Grammy winner Melissa Etheridge will be the latest rocker to step into the shoes of American Idiot's sinister drug dealer, St. Jimmy. Etheridge will take over the role for one week only from February 1 through February 6, while the show's current St. Jimmy, Green Day front man and show composer Billie Joe Armstrong, briefly departs the production.
"Billie Joe and I always believed that it would be incredible to have a woman take on the role of St. Jimmy," Idiot's director Michael Mayer said in a statement. "This character is seductive, thrilling and dangerous. Melissa Etheridge is all that and so much more. She's a rock icon and we couldn't be more thrilled that she's bringing her immense talent to American Idiot."
Etheridge has received Grammy Awards for Best Female Rock Vocal twice for "Ain't It Heavy" and "Come to My Window." She is also known for hits such as "Bring Me Some Water" and "I'm the Only One". This marks the second recent Broadway appearence for Etheridge who appeared with the cast of Million Dollar Quartet for a post-show performance last summer. After her engagment with Idiot she will embark on a Canadian tour in support of her latest album, Fearless Love.
American Idiot also stars John Gallagher Jr. as Johnny, Michael Esper as Will, Stark Sands as Tunny, Rebecca Naomi Jones as Whatsername, Christina Sajous as Extraordinary Girl and Jeena de Waal as Heather. On February 10 Armstrong will return to complete his limited engagement through February 27.