Front L to R) Leslie McDonel, Gabrielle McClinton and Krystina Alabado. (Back L to R) Talia Aaron, Nicci Claspell and Jillian Mueller in “American Idiot.” Michael Mayer on writing the musical based on Green Day's album: “There were these notes, sort of letters that he'd written as extra material. They're dated and each one relates to one of the songs. The text felt really fresh to me. There's a deeply poetic aspect to it that felt right for these young rebels. And it gave me a nice timeline.”