Billy Elliot star Emily Skinner, Tony winner Shuler Hensley, American Idol vet Justin Guarini and musician Jake La Botz will lead the the world premiere cast of Stephen King and John Mellencamp’s musical Ghost Brothers of Darkland County at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre. Directed by Susan V. Booth and featuring musical direction by T Bone Burnett, the show will begin a 10-day developmental workshop on December 5. Performances for the full production in Atlanta begin April 4, 2012.

Featuring music and lyrics by Mellencamp and a book by King, Ghost Brothers of Darkland County centers on the story of a 1957 tragedy that haunts a small Mississippi town. The show is billed as “a Southern gothic tale fraught with mystery, tragedy and ghosts of the past.”

The cast also features Lucas Kavner, Kate Ferber, Christopher Morgan and country musician Dale Watson, as well as Peter Albrink, Kylie Brown, Lori Beth Edgeman, Gwen Hughes, Joe Jung, Joe Knezevich, Rob Lawhon, Royce Mann and Travis Smith.

In a Facebook message posted on October 13, Skinner wrote, “Get your tx now: Stephen King and John Mellencamp have written what has to be the world’s most heterosexual musical ever imagined. Great story, great music, great cast (including myself)!”

Ghost Brothers of Darkland County will feature scenic design by Todd Rosenthal, choreography by Daniel Pelzig, costume design by Susan E. Mickey, lighting design by Robert Wierzel, media design by Adam Larsen and sound design by Clay Benning.

The show, which was first announced in 2001, was originally slated to be part of Atlanta’s Alliance Theater’s 2008-2009 season. Liv Ullmann had previously been attached as director. A recording of the musical featuring Kris Kristofferson, Elvis Costello, Rosanne Cash, Neko Case, Sheryl Crow and Mellencamp was also announced for release in 2010, but never came to fruition.

Billy Elliot star Emily Skinner, Tony winner Shuler Hensley, American Idol vet Justin Guarini and musician Jake La Botz will lead the the world premiere cast of Stephen King and John Mellencamp’s musical Ghost Brothers of Darkland County at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre. Directed by Susan V. Booth and featuring musical direction by T Bone Burnett, the show will begin a 10-day developmental workshop on December 5. Performances for the full production in Atlanta begin April 4, 2012.

Featuring music and lyrics by Mellencamp and a book by King, Ghost Brothers of Darkland County centers on the story of a 1957 tragedy that haunts a small Mississippi town. The show is billed as “a Southern gothic tale fraught with mystery, tragedy and ghosts of the past.”

The cast also features Lucas Kavner, Kate Ferber, Christopher Morgan and country musician Dale Watson, as well as Peter Albrink, Kylie Brown, Lori Beth Edgeman, Gwen Hughes, Joe Jung, Joe Knezevich, Rob Lawhon, Royce Mann and Travis Smith.

In a Facebook message posted on October 13, Skinner wrote, “Get your tx now: Stephen King and John Mellencamp have written what has to be the world’s most heterosexual musical ever imagined. Great story, great music, great cast (including myself)!”

Ghost Brothers of Darkland County will feature scenic design by Todd Rosenthal, choreography by Daniel Pelzig, costume design by Susan E. Mickey, lighting design by Robert Wierzel, media design by Adam Larsen and sound design by Clay Benning.

The show, which was first announced in 2001, was originally slated to be part of Atlanta’s Alliance Theater’s 2008-2009 season. Liv Ullmann had previously been attached as director. A recording of the musical featuring Kris Kristofferson, Elvis Costello, Rosanne Cash, Neko Case, Sheryl Crow and Mellencamp was also announced for release in 2010, but never came to fruition.

“Justin blew us away in his audition and I am thrilled to have him join the company of American Idiot,” says director and co-book writer Michael Mayer.

Justin’s other theater credits include Once on This Island (Daniel) and The Little Prince (Prince).  He has recorded two solo albums Justin Guarini (RCA Records) and Stranger Things Have Happened; has appeared in the films Fast Girl (Darryl) and From Justin to Kelly (Justin); TV Credits include “Run of the House” (Fox), “Film Fakers” (AMC), “Gone Country” (CMT season 3), “Live With Regis & Kelly” (guest host, ABC)and frequently appears on TV as a host for the TV Guide Channel.   Justin is currently involved with the ETM-LA (Education Through Music LA) which funds music programs in disadvantaged schools and continues to record music  and perform live concerts.

Also joining the cast on March 1, 2011 is Davey Havok (lead vocalist of the American rock band AFI) for a limited two week engagement as “St. Jimmy” and original Broadway cast members Van Hughes and Libby Winters will take over the roles of “Johnny” and “The Extraordinary Girl,” respectively.   Original Broadway cast members John Gallagher Jr. (Johnny), Michael Esper (Will), Christina Sajous (The Extraordinary Girl) and, after a triumphant 50 performance engagement, Green Day frontman and the musical’s composer and co-author, Billie Joe Armstrong (St. Jimmy) will play their final performances February 27, 2011 (Gallagher, Esper and Armstrong) and February 26, 2011 (Sajous).

Called “the first great musical of the 21^st century” by The Toronto Star, AMERICAN IDIOT tells the story of three lifelong friends, forced to choose between their dreams and the safety of suburbia. Their quest for meaning in a post 9-11 world leads them on an exhilarating journey.

Based on Green Day’s groundbreaking rock opera American Idiot, Billie Joe Armstrong and the band collaborate with one of the theatre’s most acclaimed creative teams, led by the Tony Award-winning director Michael Mayer, Pulitzer Prize and two-time Tony Award-winning composer and orchestrator Tom Kitt, and Olivier Award-winning choreographer Steven Hoggett, to bring this explosive, iconic album to the stage.

AMERICAN IDIOT currently stars Tony Award winner John Gallagher Jr. (Spring Awakening), Tony Award Nominee Stark Sands (Journey’s End), Michael Esper (A Man For All Seasons), Rebecca Naomi Jones (Passing Strange), Christina Sajous (The Wild Party), Jeanna de Waal (We Will Rock You – West End) and Billie Joe Armstrong (Green Day).  The cast also features Declan Bennett, Jennifer Bowles, Andrew Call, Gerard Canonico, Miguel Cervantes, Van Hughes, Brian Charles Johnson, Jason Kappus, Lorin Latarro, Omar Lopez-Cepero, Leslie McDonel, Chase Peacock, Wallace Smith, Ben Thompson, Alysha Umphress, Aspen Vincent, Mikey Winslow and Libby Winters.

The show features Tony Award winning scenic design by Christine Jones (Spring Awakening), costume design by Baryshnikov fellow Andrea Lauer (The Butcher of Baraboo), Tony Award winning lighting design by Kevin Adams (Hair), Sound design by Olivier and Obie Award-winner Brian Ronan (Cabaret), as well as video design by Darrel Maloney.  The Music Director is Carmel Dean and Lorin Latarro is the Associate Choreographer.

Reprise Records released The Original Broadway Cast Recording of AMERICAN IDIOT on April 20, 2010, the same day as the show opened.  The official album, which just won the 2011 GRAMMY^® Award for “Best Musical Show Album,” features the original 24-member cast accompanied by Green Day, marking another incredible collaboration between the band and the musical.

Tickets range from $127.00 – $49.00 and can be purchased at The St. James Box Office or via telecharge.com (212-239-6200).  The performance schedule for AMERICAN IDIOT is Tuesday at 7pm, Wednesday 8pm, Thursday at 8pm, Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm & 8pm and Sunday at 3pm and 7:30pm.  www.AmericanIdiotonBroadway.com

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