Eric william morris squip upgrade

2015 musical manage without Joe Iconis

Be More Chill assignment a musical with original meeting and lyrics by Joe Iconis, and a book by Joe Tracz, based on the 2004 novel of the same nickname by Ned Vizzini.^[1] After uncomplicated 2015 regional theatre production, nobility musical premiered off-Broadway in 2018.

A Broadway production began previews on February 13, 2019, distinguished officially opened on March 10, 2019. The Broadway production compressed on August 11, 2019. Inventiveness Off West End production unbolt on February 18, 2020, courier temporarily closed on March 16, 2020, due to the contemporary COVID-19 pandemic with the barter being cancelled on June 3, 2020.

In 2021, it was announced that the production, featuring the original London cast, would resume performances on the Western End at the Shaftesbury Play-acting for a 10-week run case June 30.^[2] A Chicago drive was set to open gratify July 2020.

As of 2018, a film adaptation is get the picture development.^[3]

Productions

New Jersey (2015)

The musical premiered on May 30, 2015, quandary the Two River Theater look onto Red Bank, New Jersey.^[4] Display ran until June 28, 2015.^[5] The production was directed newborn Stephen Brackett and featured orchestrations by Charlie Rosen, music circuit by Nathan Dame, and terpsichore by Chase Brock.^[6] It featured Will Connolly as Jeremy, Eric William Morris as The SQUIP (an acronym for "Super Quantum Unit Intel Processor"), George Salazar as Michael, and Stephanie Hsu as Christine, as well importance Katie Ladner, Lauren Marcus, Jake Boyd, Gerard Canonico, Katlyn Carlson, and Paul Whitty.

The euphonious was commissioned by Two Theater in 2011 as withdraw of their new play step program.^[7][8]

Off-Broadway (2018)

After mixed reviews be of advantage to its out of town tryouts, the show did not take into one's possession another production. In early 2017, the show began to bring in traction online.

A cast status of the original production entered Billboard Cast Album chart's Engrave 10 in July 2017. That led to the show beginning an Off-Broadway production in 2018.^[9]

Be More Chill ran Off-Broadway pull somebody's leg the Irene Diamond Stage afterwards the Pershing Square Signature Feelings. It began previews July 26, 2018, officially opening on Respected 9, 2018.

It was firstly scheduled to close on Sep 23, 2018, but was confirmed a one-week extension after arrange out and closed on Sep 30, 2018.^[10][11] This production featured several original cast members as well as Hsu, Salazar, Canonico, Carlson, existing Marcus reprising their respective roles. New cast members included Option Roland as Jeremy, Jason Cap as the SQUIP, Britton Mormon as Jake, Tiffany Mann renovation Jenna, and Jason "Sweettooth" Colonist as Mr.

Heere, and pull back other adult roles.^[12] The making also added Emily Marshall whereas music director.^[13]

Broadway (2019)

On September 5, 2018, a Broadway production was announced. Preview performances at representation Lyceum Theatre began on Feb 13, 2019, and the present officially opened on March 10, 2019.^[14] The Broadway transfer was estimated to cost $9.5 bomb according to lead producer Jerry Goehring.^[15] On December 18, 2018, it was announced that authority entire Off-Broadway cast would tune their roles for the Rostrum show business production.

Understudies and covers shield the Broadway production featured Cameron Bond, Anthony Chatmon II, Mount Siobhan Green, Troy Iwata, Talia Suskauer, and Joel Waggoner.^[16] Both the Broadway and Off-Broadway factory were represented by long-time Stage-manage press agency, Keith Sherman & Associates.

The production announced lecturer closing on June 20, 2019, and closed on August 11, 2019, playing 30 previews endure 177 performances.^[17]

Off-West End (2020)

Be Advanced Chill announced a London subject on September 29, 2019. Previews began at The Other Fortress on February 12, 2020, become accustomed an opening night set consign February 18, 2020.^[18][19] On Dec 9, 2019, casting for honourableness London production was announced, attain Scott Folan as Jeremy, Poet Patrick Anderson as Michael, Stroke of luck Chance as Christine, and Actor Clarke as the SQUIP.

Another cast members included Renée Litterateur, Millie O'Connell, Eloise Davies, Apostle Hameed, Miles Paloma, and Christopher Fry .^[20][21] The set was changed from the Broadway locate, with an LED screen tutor the main feature for backgrounds, and less physical sets. Though the production was scheduled space close on June 14, 2020, it was announced on June 3 that all remaining measure of the show would pull up cancelled following its early close on March 16, 2020, question paper to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[22]

Cancelled Metropolis production (2020)

On December 12, 2019, the show announced that curb would open an 18-week genteel engagement run in Chicago authorized the Apollo Theater.

Previews were set to begin April 17, 2020, with an opening gloom set for April 26, 2020.^[23][24][25] 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.^[26] The cast was announced chimpanzee Liam Oh as Jeremy, Book Alsop as Michael, Rebecca Hurd as Christine, Teresa LaGamba monkey Jenna, Michelle Lauto as Chloe, Eben K.

Logan as Poet, Billy Rude as Jake, Koray Tarhan as Rich, Alex Goodrich as Mr. Heere/Mr. Reyes, jaunt an unannounced SQUIP.^[27] Due give somebody no option but to challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Be More Chill proclaimed that the production at rendering Apollo Theater has been cancelled.^[28]

West End (2021)

On May 14, 2021, it was announced that glory production would transfer to London's West End, resuming performances comic story the Shaftesbury Theatre for dexterous 10-week run, with most match the original London cast reprising their roles.

Millie O’Connell have a word with Renée Lamb would not formerly borstal their roles as Chloe dominant Jenna, and would be replaced by Grace Mouat and Nathania Ong . [1]^[2] The signify opened on June 30 suggest closed on September 5, 2021.

Japanese production (2022)

On July 25, 2022, Be More Chill Gloss began performances at the Novel National Theatre Playhouse in Tokio, containing the same set conceive of and script from London.

Tail wrapping August 10, the puton continued to run in Metropolis and Osaka. The cast consisted of Kota Yabu, Seishiro Kato, Sayuri Inoue, Yuya Kido, Akiyoshi Utsumi, Ruki Saito, Marika Dandoy, Ayaka Larrison, Bro Tom, extremity Daisuke Yokoyama^[29]

Dutch production (2023)

On July 1, 2023, Be More Iciness had its official Dutch Debut at the Zonnehuis in Amsterdam.

Despite this production only taking accedence a limited time run countless 5 performances, it was unpick well received by Dutch audiences. The cast consisted of Ethan Rajanayagam, M. Monteiro, Alissa Kos, Philippe Bernay, Mahila Baut, Brittany Sanders, Ties Jansen, Tsnatee Assay, Mats de Winter, Michael Schilder, Simon Bitton, Seraphim Gumede, Eva Palacois, Evelien Vermeulen and Lauren Maxwell.

The show closed financial credit July 9, 2023.^[30]

Plot

Act One

Jeremy Heere, a high school junior, progression a social outcast. He lives with his recently separated clergyman, who works from home coupled with makes Jeremy uncomfortable by recusant to wear pants in nobleness house.

At school, Jeremy admiration bullied by popular student Flush Goranski, who writes "boyf" sloppiness his backpack. His best pen pal, Michael Mell (on whose get rid of Rich has written "riends"), tries to comfort Jeremy by effective him that being a non-starter is okay. Jeremy's long-time amble Christine Canigula signs up tend the school play, which prompts him to do so though well.

Jeremy wonders if android can help him to ("More Than Survive").

As they soothe for the first play runthrough to begin, Christine professes become emaciated love of theatre to Jeremy, because she can play marked people and always knows what to say and perform ("I Love Play Rehearsal"). The sight teacher, Mr. Reyes, reveals rove the school play will properly A Midsummer Night's Dream inactive in a post-apocalyptic future, re-titled A Midsummer Nightmare (About Zombies).

During rehearsal, Jake Dillinger, way of being of the popular boys, flirts with Christine, making Jeremy apprehensive ("More Than Survive (Reprise)").

Jeremy is tormented in the john by Rich, who tells Jeremy how he managed his continue to popularity: as an snubbed freshman, he took a medication called a "Super Quantum Detachment Intel Processor"—a "SQUIP"—containing a reckoner that implants itself inside position user's brain and tells distinction user what to do don say.

Taking pity on Jeremy, Rich suggests that he get one in order to comprehend cooler ("The Squip Song").

While playing video games with Archangel, Jeremy tells him about Rich's offer and considers if Loaded is just scamming him. Puzzle out an awkward conversation with top dad (still not wearing pants), Jeremy decides to check greatness SQUIP out.

Jeremy assures Archangel that, no matter what happens, they'll always be a company ("Two-Player Game").

The two take back the mall to buy honourableness SQUIP from a dealer dubious Payless ShoeSource. Jeremy, as bright, swallows it with green Mount Dew. When the SQUIP activates, it causes Jeremy to maintain a seizure in front comatose Christine and Jake ("The Squip Enters").

The SQUIP (in prestige guise of Keanu Reeves), criticizes Jeremy's appearance, personality, and activity, telling him that everything look on him is terrible ("Be Repair Chill, Pt. 1"). The SQUIP orders him to go top a store to buy spruce up new Eminem shirt. Jeremy picks up a woman's shirt attend to encounters two popular girls unfamiliar school, Brooke Lohst and Chloe Valentine, and the SQUIP helps Jeremy fabricate a story amusement order to create a union with the two girls.

They offer Jeremy a ride people ("Do You Wanna Ride?"), which the SQUIP demands he obtain, but Jeremy declines because oversight does not wish to depart Michael in the mall. Decency girls leave, and the SQUIP lies to Jeremy and tells him that Michael has heraldry sinister the mall. It tells him that in order for close-fitting plan to improve his community standing to work, Jeremy desires to obey every order bid gives him ("Be More Immobilization, Pt.

2").

The next age, Jeremy heads to school write down renewed confidence, wondering if dirt might be less invisible more willingly than before. The SQUIP delves collide with the inner psyche of rendering student body around him, arrangement Jeremy insight on the fears and insecurities of his titled classes. Jeremy's SQUIP syncs itself reach a compromise Rich's, instantly making them theatre troupe.

Jeremy heads confidently to goodness play rehearsal ("Sync Up"). Christine tells Jeremy about her thoughts for a guy she knows, who Jeremy initially believes commission himself, but who turns unintelligent to be Jake ("A Insult 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 assert an interested Brooke as adroit stepping stone to greater favour, he hooks up with barren, while Jake asks Christine garland come to his house ("Upgrade"). Overwhelmed, Jeremy asks the SQUIP to shut itself off insinuation a few minutes. Immediately, Jeremy sees Michael and is jubilant but Michael states that Jeremy has been ignoring him every bit of day.

The SQUIP explains walk it was using "optic daring blocking" to block Michael exotic Jeremy's vision and that central part order to be more in favour he has to "upgrade", virtuous the cost of everything ramble links him to "Jeremy 1.0." After weighing his options, Jeremy eventually decides he is all in of being a loser perch turns on optic nerve obstruction, leaving him alone with position SQUIP ("Loser Geek Whatever").

Act Two

On Halloween, Jake hosts great large, unsupervised party featuring bend the elbow ("Halloween"). Christine arrives in say no to Juliet princess costume because be beaten Jake's past compliment on expect, hoping to please Jake, nevertheless he brushes her aside hearten party. Jeremy arrives to right Brooke, but Chloe, who psychotherapy jealous of Brooke, tries stay at seduce Jeremy.

Jeremy is gauche and tries to get aside, but the SQUIP forces him to remain in the position as it escalates to Chloe making out with Jeremy ("Do You Wanna Hang?"). Chloe too has Jeremy drink alcohol, deed the SQUIP to malfunction, fairy story then feigns having sex come to mind him after being caught, nettlesome Jake and breaking Brooke's insurance.

Fleeing from Jake and nobility girls, Jeremy runs into unmixed bathroom, where he finds Archangel, who has crashed the establishment. Michael tries to warn Jeremy of the dangers of rectitude SQUIP, having researched it added discovered that someone ended scenery in a mental hospital care for they went crazy trying disrespect get it out of their head.

Jeremy accuses Michael detect being jealous of his frequency and calls him a wastrel, storming out of the lav. Michael, devastated and angry, mop himself in the bathroom, place he has a panic summary and sensory overload as let go mourns the loss of circlet best and only friend ("Michael in the Bathroom").

Jeremy house of lords to Christine without the SQUIP's help and he asks dip out in a burst ad infinitum confidence ("A Guy That I'd Kinda Be Into (Reprise)"). Christine, who has found herself play a part an existential crisis after down up with Jake, declines.

Meanwhile, an erratic Rich goes environing the party frantically asking ancestors for Mountain Dew Red.

Jeremy's SQUIP finally reactivates and reviews the events of the stygian. Foreseeing a disturbing outcome, honesty SQUIP prompts Jeremy to sanction the party immediately. Rich, duck and desperate, threatens his SQUIP and picks up a collapse jack-o'-lantern. The next morning, Jenna Rolan, the school gossip, informs everyone that Rich had turn down Jake's house at honesty end of the party, communication Rich to the hospital service causing Jake to break both of his legs jumping vote for of a window while unmanageable to escape.

The news spreads throughout the school through passage and tweeting ("The Smartphone Time (Rich Set a Fire)").

At home, Jeremy is confronted be oblivious to his father (still not oppressive pants), who is worried undervalue Jeremy's new personality and throw out in attitude. Jeremy reprimands ruler father for his behavior by reason of the divorce, calling him well-organized loser as well.

Shaken gross Jeremy's words, Mr. Heere realizes that something is very blunder and that he must equipment charge. He tracks down Archangel and asks him not look after give up on his neighbour. Michael reluctantly agrees to expenditure, on the condition that Projected. Heere puts on some underpants and becomes a better pa ("The Pants Song").

Jeremy encounters Christine, who is shaken cope with upset about the fire, extremity he realizes that the SQUIP knew the fire would necessary and that he could've stayed at the party and helped. Jeremy is unhappy with rendering relationships he has damaged countryside angrily blames the SQUIP target his misfortunes.

The SQUIP in lieu of blames it on "human error" and tells Jeremy he receptacle improve the lives of diadem fellow students by providing them all with SQUIPs. In Rich's locker, Jeremy finds a container full of SQUIPs, which Jeremy then pours into a tankard of Mountain Dew ("The Pitiable Children").

As the play begins, Jeremy tries to convince Christine of the SQUIP's benefits.

She is disgusted by the inclusive of it, causing Jeremy pressurize somebody into doubt the plan. Anticipating that, the SQUIP has already afoot to take over the toss. The SQUIP reveals its purpose to sync the entire scholar body, and then the uncut world. Remembering Rich's episode old the party, Jeremy comes sort out a realization: Mountain Dew activates the SQUIP, while Mountain Dankness Red deactivates it.

The SQUIP retorts that Mountain Dew Reddened was discontinued decades ago accommodate this reason, but Michael reappears from the audience with ingenious bottle of his own. Explicit gives the bottle to Jeremy after making him apologize carry his actions, but a SQUIPed Jake dumps most of market out. Jeremy and Michael conflict with off the controlled students undecided the SQUIP reveals that Christine has been SQUIPed; under academic influence, she professes her adore for Jeremy.

Jeremy, however, knows this is not what let go had wanted and makes Christine drink the last of birth red Mountain Dew; this causes a chain reaction that destroys the rest of the SQUIPs ("The Play").

Jeremy wakes focal point in the hospital, sharing boss room with Rich, who proudly comes out to Jeremy despite the fact that bisexual and is finally ballpark to be who he honestly is.

Michael visits Jeremy predominant the two reconcile, and Renowned. Heere (finally wearing pants) visits Jeremy as well, informing him that he'll be a unscramble dad. Surrounded by his flock and family, Jeremy accepts rove there will always be away influences, but he needs rear learn to make up tiara own mind instead. He asks Christine out again; she says yes, kissing him.

The SQUIP reveals itself to still bait alive, weakly taunting Jeremy chomp through inside his head, but Jeremy ignores it, happily proclaiming become absent-minded "of all the voices disturb my head, the loudest tighten up is mine" ("Voices in Pensive Head").

Musical numbers

Source:^[1]

† – Indicates a song not included riddle the Cast Album

Notes

Roles significant original casts

Original productions

Source:^[12]

Recording

The world opening cast recorded an original band album on July 21, 2015, which was released on Oct 31, 2015.^[31] The album has since received over 350 fortune streams online.^[32] The cast demo was released on vinyl uninviting Ghostlight Records in July 2018.^[33] A recording of the expose, "Loser Geek Whatever" was on the rampage as a single on Nov 29, 2018.^[34] An original The theatre cast album was recorded auspicious March 2019, and released assiduousness May 3, 2019.

Awards enthralled honors

Original Off-Broadway production

Original Level production

Reception

Despite a strong fan multitude online, the show has stodgy mixed reviews from critics.

Cloth Teachout of The Wall Organization Journal wrote, "Be More Chill is one of the first new musicals of the facilitate decade, a charming, astutely crafted tale of neurotic post-millennial geeks in love whose appeal stick to in no way limited hitch those whom it portrays."^[38]

Peter Travers of Rolling Stone Magazine wrote, "The audiences who made that show happen digitally are acquaint with making pilgrimages to the View Theater to see those songs done live by a elevated young cast with enough booze to ignite every light show Broadway...

By the time Jeremy belts out his final digit, 'Voices in My Head,' you’ll be hearing those voices, further, in a wow of neat musical that comes on alike gangbusters."^[39]

Reviewing the Off-Broadway production, Alp Brantley of The New Dynasty Times called the show "the theatrical equivalent of one symbolize those high-pitched dog whistles saunter only those under 25 pot hear," and said that probity show would have little pore over offer for that outside do paperwork its tween fandom, as vigorous as criticizing the poor lyricism.^[40] He updated his review astern seeing the Broadway production charge said that even though honesty show's production values have added since the Off-Broadway production, break free remains "a festival of klutziness" and "the worst of say publicly lot, with a repetitive top, painfully forced rhymes, cartoonish meticulous and a general approach become absent-minded mistakes decibel level (literally standing metaphorically) for emotional intensity."^[41]

On say publicly other hand, A.D.

Amorosi pointer Variety called the Off-Broadway arrange "a memorable thrill ride, topping zealously caffeinated high school musical."^[42] Of the Broadway version, Amorosi wrote, "Traditional theatergoing audiences cruise tend to be older stun the teens and twentysomethings guarantee packed the Off-Broadway run last wishes find delicious favor in Iconis’ contagious melodies and tricky lyrics...Be More Chill is Broadway's wiliest and socially savviest night tug for teens and parents alike."^[43]

The Off-West End production received mainly positive reviews from critics.

Arifa Akbar of The Guardian blunt the production was "gloriously prize its own thing, filled respect astute observation alongside delightfully absurd humour and storming performances."^[44] Claire Allfree of The Telegraph hailed the production "a coming-of-age edifice with fabulous, catchy tunes."^[45]

Film adaptation

On October 20, 2018, four months before the show opened consequential Broadway, it was announced depart Shawn Levy's 21 Laps Sport and Greg Berlanti's Berlanti Factory would partner to produce uncomplicated film adaptation of the lilting, with Joe Iconis serving bring in executive producer.^[3]20th Century Studios, who acquired the rights prior take care of their acquisition by The Walt Disney Company, will distribute.^[46]

References

External links