very normal for us to get walkouts because
what would end up happening is we were on the
season ticket holders schedule, and so you'd end up getting
you know, families and people bringing kids that were way
(30:46):
too young to be seeing this show. And we were
very used to if the first number wasn't loud enough
to get you out, usually Johnny's first line would get
them out. And then if that didn't do it, there was.
There's a kind of a sexy time scene halfway through
the show and are to go.
Speaker 4 (31:07):
I got to watch this. They're out the.
Speaker 1 (31:10):
Duel between Saints to Me and John with their shirts
off or something.
Speaker 4 (31:13):
Yeah, you know, yeah that drugs rock and roll.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
That is the show. True. It's one of those shows
where I'm like, I wish I could explain this and
show a b roll montage to a Victorian child and
see what would happen. Yeah, you know where it's They're like,
what are why are they kissing with all those heroin
tubes wrapped around them? What's happening here? Ballet? Yeah, you're
very used to.
Speaker 4 (31:37):
Shock horror.
Speaker 2 (31:39):
Yeah, but if your school is cool with that, totally
license it because your your students will love it because
they get to you know. I mean, I think the
biggest thing like being genuine is just like a genuine
not you know, half jokey answer is you know, just
like leave it all on the stage, you know, don't
hold anything back. Like It's one of those shows where
(32:02):
the more you put yourself into it, you know, the
better the final product is going to be, and the
more fun you're gonna have doing it. And you know,
I mean it is one of those shows where you
make lifelong friends doing it. It's it's like spring Awakening,
It's like you know, Rent, It's it's these shows that
(32:22):
are about such important topics and are such a communal
and familial environment both on stage and backstage, that you,
you know, you end up making really great connections. And
I think that's a beautiful thing.
Speaker 1 (32:34):
All Right, this is our second to last question. If
they're in the Tri State area, why should they come
to this American Idiot twenty first birthday celebration.
Speaker 2 (32:48):
I mean, because a lot of reasons.
Speaker 4 (32:52):
Because it's amazing, because it's one of the best. The
album is the show.
Speaker 3 (32:58):
The show is the album because we're gonna rock your
fucking socks off.
Speaker 2 (33:03):
That's why it's true. Yeah, well this is just and
this is just the beginning too. I mean, if you
guys want to see like the ground floor beginnings of something,
I mean, me and the other co producers I've been
talking about like doing more things with American Idiot and
seeing what we could do. Maybe next year. You didn't
hear that from me, but you know, maybe we'll well
(33:25):
we'll do something else and well you guys will hear
about that coming up soon, so you know, there's there's
a lot, there's a lot down the pipeline, and if
you guys want to be here at the ground floor
of it, come and check us out.
Speaker 1 (33:37):
Awesome. Last question, are you ready?
Speaker 2 (33:40):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (33:41):
Ready?
Speaker 1 (33:42):
Where can my audience get tickets for the show? And
also where can they connect with you guys?
Speaker 4 (33:48):
Mhm, I'll take it away for texts?
Speaker 2 (33:52):
Yeah, sure, I mean tickets. So the crazy thing is it's, uh,
we've sold out both performances. We did like a press
release and then everybody was so jazzed about the show
that we were able to sell it out. So there's
an online wait list for tickets which you can go
to at fifty four below dot com. Uh, and you
(34:12):
can see and like sign up for the wait lists
and stuff like that. It's definitely worth doing that because
also if you do, fifty four might be like, hey,
let's add another show because we don't look for the
next day.
Speaker 4 (34:23):
So you'll hear us outside who knows exactly.
Speaker 2 (34:26):
Yeah, but it's still definitely worth like coming seeing you know,
people always don't show up, so definitely come and and
and and and come and see us. It's going to
be an incredible, incredible night. As for where you can
connect with me, I actually shameless self promo. I had
an album drop today. Today's the sixteenth, so I had
my new folk rock album drop, which is really cool.
(34:51):
So you can find me on Instagram at max Underscore
Bartos and then Spotify is just my name, uh, which
you can see right here.
Speaker 3 (34:59):
So yeah, and I am on Instagram as well. You
can find me at Chelsea Turbine, which is my last.
Speaker 4 (35:06):
Name to you R, I M that's.
Speaker 2 (35:13):
Oh wait, Jacob, I think you're muted?
Speaker 4 (35:20):
Hmm, how do we get them back?
Speaker 2 (35:25):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (35:25):
Can you hear me now? Guys? Sorry about that everybody,
but after it still, this has been our year six
of podcasting's. Unfortunately, my mic was actually turned up, so guys,
if you missed the episode, head to Jake's Take the
Jake Stake with Jacobi your podcast Jayce, you b e
O y A c h A R. And guys, are
you on social media because I'm on Twitter and YouTube,
(35:48):
Jacobi j You'll be e O y A c h
A R. And guys want to go back to read
to watch my interviews with Matt DeAngelis well and all
my takes on Green Day, Well, visit the blog that
sorted at all, Jake Sashack dot com. Let's get to
Jake sas check dot com. And I'm so happy to
reveal that Jake Stake with Jacobos our podcast is a
twenty twenty five American Business Award winner. I want to
(36:09):
take the entire judges over at American Business Awards for
awarding me the Silver TV for his Best Interview and
Talk Show and got Matt Chelsea. Congratulations on the sold
out show. I'm so honored that you had this opportunity
to come on the podcast. I wish I was there
in spirit and forty fifty four below. If you're listening
streaming this show up, please.
Speaker 2 (36:31):
Please do. Thank you so much for having us.
Speaker 1 (36:33):
Hey guys, thank you so much for watching. Thank you
so much for listening. Until next time, have a rebine.
Everybody go bye
Hello, you wan to welcome to a special edition of
the Jakes Stake with Jacob Eli Shar podcast. I'm your
host Jacob Eli Shar, chief concentrator and writer at jakesak
dot com, a pop culture entertainment news website. If you're
watching your Sundaytube, please give your thumbs up. If you're
listening to this on audio, please download this episode and
more episodes, and please consider leaving us a five star rating.
(00:51):
Green Gays, American Idiot is celebrating its twenty first birthday
and on September twenty first, fifty four below is hosting
a massive birth the celebration with two special shows. Amongst
the performers that are going to be joining the cast
include Van Hughes, Tony Award nominee, Derek Klanna, Gerald Kenna,
(01:12):
I'm So Sorry, Kensico, Nikki Caspell, and one of our
dear friends, Matty Angels. But however, joining me today are
two more of stars that are going to be part
of this special event. There are former American Idiot than
musical performers Max Bartos whose co is also co producing
the events and this was also seen on Steen Street,
and also Chelsea Turbin, a gay the original Audrey understudy
(01:34):
for the off Broadway revival Little Shop of Horrors. So
Max and Chelsea welcome guys, say the Buck cast.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Hello, Yeah, thank you so much for having us.
Speaker 1 (01:45):
It is so good to have both of you here,
and it's such a pleasure to take take time on
your schedules. I'm a huge Green Day fan and I'm
so sorry I'm gonna not be there, but this set
concert sound exciting.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
Yesie, definitely Green Day fans over here too.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Oh yeah, oh yeah, I got I think two Green
Day tattoos and then I got all of their American
Idiot paraphernalia around my room.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
So sore, let's get started with the concert. So how
did this event come about?
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Yeah? So I like, like I just previously said, I'm
a huge, huge Green Day fan and I love fifty
four below I produced. I co produced a concert there
earlier this year as like a fundraiser for a mental
health organization, and I was kind of sitting at home
and I was like, oh, you know, American Idiot. When
(02:38):
did that come out? And I was like, ohyah, two
thousand and four, so it's twenty one. Oh, we should
like do a celebration concert for it. So I reached
out to fifty four Below and I was I pitched
the idea and they they were like, that sounds awesome.
The actual anniversary date is available, so September twenty first
is actually the day when the album came out in
two thousand and four. Was so it's pretty cool that
(02:59):
we get to do on the actual day. And then
I after we got that approval, I reached out to
Matt DeAngelis, who obviously was you know, you know, Broadway
and a million things and has did the American Indian
National Tour, and he was like, if you want me
to help co produce that, I love to and I
(03:20):
was like please. And then I was talking to my manager,
Laura Pietra Pinto about it and she was like, if
you want to help co produce it, I would love to,
and I was like, please do. So then the three
of us kind of you know, tackled this beast and
got this incredible group of people together to perform it
and we're just really really excited about it.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Okay, Chelsea, where did you get involved with the performance.
Speaker 3 (03:42):
So with this particular one, I'm also a buddy of
Matt DeAngelis, and I had heard the ruminations of this happening,
and I knew that I had to be a part
of it. We were trying to get something going for
the anniversary of the Broadway shows opening back in twenty twenty,
and that unfortunately never happened because we ended up having
(04:05):
to shut down the industry. So I, you know, I
heard anything having to do with American Idiot, and I
jumped at the chance because I have been dying to
sing these songs again for the last Johan rears.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Its good, all right, So I want to go back
to the beginning, So let's start out. When when could
you describe to my audience the first time you heard
American Idiot the meat the album.
Speaker 3 (04:32):
Well, I'm a I mean, I'm a true millennial, so
I remember when it came out, but at the time,
I had really only heard the hits. I knew American Idiot,
I knew Holiday. It wasn't until I was in the
show that I'd actually listened to the album all the
way through, and I thought it was brilliant. I did
not know it was a concept album. I didn't know
that it had this really cool point of view and
(04:55):
characters and a story, and I mean, like the first,
the first song is what like eight nine minutes something
like that. It is it is a masterpiece of an album,
I think.
Speaker 2 (05:09):
Yeah, I mean it's it's truly like their their their
their seminal work. And in my in my opinion, I
mean I Green Day was my first band. I became
like super super super into. I remember listening to American
Idiot probably when I was like, I have really cool parents,
so they got me into Green Day when I was
(05:29):
probably like five or six, which was probably too young,
but you know, taking me as I am today. And yeah,
I I remember listening to Boulevardo Broken Dreams and I
remember listening to one of the lyrics when he when
he dropped the F word, and that was that was
actually how I learned what the F word was. Was
was from Green Day. So I was like, wow, thank
(05:50):
you Billy Joe teaching me, teaching me young how to swear.
Oh yeah, I mean it's it's great influencing the next generation,
but uh, you know it's it's American Idiot is one
of those albums that, like, truly I remember my life
being in like two different phases. It's like before I've
found out about that album and after I found out
about that album, and weirdly enough, I back in high school.
(06:15):
I was a four season lacrosse player, boxer or in
elementary school, and then I got into a really bad
bike accident and I had to stop doing that. And
a very close family friend of ours was like, when
the things that you can't do, the things I used
to are now impossible for you, because he was a
(06:36):
mountain climber who broke his back. He was like, art
and music will always be there for you. So I
bought a record player, and I bought American Idiot, and
I started teaching myself how to play guitar along to it.
And now here we are, you know how many years later,
like fifteen sixteen years later, and I, you know, now
lead guitarist and lead singer in my band, and like,
(06:57):
I owe that really all to that album because of
its influences.
Speaker 3 (07:01):
How on me, dude, I love that play the guitar
because of this album, except much older.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
I first of all, I have not had the opportunity
to learn how to play guitar. But I do get
to say this. Chelsea and I were talking offline, and
we do think it's one of the most important albums
that still holds its power at the test of time,
because like there's so many albums I'm thinking of and
like Britney Spears Made More Time, I'm Sated again and
(07:32):
back to your Boys Millennium and now in multipre Day's
American Idiot from our childhood that still stand the test
of time as so many others have gone onto the wayside.
Speaker 3 (07:43):
Yeah, the album is definitely I feel like it definitely
matters right now, especially in the current climate. It's I've
been hearing a lot of people saying, like, God.
Speaker 4 (07:53):
We should get a revival, we should get a revival.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
Oh.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
Same, Yeah, I've been hearing those rumblings too, like I'll
like all over the place. Yeah, I mean, it's it's
one of those albums that, like, the themes of it
are so universal, and you know, I don't think that
the young generation will ever stop being angry about their
current you know, situation in life and in this country
and politically, so you know, it's sort of that it
(08:21):
really is not just a phase. I mean, it's it's
why you know, my Chemical Romance also just sold out,
you know, met Life Stadium. It's it's it's the themes
are so universal. And that's just why they're such great
songwriters and musicians. Is not only is it a snapshot
of a time, but it's also just such a huge
universal feeling.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Absolutely, I totally agree with that sentiment. So, however, what's
amazing is both of you were involved with the tourings
productions uh of American Idiots. And the thing is, it's like, so,
what words your action when you heard that the musical
was turning into the out into a mean and when
(09:01):
and what motivated you to audition for it?
Speaker 3 (09:05):
It kind of found me the first time I was
actually I was in my freshman year at Boston Conservatory,
so I had just turned eighteen, and I came into
the city because they were having an open call for
Bye Bye Bertie, and so I went in for Bye
By Bertie, and Jim Carnahan, who's casting for this, he said, well,
(09:27):
you're not really right for this, which left me kind
of gobsmax.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
He said, but I'm going to call you in.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
We're doing this Green Day show, so I'm going to
call you in for that, and ended up going in
for that.
Speaker 4 (09:38):
So at seventh or eighteen, which was I was.
Speaker 3 (09:41):
Maybe a little green for it at that point, No
fun intended, but then I ended up.
Speaker 4 (09:48):
It found me again.
Speaker 3 (09:49):
We had a casting associate come when I was a
senior and they said, you know, we're doing a workshop,
but we're also actually casting some shows, and so I
kept just getting called back in for that and that's
that's how it found me.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
That's awesome. Yeah. Yeah, so I was not a part
of the touring company. I did it regionally in Pennsylvania.
But yeah, the show kind of fell back into my lap.
I you know, I was a part of the original
cast of Singh Street and we were set to open
(10:25):
on Broadway. It was our first day of tech when
we got shut down because of the pandemic, so, you know,
kind of dashed our Broadway dreams a bit. It was
nine of our Broadway debuts. I was, I mean, I'm
twenty two now, but I was seventeen doing sing Street
and it you know, it was a heartbreaker. But I
was going to graduate from high school and I was like,
you know what, I really it's my dream to do
(10:47):
this show. And the COVID restrictions were just lifted a bit,
you know, so I caught up my equity rep and
I was like, Hey, I want to do this show.
I got the rights from MTA, so can I do
this because I'm union And they were like, yeah, you
just have to follow all the COVID protocols. So my
dad got certified in COVID safety and he was our
(11:10):
COVID you know, our COVID task master in a way,
and he was setting up all the air pure fires
backstage and stuff. But I, you know, I got I
cast like eight of my friends and we were like,
let's just do this thing. You know, theater is limping
back to you know, Lancaster, Pennsylvania post pandemic. Let's just
like do this thing. So I played Johnny and a
(11:31):
bunch of my friends were in the show as well,
and they're actually all coming back to do a song
with us at fifty four. It's gonna be our first
time singing together for I mean I did them on
twenty twenty one, so yeah, like four four years. So
it's pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (11:47):
That is amazing. That is so amazing that you're it's
a full circle moment for both of you. And it's
like I was in New York at the time of
the pandemic and I from March to from I still
remember I think I earned my Honor in New Yorker
strives from March to twenty twenty all the way to
August twenty twenty when they reopened it, and then I
(12:08):
just immediately went home to see my family and also
my young nephew, Nash, Shout out, Nash. But the thing is,
it's like you only have that opportunity present itself. It's
like it's such a unifying show. And what were some
of the memories from each of you, Because I know
it's different from regionally and nationally, but like, what are
some of the poor memories that stick with you from
(12:30):
your times on these shows?
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Oh?
Speaker 4 (12:33):
Man, there were a lot.
Speaker 3 (12:36):
I was with the show for I stayed for two years,
a lot of memories. I mean, the first time I
ever I understudied Heather, and so the first time I
ever went on is Heather. I had only gotten about
a half of the show under my belt in rehearsals,
so it was kind of kind of like being shot
out of a cannon. But everybody had my back and
(12:56):
that was amazing. It was another other fun memories that
there is kind of an encore at the end of
the show where we all sing good riddance and if
we were in a particularly special city like Tokyo, or
you know, we had a closing night, they would let
us do another encore and we'd get to do something
(13:17):
like brain stew or you know, just like a classic
hit that has nothing to do with the show at all,
and we've got to have these like rock star moments.
I mean, too many memories. There was also a show
where somebody that's kind of punk rock. Somebody threw a
cell phone onto the stage because they were getting into
a fight. Someone in the front row decided during the
(13:40):
opening to answer their phone, and the person behind them
didn't like that very much, so he grabbed his phone
and threw it onto the stage as we're doing opening.
So we just had this like phone floating around that
we had to kick off the stage. I don't know
why that sticks out, but it feels appropriate that it
was a kind of a.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
Punk rock moment.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Yeah, there were, I mean endless memories. Also, Billy Joe's
wife eighty was really present with us.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
During year we did.
Speaker 3 (14:09):
We did end up getting to kind of meet each
one of the members and their family, which was really
really cool.
Speaker 4 (14:14):
She was also super present.
Speaker 3 (14:16):
She would bring us like care packages and threw us
a bowling party at one point, so it really it
really felt like we were a part of this family.
And at that point there really only had been the
Broadway cast, the first National, and then second and third
for us, so it really is kind of like an
intimate thing. Yeah, lots of lots of fun memories.
Speaker 2 (14:40):
Yeah, that's awesome. That's so punk. Though with the phone
of just like that's awesome.
Speaker 3 (14:46):
Ended up getting into a fight and had to be
removed because person who lost their phone then turned around
and hit the guy who threw the phone.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
So there was q happening, I mean, and a phone
on stage.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
That's kind of deserved in the face, you know, Like
I feel like that's you know, I like, violence is
never the answer. But if somebody like took your phone
and threw it on stage, like I think you get
a free pass on that one. Yeah, I mean it's
you know, it's it's the wild Frontier and once once
the curtain rises, anything can happen. Yeah, I mean, the
(15:19):
the biggest memory for me, uh is that. So we
did a few shows, a few two show days, but
it was our last two show day and it was
like we had a matinee and then a closing performance
that night, and I was tying my doc Martin backstage
right before a matinee, and somebody came up on me
(15:41):
and smacked me on the back to be like, hey,
have a good show, dude, and the thing I had
my foot on shifted, my knee popped out of place
completely tore my a cl right before, like literally like
five seconds before we were supposed to go on stage,
like we were all gathering in the wings. So immediately
I just start flop sweating, and I'm like, oh my god,
(16:02):
oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, oh
my god. What do I do? What do I do?
Because we also didn't have like a true understudy for
this production, because this was, you know, just like regional.
I mean it was like a you know, ninety nine
seat ors three hundred seat house, which was really cool, great,
and we yeah, I mean I was it was great
because yeah, we were under a special appearance agreement contract
for that. I was like, was that was that a
(16:23):
showcase agreement? No, it was a special appearance agreement. So
we were actually able to sell the true house, which
was great. But yeah, I was like, what do I do?
So backstage of the theater, I just got a roll
of gaff tape and a bunch of paper towels, and
I just like did paper towel layer, gaff tape layer,
(16:43):
paper towel layer, gaff tape player, paper towel layer, gaff
tape layer until it was like an inch thick and
I could like barely get my jeens on over it.
And I did two shows on it. So we did
our sector, our penultimate closing, and our closing, and I
was just like I took like retile and all and like, yeah, man,
you know.
Speaker 3 (17:03):
American, It's just we had a permanent thing of viyberprofen backstage.
Like the I mean, the injuries were. We had stitches,
I had a knee brace, I broke my thumb. I
wore a collar at one point for a cervical next
strain because of all the what we'd call a bangover
when you head bangs, you end up getting a bangover.
But yeah, man, I mean the injured is kind of
(17:24):
like welcome to the ranks.
Speaker 1 (17:27):
I did not know American idiot was this aggressive.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
Oh yeah, yeah, you also can't like fake that sort
of like you know, it's it's like it's like I
love the the the tiktoks that are like, oh, when
the musical theater kid is singing a rock song and
it's like like it's American. It's like the opposite of that.
It's like you can't do like the stage magic of
(17:51):
like we're gonna pretend to head bang. It's like you
just gotta like grip it and rip it and hope
for the best.
Speaker 4 (17:56):
Yeah, I was.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
They thought I was a marathon runner because they could
get my pulse and they're like, oh, do you do
you do marathons? I was like no, but I'm in
a show that's really hard right now.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
Yeah, it's it's insane. When I was prepping for the
role of Johnny, I was talking with John Goliger Junior,
who originated the role on Broadway, about it, and he
was like, get ready, man, because as Johnny, you don't
leave the stage until after Boulevard are Broken Dreams, and
that's like thirty minutes and you have to go get
through like American Idiot, Jesus, Suburbia, Holiday, and Boulevard, which
(18:29):
are all like primarily led by Johnny and most of
the talking is Johnny. So yeah, man, yeah.
Speaker 4 (18:37):
I was this track.
Speaker 3 (18:38):
I was the only girl that didn't leave the stage
in between the big opening and then the next one,
So like I was on stage for I want to say,
five straight numbers before I got to go back.
Speaker 4 (18:49):
And it's one of those.
Speaker 3 (18:50):
Shows where there are constant backup vocals, so you're doing
backup vocals while you're doing quick changes, while you're sprinting.
It was just it's intense, but it's such a labor
of love, and meanwhile you're doing like the coolest show,
the coolest music. Like yeah, it really does feel like
(19:12):
you are being shot out of a cannon.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
It's brutal, and it's like, you know, most shows start
with like a nice little opening number to welcome the onience.
I know, it's like we're going album order and some
new songs in twenty first century breakdown. It's like you
were just like on a sprint until the end of
the show.
Speaker 3 (19:30):
To say even because you know, on tour you get tired,
especially we would have strings of one night ers every
once in a while, and we would always say, even
if you're not in the mood to do the show
that day, the second you hear that opening and.
Speaker 4 (19:45):
Yeah, you're just you're you're down.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
Yeah, And I's like how can you not love it?
Speaker 1 (19:51):
Yeah, absolutely, And it feels like it's like this is
like on par with hair spray and linking with how
muchical intensity there is further actors and possibly Rock of
Ages too, We're going to throw that in.
Speaker 4 (20:07):
Is so physically i've ever done.
Speaker 3 (20:09):
We're also moving set pieces and you know, we've got
this giant two story double decker set piece that's turned
on its side that turns into a bus. We're moving
staircases and the staircase has our our cello player inside
of it.
Speaker 4 (20:24):
So it was, Yeah, it's a lot.
Speaker 1 (20:26):
It's a lot scarier dealing with the Audrey to plants
or dealing with that kind of stage Chelsea.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
Yeah, you know, funny enough, I would say probably probably
idiot only because with Little Shop, the most puppeteering I
did with that was crawling into or out of the plants. Now,
if I were actually one of the manipulators of Audrey too,
I might have been, and this is the how he
(20:54):
has to do the mouth inside of it.
Speaker 4 (20:59):
Yeah, Luckily Audrey Audrey is a little bit more.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
Of a princess track than the full physical labor of
American Idiot.
Speaker 1 (21:07):
Oh yeah, absolutely, absolutely So, speaking of American Idiots. Multiple
American Idiot alums, including our mutual friend Matt de Angelis,
along with Van Hughes, Taylor Iman Jones, and Nikki Klaspo
are participatings for in this concert. So what did it
mean to have some of these performers take out time
of their schedule to participate.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Yeah, I mean, it's it's honestly crazy, because I mean
as much as I, you know, I and no I
did did this show to the level that you know,
ninety five percent of the people in our concert did
it to. But to be able to sing these songs
with such incredible performers and such such like skilled singers
(21:51):
and actors and people that have have like really like
dedicated years of their life to this piece is truly
like mind blowing that they're like, yeah, let's do this thing,
you know. And and also the fact that they're like, yeah,
let's do it with some people that have done it
regionally and some you know more you know, like like
I said, like the Pennsylvania people that are coming up
to do it, like you know, like they're they're true
(22:12):
like up and comers in the industry. So it's it's
incredible that we all kind of are united by this
piece that spoke in different levels to all of us.
Speaker 3 (22:21):
Yeah, we're all We're all very excited, like not only
just to be reunited, but it's We've had a rehearsal
where it really felt like it was all still there.
It felt like it had just been a day and yeah,
it was just it was really exciting to just get
(22:42):
to sing all these songs again and it feels again
like it just felt like it came right back.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
Yeah. Our music director Sean Palatroni he plays piano in
my band, but he's also an incredible composer and lyricist
and he actually has an Emmy. But he we were
talking before our gig are like big album release show yesterday,
and I was like, how are you feeling about the
American Idiot Show? And he was like, yeah, it's great.
It's the easiest music directing job I've ever had in
(23:08):
my life because everybody literally already knows because everybody's already
done the show. So he's like, I'm just there to
make sure that we all start on time.
Speaker 1 (23:19):
And it's amazing too, because the thing is, like I
was listening before we got on to Good Riddance, the
time of your Time of Your Life and I got
chilled from the from the ritual Broadway adaption of that,
and like I wish I could see be there for
like holiday and for all the stuff. So it's like
it's just amazing. It's just amazing song. It's like we
(23:40):
got child see so really quickly. Right back. Hey everyone,
(24:15):
we are back with Max and Chelsea. Right now. We
are continuing our conversation about American Idiot right now. We're
talking about the concert. That's the rehearsal right now. And
I was just telling them before we had to go
on our break how much good Britain's Time your Life
gave me chills. And I'm looking forward to hearing about
(24:35):
the Order to Show and like how the arrangements you
have been doing, especially because the challenge is with Time
of your Life in that space, because I've been to
fifty four below multiple times, is how can you play
goods multiple guitars on the one stage without everybody prop
against each other.
Speaker 2 (24:53):
Yeah, I think we are just going to bump into
each other. But it's okay, you know, that's punk, it's
I know love, Yeah, yeah, yeah, I mean yeah, we'll
just you know, a good apology and then we'll you know,
have a we can yell about it in the green room. No,
it's it's uh yeah, it's gonna be amazing. We have
a full band, so we have piano, bass, two guitars.
(25:17):
I'm actually both co producing performing in the show, and
I'm the guitar too in the pit band as well,
so I'll be doing that, which is cool. I've just
built all my tones today for it on my little
pedal boards, so got all that going. And then we
have a full string section as well, which is really
really cool. You know, it's it's gonna be it's gonna
(25:38):
be a blast, and we have the best group of musicians,
best group of singers, so it's uh yeah, it's gonna
be a really special night.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
And I gotta say this, this is like I've been
the fifty four Below and it's just been like calm
and like classical crossover. But this is the first time
I've heard fifty four below actually going to rock out.
Speaker 4 (25:59):
Yeah, it's definitely gonna be.
Speaker 3 (26:03):
We keep saying, blowing the roof off of it is
kind of what it feels like we'll be doing, which
is which is what we should be doing.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
Yeah, agreed, it's a. You know, it's it's such a
legendary spot that it's it's so well. First of all,
it's incredible that they're like having us. I'm super thrilled
about that. And they're being so generous by giving us
both performances, both time slots, which is incredible, and they've
been amazing with We actually had to secure the rights
(26:31):
from mt I to do to do this concert because
we're doing i think it's more than three songs from
one specific musical production. You have to get the Yeah,
you have to get the licensing from mt I. So
MTI has been talking to us, and then we actually
had to get approval from Warner to go on. Me
(26:53):
and Van Hughes and Derek Klena just went on Good
Day New York yesterday to do a promotional spot that
air where we all did Wake Me Up on September ends.
So we got permission from Warner and we're we've been
putting out put in contact with Green Day's manager, so
we now have it on their radar, which is pretty cool.
So that's awesome.
Speaker 1 (27:13):
Yeah, and here's the thing. It would be a little
bit surprising if Billy Joe and his family and or
the guys side to say, Hi, surprise.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
I don't think they are. I think I mean they're
on tour. So as a musician who is on a
much smaller scale tour, it's so hard to like, I
don't know how they're gonna fly up from Central America
and then come back. So you know, maybe they'll do
a video. Who knows, but.
Speaker 1 (27:37):
Yeah, you know that would be the great thing. And
then also before we leave, guys that want to talk
to you guys about because right now it's back to
school and many colleges and high schools or in the
process of picking out shows. And if some of my
listeners are drama teachers, are students that want to go
and play and bring American idiotan mus school in that
(28:00):
and get the permission to get to perform this show,
what advice do you have for the for the kid
actors and also for the directors and these and the
musician and the se musicians to say, what what advice
do you share with them if they do perform American
Idiot the Musical at their schools.
Speaker 3 (28:19):
I mean, first of all, congrats on getting your school
to approve it, because I know some you know, there
are some adult themes, although how adult are they They're
more like teaen themes, but yes, they are slightly adult.
But I definitely say make it yours.
Speaker 2 (28:37):
You know.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
Every I've seen it done a bunch of different ways,
and I think the beauty of the show is that
it is so open to interpretation.
Speaker 4 (28:47):
There's not so much a script. There are letters home.
Speaker 3 (28:52):
And the show itself, you know, because it is a
concept album itself is open to interpretation, you know, like
who what's your name is?
Speaker 1 (29:00):
To you?
Speaker 3 (29:01):
That sentence will make sense if you know the show.
So yeah, i'd say, if you're considering doing the show,
make it yours. Be punk about it.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
Yeah, oh yeah, yeah. I mean I think the first
thing is don't censor it. I saw a production online.
I saw a production online where, instead of saying the
actual lyric I don't know if I can swear on here,
but fuck yeah, okay, cool, So the lyric the subliminal
(29:31):
mind fuck America.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (29:33):
So this high school did a production of it where
they were like the subliminal mind norm America and immediately, dude,
come on, you cannot do that.
Speaker 4 (29:42):
So change the lines, but it can't change the lyrics.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
Absolutely giving them. I got talent. I would give them
a buzzer because the thing is, you don't touch that thing.
And the thing is you would have the principle and
the drama teacher would have said, there are some language,
and there's some language, so there would be very.
Speaker 4 (30:05):
I mean my sensor a show that's anti censorship exactly.
Speaker 2 (30:10):
I mean Johnny's Johnny's first line of the show that
is spoken is February second. Last night I jerked off
into oblivion, and today I forgot to shower. Oh well,
And I think that like perfectly sets the tone of like,
this is the show that you're seeing and it's it's incredible.
Speaker 3 (30:24):
Going through Middle America and specifically we also went to
George Bush's hometown of Midland, Texas, we got more so
it was very normal for us to get walkouts because
what would end up happening is we were on the
season ticket holders schedule, and so you'd end up getting
you know, families and people bringing kids that were way
(30:46):
too young to be seeing this show. And we were
very used to if the first number wasn't loud enough
to get you out, usually Johnny's first line would get
them out. And then if that didn't do it, there was.
There's a kind of a sexy time scene halfway through
the show and are to go.
Speaker 4 (31:07):
I got to watch this. They're out the.
Speaker 1 (31:10):
Duel between Saints to Me and John with their shirts
off or something.
Speaker 4 (31:13):
Yeah, you know, yeah that drugs rock and roll.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
That is the show. True. It's one of those shows
where I'm like, I wish I could explain this and
show a b roll montage to a Victorian child and
see what would happen. Yeah, you know where it's They're like,
what are why are they kissing with all those heroin
tubes wrapped around them? What's happening here? Ballet? Yeah, you're
very used to.
Speaker 4 (31:37):
Shock horror.
Speaker 2 (31:39):
Yeah, but if your school is cool with that, totally
license it because your your students will love it because
they get to you know. I mean, I think the
biggest thing like being genuine is just like a genuine
not you know, half jokey answer is you know, just
like leave it all on the stage, you know, don't
hold anything back. Like It's one of those shows where
(32:02):
the more you put yourself into it, you know, the
better the final product is going to be, and the
more fun you're gonna have doing it. And you know,
I mean it is one of those shows where you
make lifelong friends doing it. It's it's like spring Awakening,
It's like you know, Rent, It's it's these shows that
(32:22):
are about such important topics and are such a communal
and familial environment both on stage and backstage, that you,
you know, you end up making really great connections. And
I think that's a beautiful thing.
Speaker 1 (32:34):
All Right, this is our second to last question. If
they're in the Tri State area, why should they come
to this American Idiot twenty first birthday celebration.
Speaker 2 (32:48):
I mean, because a lot of reasons.
Speaker 4 (32:52):
Because it's amazing, because it's one of the best. The
album is the show.
Speaker 3 (32:58):
The show is the album because we're gonna rock your
fucking socks off.
Speaker 2 (33:03):
That's why it's true. Yeah, well this is just and
this is just the beginning too. I mean, if you
guys want to see like the ground floor beginnings of something,
I mean, me and the other co producers I've been
talking about like doing more things with American Idiot and
seeing what we could do. Maybe next year. You didn't
hear that from me, but you know, maybe we'll well
(33:25):
we'll do something else and well you guys will hear
about that coming up soon, so you know, there's there's
a lot, there's a lot down the pipeline, and if
you guys want to be here at the ground floor
of it, come and check us out.
Speaker 1 (33:37):
Awesome. Last question, are you ready?
Speaker 2 (33:40):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (33:41):
Ready?
Speaker 1 (33:42):
Where can my audience get tickets for the show? And
also where can they connect with you guys?
Speaker 4 (33:48):
Mhm, I'll take it away for texts?
Speaker 2 (33:52):
Yeah, sure, I mean tickets. So the crazy thing is it's, uh,
we've sold out both performances. We did like a press
release and then everybody was so jazzed about the show
that we were able to sell it out. So there's
an online wait list for tickets which you can go
to at fifty four below dot com. Uh, and you
(34:12):
can see and like sign up for the wait lists
and stuff like that. It's definitely worth doing that because
also if you do, fifty four might be like, hey,
let's add another show because we don't look for the
next day.
Speaker 4 (34:23):
So you'll hear us outside who knows exactly.
Speaker 2 (34:26):
Yeah, but it's still definitely worth like coming seeing you know,
people always don't show up, so definitely come and and
and and and come and see us. It's going to
be an incredible, incredible night. As for where you can
connect with me, I actually shameless self promo. I had
an album drop today. Today's the sixteenth, so I had
my new folk rock album drop, which is really cool.
(34:51):
So you can find me on Instagram at max Underscore
Bartos and then Spotify is just my name, uh, which
you can see right here.
Speaker 3 (34:59):
So yeah, and I am on Instagram as well. You
can find me at Chelsea Turbine, which is my last.
Speaker 4 (35:06):
Name to you R, I M that's.
Speaker 2 (35:13):
Oh wait, Jacob, I think you're muted?
Speaker 4 (35:20):
Hmm, how do we get them back?
Speaker 2 (35:25):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (35:25):
Can you hear me now? Guys? Sorry about that everybody,
but after it still, this has been our year six
of podcasting's. Unfortunately, my mic was actually turned up, so guys,
if you missed the episode, head to Jake's Take the
Jake Stake with Jacobi your podcast Jayce, you b e
O y A c h A R. And guys, are
you on social media because I'm on Twitter and YouTube,
(35:48):
Jacobi j You'll be e O y A c h
A R. And guys want to go back to read
to watch my interviews with Matt DeAngelis well and all
my takes on Green Day, Well, visit the blog that
sorted at all, Jake Sashack dot com. Let's get to
Jake sas check dot com. And I'm so happy to
reveal that Jake Stake with Jacobos our podcast is a
twenty twenty five American Business Award winner. I want to
(36:09):
take the entire judges over at American Business Awards for
awarding me the Silver TV for his Best Interview and
Talk Show and got Matt Chelsea. Congratulations on the sold
out show. I'm so honored that you had this opportunity
to come on the podcast. I wish I was there
in spirit and forty fifty four below. If you're listening
streaming this show up, please.
Speaker 2 (36:31):
Please do. Thank you so much for having us.
Speaker 1 (36:33):
Hey guys, thank you so much for watching. Thank you
so much for listening. Until next time, have a rebine.
Everybody go bye
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!