Be More Chill

New musical Be More Chill to stage NY premiere at Pershing Square Signature Center

Joe Iconis and Joe Tracz's original musical Be More Chill will run off-Broadway from July 26 through to September 23, 2018.

Tom Millward
Tom Millward

Be More Chill, an original musical with music and lyrics by Joe Iconis and a book by Joe Tracz, will stage its New York premiere at Pershing Square Signature Center this summer. Performances begin at The Irene Diamond Stage on July 26, 2018, before an official opening on August 9 and a limited run through to September 23, 2018.

Synopsis: "Based on the cult sensation novel by Ned Vizzini, Be More Chill is the story of Jeremy Heere, your average, nothing-special teenager at Middleborough High in nothing-special New Jersey. That is, until the day he finds out about "The Squip." Thus begins a journey that pits Jeremy's desire to be popular against his struggle to remain true to his authentic self. Be More Chill is an honest, edgy, super-hilarious look at coming of age in the digital age, set to some of the most exciting songs in contemporary musical theater. This original musical comedy looks at modern issues like depression, bullying, and anxiety through the lens of sci-fi films of the 50s, horror flicks of the 80s, and teen movies of the 90s. Little Shop of Horrors meets The Breakfast Club in this celebration of outcasts, teenaged or otherwise."

The cast includes original members from the 2015 Two River Theater production (in Red Bank, NJ), including Gerard Canonico (as Rich), Katlyn Carlson (as Chloe), Stephanie Hsu (as Christine), Lauren Marcus (as Brooke), and George Salazar (as Michael), alongside new additions Will Roland (as Jeremy) and Jason SweetTooth Williams (as Jeremy's Dad/Mr. Reyes).

Directed by Stephen Brackett and choreogrpahed by Chase Brock, Be More Chill also features musical direction by Emily Marshall, orchestrations by Charlie Rosen, scenic design by Clint Ramos, costume design by Bobby Frederick Tilley II, lighting design by Tyler Micoleau, and sound design by Ryan Rumery.

Be More Chill is produced off-Broadway by Gerald Goehring, Michael F. Mitri, Jennifer Ashley Tepper, Marc David Levine, Fred and Randi Sternfeld, Robert and Joan Rechnitz and Gary and Marlene Cohen.

Originally published on

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