Be More Chill

A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Be More Chill

Full-Length Musical, Comedy  /  4w, 6m plus ensemble

Music and Lyrics by Joe Iconis
Book by Joe Tracz

Based on the novel by Ned Vizzini

The fan-favourite musical Be More Chill is a rocking new sci-fi musical about growing up, high school, and what we’re willing to do to get what we want.

Image: 2019 Broadway Production (Maria Baranova)

Be More Chill

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    4w, 6m plus ensemble
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Adaptation (Literature)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for All Audiences
Accolades
Accolades
  • Nominee: 2019 Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Musical
    Nominee: 2019 Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Orchestrations
    Nominee: 2019 Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Lyrics
    Nominee: 2019 Tony Award, Best Original Score
Be More Chill

Details

Summary

Broadway/West End Version!

Jeremy Heere is just an average teenager. That is, until he finds out about “The Squip”, a tiny supercomputer that promises to bring him everything he desires most: a date with Christine, an invite to the raddest party of the year and a chance to survive life in his suburban New Jersey high school. But is being the most popular guy in school worth the risk? A hit on Broadway and in the West End, Be More Chill is based on the novel by Ned Vizzini.

History
Be More Chill premiered on 30 May 2015 at the Two River Theater in Red Bank, New Jersey. The show’s cast recording gained a huge following online, reaching the Top 10 of Billboard's Cast Album chart in July 2017. On 9 August 2018, Be More Chill opened off-Broadway at the Irene Diamond Stage at the Pershing Square Signature Center. On 10 March 2019, Be More Chill opened on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre, where it played until 11 August 2019. The show made its UK premiere at The Other Place on 18 February 2020. The production later transferred to the West End, resuming performances at the Shaftesbury Theatre on 30 June 2021.
Cast Attributes
Keywords
Performing Groups

PRINCIPALS
3 Men
1 Woman

FEATURED
3 Men
3 Women

CHARACTERS
Jeremy Heere (Range: A2-A4) – awkward high school junior
Christine Canigula (Range: F3-D5) – passionate high school theater girl
Michael Mell (Range: B2-A4) – Jeremy’s retro-obsessed best friend
Jake Dillinger (Range: Db3-Bb4) – high school awesomeness personified
Rich Goranski (Range: Bb2-A4 w/ opt. E5) – five feet four inches of teenage bully
Chloe Valentine (Range: B3-Eb5) – the more popular girl in school, crass and confident
Brooke Lohst (Range: Bb3-Eb5) – the second most popular girl in school, insecure
Jenna Rolan (Range: G3-G5) – that girl who knows everyone's business
Mr. Heere (Range: Ab2-A4) – Jeremy’s dad, never wears pants. Also plays: Mr. Reyes, Scary Stockboy
The Squip (Range: F#2-Ab4) – the supercomputer in Jeremy’s head

ENSEMBLE
In our original production of Be More Chill there was no ensemble—the actors who played the main characters effectively doubled as the student body, mall shoppers, and the neighborhood teens during “Smartphone Hour” and that worked out just fine. If you find yourself in the position of having more actors than our script has roles, feel free to add an ensemble as you see fit.

DOUBLING
In our original production, the roles of Mr Heere, Mr Reyes and Scary Stock Boy were played by the same actor. We think that this doubling that works nicely, but feel free to cast three actors in these roles.

CASTING
Be More Chill works best with a cast of diverse misfits who ooze personality and smarts. This isn’t a musical for the popular kids, this is a musical for the Other kids. Be brave when choosing the right people for the roles and don’t get hung up on traditional “types.”

  • Time Period Present Day
  • Setting Suburban New Jersey. The present.
  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)

Media

“A high-energy, imaginative, well-crafted world premiere musical!” –The Star-Ledger

“With its easily relatable characters, clever twists and ebullient songs, it engages you from beginning to end. A go-to choice for high school drama clubs everywhere.” – NJArts

“A vibrant, inventive musical that makes the most of every moment!” – BroadwayWorld

“If you have a teen, know a teen or can rent a teen, take them to see a show all about them. It might even start a larger discussion afterward.” – TheaterCues.com

“Sharp and smart, the musical perfectly balances the tragedy and hilarity of high school!” – Tri City News

“Hip, energetic, vibrant and young!” – The Social Media Chef

Videos

  • BE MORE CHILL on Broadway - Highlights youtube thumbnail

    BE MORE CHILL on Broadway - Highlights

  • Joe Iconis youtube thumbnail

    Joe Iconis

  • BE MORE CHILL on LIVE WITH KELLY AND RYAN youtube thumbnail

    BE MORE CHILL on LIVE WITH KELLY AND RYAN

  • Broadway Cast of BE MORE CHILL Performs 'Two Player Game' on GMA youtube thumbnail

    Broadway Cast of BE MORE CHILL Performs 'Two Player Game' on GMA

Photos

  • Be More Chill

    Image: 2019 Broadway Production (Maria Baranova)

  • Be More Chill

    Image: 2019 Broadway Production (Maria Baranova)

Music

Music Samples

Act I

0. “Opening (Jeremy’s Theme)” – Instrumental
1. “More Than Survive” – Jeremy, Michael, Students
1a. “Jeremy Takes a Leap” – Jeremy
2. “I Love Play Rehearsal” – Christine
2a. “Brooke Makes an Entrance (and Exit)” – Brooke
2b. “More Than Survive (Reprise 1)” – Jeremy
3. “The Squip Song” – Rich, Ensemble
3a. “The Squip Song (Reprise 1)” – Jeremy
4. “Two-Player Game” – Jeremy, Michael
4a. “The Squip Song (Reprise 2)” – Scary Stockboy
4b. “Squip Underscoring” – Instrumental
5. “Be More Chill” – The Squip, Jeremy, Brooke, Chloe, Shoppers
6. “Sync Up” – Jeremy, Jake, Brooke, Chloe, Rich, Ensemble
6a. “Real Talk” – Instrumental
7. “A Guy That I’d Kinda Be Into” – Christine, Jeremy, The Squip, Ensemble
7a. “The Squip Lurks” – Instrumental
7b. “Eminem is Dead” – Instrumental
8. “Upgrade” – Brooke, Jeremy, The Squip, Jake, Christine, Ensemble
9. “Loser Geek Whatever” – Jeremy, Ensemble

Act II

10. “Entr’acte/Halloween” – Jake, Brooke, Chloe, Rich, Jenna, Ensemble
10a. “Do You Wanna Hang?” – Chloe
10b. “Jake Interrupts” – Instrumental
10c. “Michael Confronts Jeremy” – Instrumental
11. “Michael in the Bathroom” – Michael, Ensemble
11a. “Guy That I’d Kinda Be Into (Reprise)” – Christine, Jeremy
11b. “Lara” – Rich
12. “The Smartphone Hour (Rich Set a Fire)” – Brooke, Chloe, Jenna, Ensemble
12a. “Pants on Fire” – Instrumental
13. “The Pants Song” – Mr. Heere, Michael
13a. “Pants Playoff” – Instrumental
14. “The Pitiful Children” – The Squip, Jeremy, Jenna, Ensemble
15. “The Play” – Jeremy, Michael, Christine, Brooke, Chloe, The Squip
16. “Voices in My Head” – Jeremy, Michael, Christine, Mr. Heere, Jake, Brooke, Chloe, Rich, Jenna, Ensemble
17. “Bows” – Instrumental

Charlie Rosen’s brilliant orchestration for Be More Chill features several unconventional instruments - Theremin, Vocoder, etc. While we feel that these instruments are essential to maintaining the integrity of the arrangement, we understand that not every theater happens to have a Theremin lying around. So, we recommend using a synthesizer or computer program to execute some of those strange and unusual sounds. Just keep in mind that the inspiration for the sound of Be More Chill comes from sci-fi/horror soundtracks of the early 1980s (think John Carpenter, Oigno Boingo, and Tangerine Dream) and monster/space invader movies of the 1950s (think Bernard Hermann.) The songs are 100% musical theater, but they shouldn’t sound like they’re in the world of “contemporary music theater.” Let this show sound weird, alive, surprising. Embrace its strangeness.

1   Keyboard 1-Conductor (rehearsal & performance)
1   Trumpet/Theremin – Trumpet, Theremin, Soprano Recorder
1   Reed/Keyboard 2 – Keyboard, Vocoder, Flute, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Alto Recorder, Tenor Recorder
1   Drums – Drum Kit, SPD, Glockenspiel, Trine, Ice Bell, Whistle, Mounted Castanets
1   Guitar – Electric, Nylon String Acoustic, Steel String Acoustic
1   Bass – Electric

Click Tracks – QLab file

Please note that this orchestration is for the 2021 Broadway/West End Version.
  • Musical Style Contemporary Broadway
  • Dance Requirements Moderate
  • Vocal DemandsModerate
  • Orchestra Size Small/Combo
  • Chorus Size No Chorus

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

Music Rentals

Concord offers a full suite of resources to help you put on the show of a lifetime!

12   Libretto-Vocal Book
1   Keyboard 1-Conductor (rehearsal & performance)

1   Trumpet/Theremin – Trumpet, Theremin, Soprano Recorder
1   Reed/Keyboard 2 – Keyboard, Vocoder, Flute, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Alto Recorder, Tenor Recorder
1   Drums – Drum Kit, SPD, Glockenspiel, Trine, Ice Bell, Whistle, Mounted Castanets
1   Guitar – Electric, Nylon String Acoustic, Steel String Acoustic
1   Bass – Electric

DIGITAL DOWNLOAD: 
Click Tracks – QLab file

Please note that this package is for the 2021 Broadway/West End Version.



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Authors

Joe Iconis

Joe Iconis

Joe Iconis is a musical theater writer and performer. He has been nominated for a Tony Award, four Drama Desk Awards, two Lucille Lortel Awards, two Outer Critics’ Circle Awards, and is the recipient of an Ed Kleban Award, a Jonathan Larson Award, a a Richard Rodgers Award, t ...

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Joe Tracz

Joe Tracz

Joe Tracz is a writer whose work has been seen on Broadway in Be More Chill (with Joe Iconis) and The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical (with Rob Rokicki; Drama Desk nominee for Outstanding Book). Other credits include the musical Poster Boy (with Craig Carnelia, Wil ...

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Ned Vizzini

Ned Vizzini

Ned Vizzini was the author of It's Kind of a Funny Story ("insightful and utterly authentic" --New York Times Book Review), Be More Chill, and Teen Angst? Naaah.... His work has been honored by the American Library Association, BookSense, and the New York Public Library and h ...

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