Back in 2016 when I had just started college, I pressed play on an album that hadn’t even been out for a year. After listening to a couple of songs I decided it wasn’t for me, which isn’t uncommon. This past summer I decided to try the show again; my tastes had changed quite a bit from two years before and I was VERY into this album that I seemed to hate before. I couldn’t stop listening…they had me hooked.
In 2015, Joe Iconis opened his new show Be More Chill at the Two River Theater in Red Bank, New Jersey. With the opening, he released a cast album that picked up little to no traction. The show closed after a six-week run. Then, out of nowhere, fans were coming together to show their support for the show… Unfortunately, they were two years late. But as we should know by now, people will stop at nothing to get what they want and suddenly, Be More Chill was starting it’s Off-Broadway revival run at Pershing Square Signature Center in New York City with an almost identical NJ cast.
So, what is this show? Be More Chill was actually a book written by the late Ned Vizzini in 2004. Joe Iconis’ agent gave him the book saying that it reminded him of something he would like. Enlisting the help of friend Joe Tracz, a book was written for the musical adaption with original music and lyrics by Iconis. You rarely hear a success story about something like this; especially a show that was carried by its fans to BROADWAY.
Be More Chill tells the story of Jeremy Heere, the loserest loser ever (but you love him), who is struggling HARD to fit into his high school. He’s in love with Christine Canigula (THAT musical theatre nerd you know) and signs up for the school play to get closer to her. Jeremy runs into Rich Goranski, the resident school bully, who tempts Jeremy to buy a SQUIP, which already sounds shady but it’s a musical so you just go with it. The SQUIP (super quantum unit intel processor) implants itself in the host’s brain and tells them what to do to become the “best version of themselves,” so high school cool. After Jeremy takes the SQUIP, the show takes a darker turn but still manages to stay light and seriously hilarious. So much happens in this show, but I’ll leave it to you to investigate what happens throughout.
If you listen to the cast recording, keep in mind that it’s just an original cast recording, not a Broadway cast recording, though I suspect with the jump to Broadway, there will be a new recording. The show just recently released the album on vinyl, which I promptly asked for as a birthday present and frequently enjoy. If you’re looking to join the community of crazy Broadway fans this could be the show for you; especially if you love sci-fi, fantasy, romance, and comedy.
Be More Chill is currently playing it’s last week at the Signature. But have no fear, it’ll be back February 13 at the Lyceum Theatre for previews.
Be More Chill by Ned Vizzini is available here. The cast album is available for download here but is available to stream on all streaming sites/devices. If you want the big guns, check out the vinyl here. Also, they’re missing every chance they have to use the best tagline out there… Take the chill pill now.