Be More Chill (musical)
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''Be More Chill'' is a
musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film and television, a genre of film and television that incorporates into the narr ...
with original music and lyrics by
Joe Iconis Joseph Peter Philip Iconis (born September 22, 1981) is an American composer, lyricist, and playwright. He is best known for writing the music and lyrics to the Broadway musical ''Be More Chill''. Early life and education Iconis graduated fr ...
, and a book by Joe Tracz, based on the 2004 novel of the same name by
Ned Vizzini Edison Price Vizzini (April 4, 1981 – December 19, 2013) was an American writer. He was the author of four books for young adults including ''It's Kind of a Funny Story'', which NPR named #56 of the "100 Best-Ever Teen Novels" and which is th ...
. After a 2015 regional theatre production, the musical premiered
off-Broadway An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer tha ...
in 2018. A
Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...
production began previews on February 13, 2019, and officially opened on March 10, 2019. The Broadway production closed on August 11, 2019. An
Off West End Off West End refers to theatres in London which are not included as West End theatres. The term is a relatively recent one, coined after the similar American term "off-Broadway" (though without the same strict definition). It is usually used synony ...
production opened on February 18, 2020 and temporarily closed on March 16, 2020, due to the ongoing
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
with the production being cancelled on June 3, 2020. In 2021, it was announced that the production, featuring the original London cast, would resume performances on the West End at the
Shaftesbury Theatre The Shaftesbury Theatre is a West End theatre, located on Shaftesbury Avenue, in the London Borough of Camden. Opened in 1911 as the New Prince's Theatre, it was the last theatre to be built in Shaftesbury Avenue. History The theatre was d ...
for a 10-week run starting June 30. A Chicago production was set to open in July 2020. As of 2018, a film adaptation is in development.


Productions


Original New Jersey production

The musical premiered on May 30, 2015 at the
Two River Theater Two River Theater is a professional, not-for-profit, regional theater company producing plays and educational programs for audiences from central New Jersey and beyond. It is located in Red Bank, New Jersey, on the peninsula between the Navesink ...
in
Red Bank, New Jersey Red Bank is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. Incorporated in 1908, the community is on the Navesink River, the area's original transportation route to the ocean and other ports. Red Bank is in the New York Metropolitan A ...
. It ran until June 28, 2015. The production was directed by Stephen Brackett and featured orchestrations by Charlie Rosen, music direction by Nathan Dame, and choreography by Chase Brock. It featured Will Connolly as Jeremy, Eric William Morris as The SQUIP (an acronym for "Super Quantum Unit Intel Processor"),
George Salazar George Ernest Salazar (born March 7, 1986) is an American actor, singer, and musician known for his work on and off-Broadway. He made his Broadway debut in the 2011 revival of Stephen Schwartz's ''Godspell''. Salazar originated the role of as ...
as Michael, and
Stephanie Hsu Stephanie Ann Hsu (born November 25, 1990) is an American actress. She originated the theatrical roles of Christine Canigula in ''Be More Chill'' and Karen the Computer in ''The SpongeBob Musical'', performing in the Broadway runs of both. On sc ...
as Christine, as well as Katie Ladner,
Lauren Marcus Lauren Marcus (born November 27, 1985) is an American actress, singer and songwriter. Early life and education Marcus was raised in the suburbs of Chicago, and attended New Trier High School for three years before relocating to Garrison, NY, ...
, Jake Boyd,
Gerard Canonico Gerard Canonico (born July 23, 1989) is an American actor and singer, best known for his roles in Broadway and off-Broadway musicals, including Gavroche in ''Les Misérables'' and Rich Goranski in ''Be More Chill''. He appeared in the films '' Not ...
, Katlyn Carlson, and Paul Whitty. The musical was commissioned by Two River Theater in 2011 as part of their new play development program.


Original Off-Broadway production

After mixed reviews in its out of town tryouts, the show did not receive another production. In early 2017, the show began to gain traction online. A cast recording of the original production entered
Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
Cast Album chart's Top 10 in July 2017. This led to the show getting an
Off-Broadway An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer tha ...
production in 2018. ''Be More Chill'' ran Off-Broadway at the Irene Diamond Stage at the
Pershing Square Signature Center The Pershing Square Signature Center is a complex of three Off-Broadway theatres in the Theatre Row section of West 42nd Street in New York City. It is on the first floors of the 43-floor MiMa Building apartment complex. Pershing Square Signatu ...
. It began previews July 26, 2018, officially opening on August 9, 2018. It was originally scheduled to close on September 23, 2018 but was given a one-week extension after selling out and closed on September 30, 2018. This production featured several original cast members including Hsu, Salazar, Canonico, Carlson, and Marcus reprising their respective roles. New cast members included
Will Roland William Frederick Roland (born March 5, 1989) better known as Will Roland is an American actor and singer, best known for originating the role of Jared Kleinman in the Broadway musical ''Dear Evan Hansen'', for which he received a Grammy and Da ...
as Jeremy,
Jason Tam Jason Tam (born June 28, 1982) is an actor and dancer, born in Honolulu, Hawaii. He graduated from Punahou School for high school and went to CAP 21 in New York City for musical theatre. His most notable roles include Markko Rivera on the dayt ...
as the SQUIP, Britton Smith as Jake, Tiffany Mann as Jenna, and Jason "Sweettooth" Williams as Mr. Heere. The production also added Emily Marshall as music director.


Original Broadway production

On September 5, 2018 a Broadway production was announced. Preview performances at the Lyceum Theatre began on February 13, 2019 and the show officially opened on March 10, 2019. The Broadway transfer was estimated to cost $9.5 million according to lead producer Jerry Goehring. On December 18, 2018, it was announced that the entire Off-Broadway cast would reprise their roles for the Broadway production. Understudies and covers for the Broadway production featured Cameron Bond, Anthony Chatmon II, Morgan Siobhan Green, Troy Iwata, George Salazar, Talia Suskauer, and Joel Waggoner. The production announced its closing on June 20, 2019 and closed on August 11, 2019, playing 30 previews and 177 performances.


Original London production

''Be More Chill'' announced a London run on September 29, 2019. Previews began at
The Other Palace The Other Palace is a theatre in London's Off West End which opened on 18 September 2012 as the St. James Theatre. It features a 312-seat main theatre and a 120-seat studio theatre. It was built on the site of the former Westminster Theatre, w ...
on February 12, 2020, with an opening night set for February 18, 2020. On December 9, 2019, casting for the London production was announced, with Scott Folan as Jeremy, Blake Patrick Anderson as Michael, Miracle Chance as Christine, and Stewart Clarke as the SQUIP. Other cast members included Renée Lamb, Millie O'Connell, Eloise Davies, James Hameed, Miles Paloma, and Christopher Fry. Although the production was scheduled to close on June 14, 2020, it was announced on June 3 that all remaining performances of the show would be cancelled following its early closure on March 16, 2020, due to the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
.


West End Production

On May 14, 2021, it was announced that the production would transfer to London’s West End, resuming performances at the
Shaftesbury Theatre The Shaftesbury Theatre is a West End theatre, located on Shaftesbury Avenue, in the London Borough of Camden. Opened in 1911 as the New Prince's Theatre, it was the last theatre to be built in Shaftesbury Avenue. History The theatre was d ...
for a 10-week run, with the original London cast reprising their roles. The show opened on June 30 and closed on September 5, 2021.


Original Chicago production

On December 12, 2019, the show announced that it would open an 18-week limited engagement run in Chicago at the
Apollo Theater The Apollo Theater is a music hall at 253 West 125th Street between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard (Seventh Avenue) and Frederick Douglass Boulevard (Eighth Avenue) in the Harlem neighborhood of Upper Manhattan in New York City. It is a not ...
. Previews were set to begin April 17, 2020, with an opening night set for April 26, 2020. However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the show's previews were postponed to July 7, 2020, and the opening night was moved to July 17, 2020. The lead role of Jeremy will be played by Liam Oh, while other cast members will include Jeremiah Alsop as Michael, Rebecca Hurd as Christine, Teresa LaGamba as Jenna, Michelle Lauto as Chloe, Eben K. Logan as Brooke, Billy Rude as Jake, Koray Tarhan as Rich, and Alex Goodrich as Mr. Heere/Mr. Reyes. The actor playing the role of the SQUIP is yet to be announced. Due to unforeseen circumstances Be More Chill announced that the production at the Apollo Theater have been cancelled.


Plot


Act One

Jeremy Heere, a high school junior, is a social outcast. He lives with his recently widower father, who works from home and makes Jeremy uncomfortable by refusing to wear pants in the house. At school, Jeremy is bullied by popular student Rich Goranski, who writes "boyf" on his backpack. His best friend, Michael Mell (on whose backpack Rich has written "riends"), tries to comfort Jeremy by telling him that being a loser is okay. Jeremy's long-time crush Christine Canigula signs up for the school play, which prompts him to do so as well. Jeremy wonders if someone can help him ("More Than Survive"). As they wait for the first play rehearsal to begin, Christine professes her love of theatre to Jeremy, because she can play different people and always knows what to say and performs ("I Love Play Rehearsal"). The drama teacher, Mr. Reyes, reveals that the school play will be ''
A Midsummer Night's Dream ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' is a comedy written by William Shakespeare 1595 or 1596. The play is set in Athens, and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One subplot involves a conflict amon ...
'' set in a
post-apocalyptic Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction is a subgenre of speculative fiction in which the Earth's (or another planet's) civilization is collapsing or has collapsed. The apocalypse event may be climatic, such as runaway climate change; astro ...
future, re-titled ''A Midsummer Nightmare (About Zombies)''. During rehearsal, Jake Dillinger, one of the popular boys, flirts with Christine, making Jeremy jealous ("More Than Survive (Reprise)"). Jeremy is confronted in the bathroom by Rich, who tells Jeremy how he managed his rise to popularity: as an unpopular freshman, he took a pill called a "Super Quantum Unit Intel Processor"—a "SQUIP"—containing a computer that implants itself inside the user's brain and tells the user what to do and say. Rich suggests that Jeremy buy one in order to become cooler ("The Squip Song"). While playing video games with Michael, Jeremy tells him about Rich's offer. After an awkward conversation with his dad (still not wearing pants), Jeremy decides to check the SQUIP out. Jeremy assures Michael that, no matter what happens, they'll always be a team ("Two-Player Game"). The two visit the mall to buy the SQUIP from a dealer at
Payless ShoeSource Payless (formerly known as Payless ShoeSource Inc.) is an international discount footwear chain. Established in 1956 by cousins Louis and Shaol Pozez, Payless was a privately held company owned by Blum Capital, and Golden Gate Capital. In 1961, i ...
. Jeremy, as instructed, swallows it with green
Mountain Dew Mountain Dew, stylized as Mtn Dew, is a carbonated soft drink brand produced and owned by PepsiCo. The original formula was invented in 1940 by Tennessee beverage bottlers Barney and Ally Hartman. A revised formula was created by Bill Brid ...
. When the SQUIP activates, it causes Jeremy to have a seizure in front of Christine and Jake ("The Squip Enters"). The SQUIP (in the guise of
Keanu Reeves Keanu Charles Reeves ( ; born September 2, 1964) is a Canadian actor. Born in Beirut and raised in Toronto, Reeves began acting in theatre productions and in television films before making his feature film debut in '' Youngblood'' (1986). ...
), criticizes Jeremy's appearance, personality, and behavior, telling him that everything about him is terrible ("Be More Chill, Pt. 1"). The SQUIP orders him to go to a store to buy a new
Eminem Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem (; often stylized as EMINƎM), is an American rapper and record producer. He is credited with popularizing hip hop in middle America and is critically acclai ...
shirt. Jeremy picks up a woman's shirt and encounters two popular girls from school, Brooke Lohst and Chloe Valentine, and the SQUIP helps Jeremy fabricate a story in order to create empathy with the two girls. They offer Jeremy a ride home ("Do You Wanna Ride?"), which the SQUIP demands he accept, but Jeremy declines because he does not wish to leave Michael in the mall. The girls leave, and the SQUIP lies to Jeremy and tells him that Michael has left the mall. It tells him that in order for its plan to improve his social standing to work, Jeremy needs to obey every order it gives him ("Be More Chill, Pt. 2"). The next day, Jeremy heads to school with renewed confidence, wondering if he might be less invisible than before. The SQUIP delves into the inner psyche of the student body around him, giving Jeremy insight on the fears and insecurities of his fellow peers. Jeremy's SQUIP syncs itself with Rich's, instantly making them friends. Jeremy heads confidently to the play rehearsal ("Sync Up"). Christine tells Jeremy about her feelings for a guy she knows, who Jeremy initially believes is himself, but who turns out to be Jake ("A Guy That I'd Kinda Be Into"). Afterward, the SQUIP informs Jeremy that Christine won't date him until his social standing drastically improves. Encouraging Jeremy to use an interested Brooke as a stepping stone to greater popularity, he hooks up with her, while Jake asks Christine to come to his house ("Upgrade"). Overwhelmed, Jeremy asks the SQUIP to shut itself off for a few minutes. Immediately, Jeremy sees Michael and is elated but Michael states that Jeremy has been ignoring him all day. The SQUIP explains that it was using "
optic nerve In neuroanatomy, the optic nerve, also known as the second cranial nerve, cranial nerve II, or simply CN II, is a paired cranial nerve that transmits visual system, visual information from the retina to the brain. In humans, the optic nerve i ...
blocking" to block Michael from Jeremy's vision and that in order to be more popular he has to "upgrade to Jeremy 2.0." Jeremy eventually decides he is tired of being a loser and turns on optic nerve blocking, leaving him alone with the SQUIP ("Loser Geek Whatever").


Act Two

On Halloween, Jake hosts a large party that features alcohol and other shenanigans ("Halloween"). Christine arrives in her Juliet princess costume because of Jake's past compliment on it, hoping to please Jake, but he brushes her aside to party. Jeremy arrives to meet Brooke, but Chloe, who is jealous of Brooke, tries to seduce Jeremy. Jeremy is uncomfortable and tries to get away, but the SQUIP forces him to remain in the situation as it escalates to Chloe making out with Jeremy ("Do You Wanna Hang?"). Chloe also has Jeremy drink alcohol, causing the SQUIP to malfunction, and then feigns having sex with him, angering Jake and breaking Brooke's heart. Fleeing from Jake and the girls, Jeremy runs into a bathroom, where he finds Michael, who has crashed the party. Michael tries to warn Jeremy of the dangers of the SQUIP, explaining that someone ended up in a mental hospital after they went crazy trying to get it out of their head. Jeremy accuses Michael of being jealous of his popularity and calls him a loser. Michael, devastated and angry, locks himself in the bathroom, where he has a
panic attack Panic attacks are sudden periods of intense fear and discomfort that may include palpitations, sweating, chest pain or chest discomfort, shortness of breath, trembling, dizziness, numbness, confusion, or a feeling of impending doom or of losing ...
and sensory overload as he mourns the loss of his best and only friend ("Michael in the Bathroom"). Jeremy talks to Christine without the SQUIP's help and he asks her out in a burst of confidence ("A Guy That I'd Kinda Be Into (Reprise)"). Christine, who has found herself in an existential crisis after breaking up with Jake, declines. Meanwhile, Rich goes around the party frantically asking people for Mountain Dew Red. Jeremy's SQUIP finally reactivates and reviews the events of the night, prompting Jeremy to leave the party immediately. Rich, alone and desperate, talks to his SQUIP and then sets the house on fire. The next morning, Jenna Rolan, the school gossip, informs everyone that Rich had burned down Jake's house at the end of the party, sending Rich to the hospital and causing Jake to break both of his legs jumping out of a window while trying to escape. The news spreads throughout the school through text and tweeting ("The Smartphone Hour (Rich Set a Fire)"). At home, Jeremy is confronted by his father (still not wearing pants), who brings up Jeremy's new personality and change in attitude. Jeremy reprimands his father for his behavior since the divorce, calling him a loser as well. Shaken by Jeremy's words, Mr. Heere realizes that something is very wrong and that he must take charge. He tracks down Michael and asks him to not give up on his friend. Michael reluctantly agrees to help, on the condition that Mr. Heere puts on some pants and becomes a better father ("The Pants Song"). As the cast prepares for the play, Jeremy encounters Christine, who is shaken and upset about the fire. Jeremy is unhappy with the relationships he has damaged and angrily blames the SQUIP for his misfortunes. The SQUIP instead blames it on "human error" and tells Jeremy he can improve the lives of the rest of the students, and eventually the whole world, by providing them all with SQUIPs. In Rich's locker, Jeremy finds a box full of SQUIPs, which Jeremy then pours into a beaker of Mountain Dew ("The Pitiful Children"). Backstage during the play, Christine confronts Jeremy over his use of the SQUIP, causing him to doubt the plan. However, the SQUIP has already begun to take over others in the play. The SQUIP reveals its intention to sync the entire student body, and then the whole world. Jeremy comes to a realization: Mountain Dew activates the SQUIP, while Mountain Dew Red deactivates it. Michael reappears from the audience with a bottle of Mountain Dew Red, which he gives to Jeremy after making him apologize for his actions, but a SQUIPed Jake dumps most of it out. Jeremy and Michael fight off the controlled students until the SQUIP reveals that Christine has been SQUIPed, and under its influence, she professes her love for Jeremy. Jeremy, however, realizes this is not what he had wanted and makes Christine drink the last of the red Mountain Dew: this causes a chain reaction that destroys the rest of the SQUIPs ("The Play"). Jeremy wakes up in the hospital, sharing a room with Rich, who proudly comes out to Jeremy as
bisexual Bisexuality is a romantic or sexual attraction or behavior toward both males and females, or to more than one gender. It may also be defined to include romantic or sexual attraction to people regardless of their sex or gender identity, whi ...
and is ready to finally be who he really is. Michael visits Jeremy and the two reconcile, and Mr. Heere (finally wearing pants) visits Jeremy as well, informing him that he'll be a better dad. Surrounded by his friends and family, Jeremy realizes that there will always be outside influences, but he needs to learn to make up his own mind instead. He asks Christine out again, and she accepts, kissing him. The SQUIP reveals itself to still be alive, weakly taunting Jeremy from inside his head, but Jeremy ignores it, happily proclaiming that "of all the voices in my head, the loudest one is mine" ("Voices in My Head").


Musical numbers

Source: † – Indicates a song not included on the Cast Album ; Act 1 * "Jeremy's Theme" – Orchestra * "More Than Survive" – Jeremy, Michael & Ensemble * "I Love Play Rehearsal" – Christine * "More Than Survive (Reprise)" – Jeremy * "The SQUIP Song" – Rich & Ensemble * "The SQUIP Song (Reprise 1)" – Jeremy † * "Two-Player Game" – Michael & Jeremy * "The SQUIP Song (Reprise 2)" – Scary Stockboy † * "The Squip Enters" – Jeremy, Christine, Jake, Ensemble * "Be More Chill Pt. 1" – Squip, Jeremy & Mall People * "Do You Wanna Ride?" – Brooke & Chloe * "Be More Chill Pt. 2" – Squip, Jeremy & Mall People * "Sync Up" – Jeremy, Squip, Jake, Rich, Chloe, Brooke, Jenna * "More Than Survive (Reprise)" – Jeremy, Squip & Ensemble * "The SQUIP Lurks" – Orchestra * "A Guy That I'd Kinda Be Into" – Christine, Jeremy, Squip & Ensemble * "Upgrade" – Brooke, Squip, Jeremy, Jake, Christine, Michael & Ensemble * "Loser Geek Whatever" – Jeremy ; Act 2 * "Halloween" – Brooke, Jake, Chloe, Rich, Jenna & Ensemble * "Do You Wanna Hang?" – Chloe * "Michael in the Bathroom" – Michael & Ensemble * "A Guy That I’d Kinda Be Into (Reprise)" – Christine & Jeremy * "The Smartphone Hour" – Jenna, Chloe, Brooke & Ensemble * "The Pants Song" – Mr. Heere & Michael * "The Pitiful Children" – Squip, Jeremy, Jenna & Ensemble * "The Play" – Michael, Jake, Brooke, Chloe, Jeremy, Christine, Squip & Ensemble * "Voices in My Head" – Mr. Heere, Michael, Rich, Jeremy, Jenna, Brooke, Chloe, Jake, Christine & Ensemble ;Notes


Roles and original casts


Original productions

Source:


Recording

The world premiere cast recorded an original cast album on July 21, 2015, which was released on October 31, 2015. The album has since received over 350 million streams online. The cast recording was released on vinyl by
Ghostlight Records Sh-K-Boom Records is an independent record label and producer of recorded and live entertainment, which was founded in 2000 by Kurt Deutsch with the mission of bridging the gap between pop music and theater. In 2004 Sh-K-Boom created their second ...
in July 2018. A recording of the song, "Loser Geek Whatever" was released as a single on November 29, 2018. An original Broadway cast album was recorded in March 2019, and released on May 3, 2019.


Awards and honors


Original Off-Broadway production


Original Broadway production


Reception

Despite a strong fan following online, the show has received mixed reviews from critics. Terry Teachout of ''
The Wall Street Journal ''The Wall Street Journal'' is an American business-focused, international daily newspaper based in New York City, with international editions also available in Chinese and Japanese. The ''Journal'', along with its Asian editions, is published ...
'' wrote, "''Be More Chill'' is one of the strongest new musicals of the past decade, a charming, astutely crafted tale of neurotic post-millennial geeks in love whose appeal is in no way limited to those whom it portrays." Peter Travers of ''Rolling Stone Magazine'' wrote, "The audiences who made this show happen digitally are now making pilgrimages to the Lyceum Theater to see those songs done live by a talented young cast with enough juice to ignite every light on Broadway... By the time Jeremy belts out his final number, 'Voices in My Head,' you’ll be hearing those voices, too, in a wow of a musical that comes on like gangbusters." Reviewing the Off-Broadway production, Ben Brantley of ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'' called the show "the theatrical equivalent of one of those high-pitched dog whistles that only those under 25 can hear," and said that the show would have little to offer for that outside of its tween fandom, as well as criticizing the poor lyricism. He updated his review after seeing the Broadway production and said that even though the show's production values have increased since the Off-Broadway production, it remains "a festival of klutziness" and "the worst of the lot, with a repetitive score, painfully forced rhymes, cartoonish acting and a general approach that mistakes decibel level (literally and metaphorically) for emotional intensity." On the other hand, A.D. Amorosi of ''
Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'' called the Off-Broadway production "a memorable thrill ride, a zealously caffeinated high school musical." Of the Broadway version, Amorosi wrote, "Traditional theatergoing audiences that tend to be older than the teens and twentysomethings that packed the Off-Broadway run will find delicious favor in Iconis’ contagious melodies and tricky lyrics...''Be More Chill'' is Broadway's wiliest and socially savviest night out for teens and parents alike." The
Off-West End Off West End refers to theatres in London which are not included as West End theatres. The term is a relatively recent one, coined after the similar American term " off-Broadway" (though without the same strict definition). It is usually used synon ...
production received mostly positive reviews from critics. Arifa Akbar of ''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'' said the production was "gloriously like its own thing, filled with astute observation alongside delightfully silly humour and storming performances." Claire Allfree of ''
The Telegraph ''The Telegraph'', ''Daily Telegraph'', ''Sunday Telegraph'' and other variant names are popular names for newspapers. Newspapers with these titles include: Australia * ''The Telegraph'' (Adelaide), a newspaper in Adelaide, South Australia, publ ...
'' called the production "a coming-of-age story with fabulous, catchy tunes."


Film adaptation

On October 20, 2018, four months before the show opened on Broadway, it was announced that
Shawn Levy Shawn Adam Levy (born July 23, 1968) is a Canadian film director, film producer, actor, and founder of 21 Laps Entertainment. He has worked across genres and is perhaps best known as the director of the ''Night at the Museum'' film franchise an ...
's
21 Laps Entertainment 21 Laps Entertainment is an American film and television production company founded and run by director-producer Shawn Levy. The company is best known as the producers of ''Stranger Things'', and exclusively distributes content through a partner ...
and
Greg Berlanti Gregory Berlanti (born May 24, 1972) is an American screenwriter, producer and director of film and television. He is known for his work on the television series ''Dawson's Creek'', '' Brothers & Sisters'', ''Everwood'', '' Political Animals'', ...
's
Berlanti Productions Berlanti Productions is an American film and television production company founded by screenwriter, producer and filmmaker Greg Berlanti and producer Mickey Liddell. History The company was founded in 2000 as Berlanti-Liddell Productions by ...
would partner to produce a film adaptation of the musical, with Joe Iconis serving as executive producer.
20th Century Studios 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Disn ...
, who acquired the rights prior to their acquisition by The Walt Disney Company, will distribute.


References

{{reflist


External links


''Be More Chill '' websiteOpening night in London coverage
2015 musicals Musicals based on novels Science fiction musicals Off-Broadway musicals Broadway musicals Teen musicals RICH SET A FIRE