( RollingStone.com ) -- Before the curtain rose for `` American Idiot '' at Manhattan 's St. James Theater last night , an announcer listed the house rules and then added , `` By the way , the role of St. Jimmy will be played by Billie Joe Armstrong . '' The subsequent shrieking was likely the loudest ever for a Broadway stand-in . Green Day 's buildup to the 'breakdown ' : A look back at the punk trio 's career . It was an impressive Broadway debut for the Green Day frontman , whose character is an evil influence on the punky protagonist Jesus of Suburbia ( played by John Gallagher Jr. ) It was also a rare opportunity to see Armstrong in the role : He is filling in for Broadway vet Tony Vincent ( who is on short leave for a family matter ) for eight performances , the last one of which happens Sunday night . His lines were few , but the 38-year-old fell naturally into the flow of the choreography , and of course , he gave inimitable , passionate performances of his own songs ( `` Homecoming , '' `` She 's a Rebel , '' `` Last Night on Earth , '' and `` Know Your Enemy . '' ) 'American Idiot ' musical : Meet the show 's rocker cast . Armstrong appeared 30 minutes into the show , atop a moving staircase , where he howled the `` 1-2-3-4 '' count-off during `` St . Jimmy . '' The applause was deafening as he sang the first lines : He strutted down the stairs , grabbed his crotch during the thrashing breakdown , and joined the rest of the cast in their choreographed moves , shooting them up with heroin . As the track 's final note was struck , he grasped hands with Gallagher , and remained in the position for a full minute , to huge applause . Video : Green Day on 'American Idiot ' `` It turns out he 's a really good actor , '' Michael Alden , a fan in his early twenties , told Rolling Stone after the show . `` He actually danced . There was choreography , and I believed his character . '' Since the musical ( which is based on the 2004 Green Day album of the same name , which itself sold five million copies and won a Grammy for Best Rock Album ) debuted in April , Billie Joe has promoted it tirelessly , once surprising the audience with a short Green Day set , performing with the cast on Monday Night Football and appearing on local New York television . `` These people were on a stage singing my songs -- it was kind of like being invited to your own funeral , '' Armstrong told `` Rolling Stone '' after witnessing the play last spring . `` It blew me away . '' Peter Travers reviews 'American Idiot ' Playing St. Jimmy amounts to Armstrong 's biggest show of support yet for the show , which last week played to half-full houses . ( Last night appeared to be sold out . ) He was respectful of the role , and seemingly intent on not overshadowing the cast -- he never broke character or sang numbers outside of his role . Still , he brought 20 years of stage experience to the role . He stood on a television during `` Know Your Enemy , '' making his trademark bug eyes and pantomiming a gun to his head , and ripped off his shirt during `` The Death of St. Jimmy '' ( revealing plenty of chest tattoos ) as the cast crowded around him until he fell backward into their arms . After the full-cast bow ( Armstrong did n't take his own ) , the curtain reopened while the full cast held acoustic guitars . Armstrong picked the opening notes to for `` Good Riddance ( Time of Your Life ) , '' taking the full first verse -- typically , the cast trades lines -- then left rest of them to the actors . Afterwards , the audience spilled onto 44th Street and a massive mob waited for Armstrong to emerge ( he eventually did , but went straight to his car . ) `` It was surreal to see [ Armstrong ] singing what he wrote up close and personal , '' 19-year-old Natalie Kolbo said outside . `` From the first moment he was there , I was in awe . '' Copyright © 2010 Rolling Stone .
Green Day singer kicks off eight performances as St. Jimmy in the struggling musical . The show is part of a nationwide tour to promote his new album, 'American Idiot.' `` He actually danced . There was choreography , and I believed his character , '' fan says .