New York City - The producers of the critically acclaimed "American Idiot" have announced that Oscar® and Grammy® Award winning rock star Melissa Etheridge will play the role of "St. Jimmy" for a one-week engagement, February 1 to February 6, 2011. Etheridge is one of the most iconic recording artists in the music industry. For the rest of the month, Green Day frontman and the musical's composer and co-author Billie Joe Armstrong will return to the role of "St. Jimmy" and complete his 50 performances, limited engagement from February 10 to February 27, at the St. James Theatre.

St. Jimmy 2011 Performance Schedule:
Billie Joe Armstrong: January 18 to January 30
Melissa Etheridge: February 1 to February 6
Billie Joe Armstrong: February 10 to February 27

"Billie Joe and I always believed that it would be incredible to have a woman take on the role of St. Jimmy. 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,'" says Michael Mayer.

The performance schedule for "American Idiot" is Tuesday at 7 p.m., Wednesday at 8 p.m., Thursday at 8 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

"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.

In addition to either Armstrong or Etheridge, "American Idiot" 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"), and Jeanna de Waal ("We Will Rock You - West End"). The cast also features Declan Bennett, Jennifer Bowles, Andrew Call, Gerard Canonico, Miguel Cervantes, Van Hughes, Brian Charles Johnson, Lorin Latarro, Omar Lopez-Cepero, Leslie McDonel, Chase Peacock, Wallace Smith, Theo Stockman, 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 features the original 24-member cast accompanied by Green Day, marking another incredible collaboration between the band and the musical. The Original Broadway Cast Recording of "American Idiot" is nominated for a 2011 Grammy® Award for Best Musical Show Album.

Tickets range from $49 to $137 and can be purchased at The St. James Box Office or via telecharge.com at 212-239-6200.