Portland's "American Idiot" Aspires to Broadway and Aids Orlando LGBTQ Group

The Green Day rock opera at Triangle theater has kinks, and heart.

High energy angst? Check. Heroin withdrawals set to rock music? Check. Eye-liner and neckties? Check. Everything you could want from the actors of Triangle Production's American Idiot is there in full force, but on opening night, the show was wrought with technical difficulties.

Director Don Horn's choice to stage American Idiot—a production that should be a seizure-inducing, explosive light show of a rock opera—in the quaint Sanctuary at Sandy Plaza was a huge risk. Triangle paid the price for it at points during the show. The acoustics of the room, which used to be used as a church, were not built for power chords. Faulty mic problems throughout the show ended up with actors singing at different volume levels and loud static interrupting guitar solos.

(Provided by Triangle Productions) (Provided by Triangle Productions)

The opening was a lesson in commitment, as performers powered through the technical struggles. Regardless, Triangle Production's American Idiot has great potential, if they can get their mics under control.

GO: American Idiot, The Sanctuary at Sandy Plaza, 1785 NE Sandy Blvd, 503-239-5919, 7:30 pm Thursday-Saturday June 9-July 2. $15-$35. A portion of proceeds benefit The Center, Orlando's LGBTQ advocacy group.

Related: Hundreds Gather in Portland to Light Candles for the Victims of Orlando Nightclub Killings.

Willamette Week

Russell Hausfeld

Russell Hausfeld hails from Cincinnnati, Ohio and writes about arts and culture. Over the last year, he has enjoyed writing about things like pixel art and the dwindling jazz scene in his home town.

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