American Idiot — University of California, Irvine

Design Notes

For American Idiot, I developed a scenic design that channels the raw, unfiltered energy of Green Day’s music into a bold visual world rooted in the tension between suburban monotony and urban decay. Performed on the Claire Trevor Theatre stage at the University of California, Irvine and directed by Andrew Palermo, this production reimagined the show’s restless spirit through a Southern California lens—specifically, suburban Los Angeles.

My design was heavily influenced by a concrete pedestrian bridge in Irvine that connects the university to University Town Center. This structure became a central metaphor for the characters' longing to escape and their inability to fully detach. The set was built from modular concrete forms and industrial elements, evoking a world that feels stark, permanent, and emotionally suffocating—mirroring the disconnection and frustration of a generation coming of age in a post-9/11 America.

We departed from the original Broadway concept that relied heavily on TV screens and instead leaned into a more immersive, physical design. The projection design by Elizabeth Barrett became a stunning visual layer, replacing static media with visceral spectacle and fluid transitions. Her work complemented the minimalist environment, allowing the emotional undercurrents of each song to take center stage.

Throughout the production, the set remained a constant—unyielding and grounded—while the characters fought to redefine themselves within it. This resistance between space and identity amplified the themes of rebellion and transformation. The scenic design allowed the performers to inhabit a space that was at once real and symbolic, grounded in place but open to interpretation.

By merging local architectural inspiration with the emotional pulse of American Idiot, the set design created a world that felt both personal and political—an anthem built in concrete.