Mars Storm Rucker is a nonbinary performer currently starring as Whatsername in the Mark Taper Forum’s reimagined production of “Green Day’s American Idiot.” This collaboration between the Center Theatre Group and Deaf West Theatre features both Deaf and hearing talent, integrating American Sign Language (ASL), and spoken English.
Described as a high-energy rock musical, “American Idiot” follows three young men who leave behind their mundane suburban lives to confront addiction and seek purpose. The story, set to the music of Green Day’s seventh studio album, unfolds in the aftermath of 9/11.
Although Rucker was not familiar with American Idiot beyond its title track, they were aware of the single “Jesus of Suburbia.”
“For me, I love Green Day through my love of rock. I love rock music, and I feel—I know—Black people created rock,” said Rucker. “As with most genres, we’ve created it, and I see strong parallels between gospel music and rock. That’s part of my enjoyment in how I sing rock.”
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Raised in Houston, Texas, Rucker shared, “That’s a huge part of who I am. I am very, very Southern.” They later studied at the University of Oklahoma and, eventually, at the Manhattan School of Music, focusing on musical theatre.
Rucker explained that their name was inspired by the character Mars Blackmon in Spike Lee’s “She’s Gotta Have It,” which was also a family nickname.
“When I was younger, I was paralyzed at the age of six, and I recovered from that miraculously,” said Rucker. “I feel like a lot of my life has been about persevering through trauma and oppression… I feel like my name perfectly represents who I am.”
Rucker identifies as a proud Black, queer, nonbinary person, adding that their queerness aligns with their Blackness.
“That goes back to African and Indigenous practices of not aligning with gender,” they explained. “That was Eurocentric and placed on Black bodies.”
Rucker described their character Whatsername as complicated. Whatsername, who is also nonbinary, is in a codependent relationship with a man struggling with drug addiction.
“There’s no name for the character, so it’s hard to bring autonomy to a character that has no name. But in this show, we’re trying to tell the story of a partner holding space for someone going through [drug] abuse,” said Rucker.
“Oftentimes, when you’re in that space, you’re trying to save them, but at some point, you [realize], ‘This is the work you have to do on your own, and I can’t make you take care of yourself and heal yourself.’”
Rucker believes that Whatsername ultimately learns to prioritize self-care.
“I think, as Black people, we’ve just been taught to do that all the time, and so that’s kind of how I approach the character,” said Rucker.
“I’ve been raised and taught to take care of everybody else… but sometimes you forget to take care of yourself.”
Rucker is excited to work with deaf artists in the Center Theatre Group production of “American Idiot,” especially Black deaf individuals represented in the show. They are also eager to shed light on the unique challenges faced by Black deaf people.
“I think that’s something we’re beautifully highlighting,” said Rucker. “The oppressions and stereotypes about deaf people and breaking those perceptions—I feel like I can be an ally in that space.”
