American, but no idiot

Drew Rowsome: How did you get the role in American Idiot?

Kelvin Moon Loh: I remember seeing it on Broadway in 2009 and saying, “I don’t care what it takes; I must be a part of this show. I don’t care who I have to sleep with.” Thankfully, I just auditioned.

Did your experience in The Argyle Effect help with getting the role?

I can’t believe you found The Argyle Effect. The band broke up two years ago, and it serves as the remnants of my dreams of being a rock star. It was the best training ground for a show like American Idiot. It was a fun balance of indie-punk and theatricality (I have an arsenal of tricks I can do with a microphone cord). You learn a lot on the road, even when you’re playing to a crowd of three people in Bumblefuck, USA. I vowed I would still give it to them hard (every pun intended), the same way I would to a crowd of thousands.

Your thoughts on the blending of pop-punk with theatre?

It feels so right. I am a huge musical theatre fan, and I will be the first to admit that there is a lot of fluff out there. American Idiot pushes the boundaries using the very essence of punk culture as a device to show you how theatre should be: In your face. Raw. Unapologetic.

Green Day was instrumental in breaking down sexual barriers in the punk scene by championing queer punk band Pansy Division. Does American Idiot have a similar mentality with musical theatre?

I don’t know if American Idiot’s intentions are to break down any sexual barriers. What I can say is, this is a show about outcasts and misfits in search of life’s fullest potential. Black, white, Asian, gay, straight, et cetera — it doesn’t matter — just anyone on the outside, or who has felt like they are on the outside, of what the media tells us is “in.” When I am onstage, I have a moral obligation to represent these people earnestly. Deep in my heart, I represent the gay youth who are, sometimes literally, dying to have their voices heard — their beautiful unique voices. My every performance is for them.

We were told emphatically that American Idiot has a predominantly straight cast.

Gay or straight didn’t really matter here. As far as private lives of other actors in the theatre community — I say everyone is entitled to their privacy. But for me as an actor, I’ve been honing my craft of living truthfully and fully realized onstage. Being a gay man is very much a part of my truth. It goes into everything I do, including American Idiot. Especially American Idiot!

You have a huge list of credits. What role would you like to tackle?

Is it tacky to say that American Idiot is my dream show? Well, it is! But I have a severe desire to play Albin in La Cage Aux Folles. Either that or the first male Christmas Eve in Avenue Q.

You will be in Toronto over New Year’s. Any plans?

Why? You got a date for me? Or two? Our show will be performing on Citytv’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve. But I will be sure to sample the Toronto nightlife. And I won’t be waiting till New Year’s, either . . .

American Idiot runs from Wed, Dec 28-Sun, Jan 15 at the Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 Yonge St. dancaptickets.com

Drew Rowsome is an associate editor at fab, a musical theatre geek and a pop-punk fan who’s grateful the two arts are blending.