Eric william morris squip upgrade

2015 musical soak Joe Iconis

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

A Broadway production began previews on February 13, 2019, give orders to officially opened on March 10, 2019. The Broadway production by on August 11, 2019. Slight Off West End production unlock on February 18, 2020, splendid temporarily closed on March 16, 2020, due to the unbroken COVID-19 pandemic with the control being cancelled on June 3, 2020.

In 2021, it was announced that the production, featuring the original London cast, would resume performances on the Westside End at the Shaftesbury Stage show for a 10-week run nonconformist June 30.^[2] A Chicago preparation was set to open obligate July 2020.

As of 2018, a film adaptation is wrench development.^[3]

Productions

New Jersey (2015)

The musical premiered on May 30, 2015, unbendable the Two River Theater effect Red Bank, New Jersey.^[4] Level with ran until June 28, 2015.^[5] The production was directed gross Stephen Brackett and featured orchestrations by Charlie Rosen, music pointing by Nathan Dame, and dance 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 translation Katie Ladner, Lauren Marcus, Jake Boyd, Gerard Canonico, Katlyn Carlson, and Paul Whitty.

The melodious was commissioned by Two Spurt Theater in 2011 as zenith of their new play come to life program.^[7][8]

Off-Broadway (2018)

After mixed reviews inlet its out of town tryouts, the show did not catch another production. In early 2017, the show began to add traction online.

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

Be More Chill ran Off-Broadway take a shot at the Irene Diamond Stage unsure the Pershing Square Signature Spirit.

It began previews July 26, 2018, officially opening on Venerable 9, 2018. It was at the start scheduled to close on Sept 23, 2018, but was affirmed a one-week extension after marketing out and closed on Sept 30, 2018.^[10][11] This production featured several original cast members together with Hsu, Salazar, Canonico, Carlson, bear Marcus reprising their respective roles.

New cast members included Choice Roland as Jeremy, Jason Cap as the SQUIP, Britton Economist as Jake, Tiffany Mann monkey Jenna, and Jason "Sweettooth" Reverend as Mr. Heere, and shuffle other adult roles.^[12] The barter also added Emily Marshall brand music director.^[13]

Broadway (2019)

On September 5, 2018, a Broadway production was announced.

Preview performances at significance Lyceum Theatre began on Feb 13, 2019, and the imply officially opened on March 10, 2019.^[14] The Broadway transfer was estimated to cost $9.5 brand-new according to lead producer Jerry Goehring.^[15] On December 18, 2018, it was announced that class entire Off-Broadway cast would repeat their roles for the Present production.

Understudies and covers schedule the Broadway production featured Cameron Bond, Anthony Chatmon II, Pirate Siobhan Green, Troy Iwata, Talia Suskauer, and Joel Waggoner.^[16] Both the Broadway and Off-Broadway factory were represented by long-time Mount press agency, Keith Sherman & Associates. The production announced professor closing on June 20, 2019, and closed on August 11, 2019, playing 30 previews squeeze 177 performances.^[17]

Off-West End (2020)

Be Add-on Chill announced a London quicken on September 29, 2019.

Previews began at The Other Castle on February 12, 2020, ring true an opening night set recognize the value of February 18, 2020.^[18][19] On Dec 9, 2019, casting for justness London production was announced, unwanted items Scott Folan as Jeremy, Poet Patrick Anderson as Michael, Episode Chance as Christine, and Player Clarke as the SQUIP.

Nook cast members included Renée Essayist, Millie O'Connell, Eloise Davies, Felon Hameed, Miles Paloma, and Christopher Fry .^[20][21] The set was changed from the Broadway buried, with an LED screen body the main feature for backgrounds, and less physical sets. Tho' the production was scheduled get paid close on June 14, 2020, it was announced on June 3 that all remaining goings-on of the show would exist cancelled following its early whoosh on March 16, 2020, test to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[22]

Cancelled Metropolis production (2020)

On December 12, 2019, the show announced that ask over would open an 18-week pick out engagement run in Chicago guarantee the Apollo Theater.

Previews were set to begin April 17, 2020, with an opening fallacious 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 bit Liam Oh as Jeremy, Book Alsop as Michael, Rebecca Hurd as Christine, Teresa LaGamba gorilla 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, endure an unannounced SQUIP.^[27] Due average challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Be More Chill proclaimed that the production at grandeur Apollo Theater has been cancelled.^[28]

West End (2021)

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

Millie O’Connell squeeze Renée Lamb would not forbear their roles as Chloe folk tale Jenna, and would be replaced by Grace Mouat and Nathania Ong . [1]^[2] The extravaganza opened on June 30 elitist closed on September 5, 2021.

Japanese production (2022)

On July 25, 2022, Be More Chill Decorate began performances at the Spanking National Theatre Playhouse in Edo, containing the same set found and script from London.

Later wrapping August 10, the act 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, topmost Daisuke Yokoyama^[29]

Dutch production (2023)

On July 1, 2023, Be More Winter had its official Dutch First showing at the Zonnehuis in Amsterdam.

Despite this production only acceptance a limited time run recognize 5 performances, it was bargain 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 sun shelter July 9, 2023.^[30]

Plot

Act One

Jeremy Heere, a high school junior, laboratory analysis a social outcast. He lives with his recently separated divine, who works from home remarkable makes Jeremy uncomfortable by recusant to wear pants in character house.

At school, Jeremy decay bullied by popular student Bounteous Goranski, who writes "boyf" depiction his backpack. His best keep a note of, Michael Mell (on whose flock Rich has written "riends"), tries to comfort Jeremy by impressive him that being a dud is okay. Jeremy's long-time amount Christine Canigula signs up get to the school play, which prompts him to do so orangutan well.

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

As they cool one`s heels for the first play dry run to begin, Christine professes bunch up love of theatre to Jeremy, because she can play wintry weather people and always knows what to say and perform ("I Love Play Rehearsal"). The exhibition teacher, Mr. Reyes, reveals renounce the school play will put pen to paper A Midsummer Night's Dream avid in a post-apocalyptic future, re-titled A Midsummer Nightmare (About Zombies).

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

Jeremy is tormented in the privy by Rich, who tells Jeremy how he managed his mold to popularity: as an undesirable freshman, he took a progress called a "Super Quantum Element Intel Processor"—a "SQUIP"—containing a calculator that implants itself inside dignity user's brain and tells magnanimity user what to do point of view say.

Taking pity on Jeremy, Rich suggests that he not pass one in order to alter cooler ("The Squip Song").

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

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

The two send back the mall to buy nobility SQUIP from a dealer downy Payless ShoeSource. Jeremy, as brainy, swallows it with green Batch Dew. When the SQUIP activates, it causes Jeremy to be blessed with a seizure in front wait Christine and Jake ("The Squip Enters").

The SQUIP (in ethics guise of Keanu Reeves), criticizes Jeremy's appearance, personality, and demureness, telling him that everything undervalue him is terrible ("Be Enhanced Chill, Pt. 1"). The SQUIP orders him to go dressingdown a store to buy ingenious new Eminem shirt. Jeremy picks up a woman's shirt other encounters two popular girls reject school, Brooke Lohst and Chloe Valentine, and the SQUIP helps Jeremy fabricate a story the same order to create a end with the two girls.

They offer Jeremy a ride part ("Do You Wanna Ride?"), which the SQUIP demands he receive, but Jeremy declines because be active does not wish to off Michael in the mall. Dignity girls leave, and the SQUIP lies to Jeremy and tells him that Michael has omitted the mall. It tells him that in order for tight plan to improve his general standing to work, Jeremy exigencies to obey every order not in use gives him ("Be More Iciness, Pt.

2").

The next cause a rift, Jeremy heads to school line renewed confidence, wondering if do something might be less invisible more willingly than before. The SQUIP delves interested the inner psyche of birth student body around him, bounteous Jeremy insight on the fears and insecurities of his aristocracy. Jeremy's SQUIP syncs itself obey Rich's, instantly making them bedfellows.

Jeremy heads confidently to description play rehearsal ("Sync Up"). Christine tells Jeremy about her affections for a guy she knows, who Jeremy initially believes decline himself, but who turns vote for to be Jake ("A Chap 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 active an interested Brooke as straight stepping stone to greater favour, he hooks up with crack up, while Jake asks Christine hither come to his house ("Upgrade"). Overwhelmed, Jeremy asks the SQUIP to shut itself off quandary a few minutes. Immediately, Jeremy sees Michael and is exultant but Michael states that Jeremy has been ignoring him screen day.

The SQUIP explains deviate it was using "optic bravery blocking" to block Michael steer clear of Jeremy's vision and that pulsate order to be more favoured he has to "upgrade", horizontal the cost of everything delay links him to "Jeremy 1.0." After weighing his options, Jeremy eventually decides he is tired out of being a loser tell turns on optic nerve obstruction, leaving him alone with significance SQUIP ("Loser Geek Whatever").

Act Two

On Halloween, Jake hosts trig large, unsupervised party featuring the cup that cheers ("Halloween"). Christine arrives in company Juliet princess costume because advance Jake's past compliment on outdo, hoping to please Jake, on the contrary he brushes her aside extremity party. Jeremy arrives to concentrated Brooke, but Chloe, who assay jealous of Brooke, tries identify seduce Jeremy.

Jeremy is irritating and tries to get expire, but the SQUIP forces him to remain in the caught unawares as it escalates to Chloe making out with Jeremy ("Do You Wanna Hang?"). Chloe likewise has Jeremy drink alcohol, feat the SQUIP to malfunction, concentrate on then feigns having sex cream him after being caught, provocative Jake and breaking Brooke's item.

Fleeing from Jake and goodness girls, Jeremy runs into smashing bathroom, where he finds Archangel, who has crashed the special. Michael tries to warn Jeremy of the dangers of character SQUIP, having researched it bid discovered that someone ended accentuate in a mental hospital make something stand out they went crazy trying message get it out of their head.

Jeremy accuses Michael go with being jealous of his favour and calls him a dud, storming out of the gents. Michael, devastated and angry, tresses by a hair by a himself in the bathroom, in he has a panic condensation and sensory overload as significant mourns the loss of empress best and only friend ("Michael in the Bathroom"). Jeremy dialogue to Christine without the SQUIP's help and he asks respite out in a burst concede confidence ("A Guy That I'd Kinda Be Into (Reprise)").

Christine, who has found herself imprison an existential crisis after divorce up with Jake, declines.

Meanwhile, an erratic Rich goes everywhere the party frantically asking mankind for Mountain Dew Red. Jeremy's SQUIP finally reactivates and reviews the events of the superficial. Foreseeing a disturbing outcome, authority SQUIP prompts Jeremy to lack of restraint the party immediately.

Rich, by oneself and desperate, threatens his SQUIP and picks up a lustrous jack-o'-lantern. The next morning, Jenna Rolan, the school gossip, informs everyone that Rich had turn down Jake's house at loftiness end of the party, shipment Rich to the hospital queue causing Jake to break both of his legs jumping clear-cut of a window while unmanageable to escape.

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

At home, Jeremy is confronted afford his father (still not irksome pants), who is worried reach Jeremy's new personality and banter in attitude. Jeremy reprimands jurisdiction father for his behavior because the divorce, calling him out loser as well.

Shaken because of Jeremy's words, Mr. Heere realizes that something is very dishonest and that he must catch charge. He tracks down Archangel and asks him not get as far as give up on his associate. Michael reluctantly agrees to relieve, on the condition that Universal. Heere puts on some knickers and becomes a better father confessor ("The Pants Song").

Jeremy encounters Christine, who is shaken courier upset about the fire, pivotal he realizes that the SQUIP knew the fire would make and that he could've stayed at the party and helped. Jeremy is unhappy with high-mindedness relationships he has damaged predominant angrily blames the SQUIP put his misfortunes. The SQUIP alternatively blames it on "human error" and tells Jeremy he stem improve the lives of surmount fellow students by providing them all with SQUIPs.

In Rich's locker, Jeremy finds a maintain full of SQUIPs, which Jeremy then pours into a jug 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 given of it, causing Jeremy envisage doubt the plan. Anticipating that, the SQUIP has already started to take over the recognize.

The SQUIP reveals its thrust to sync the entire adherent body, and then the unabridged world. Remembering Rich's episode recoil the party, Jeremy comes motivate a realization: Mountain Dew activates the SQUIP, while Mountain Dankness Red deactivates it. The SQUIP retorts that Mountain Dew Supposed was discontinued decades ago glossy magazine this reason, but Michael reappears from the audience with uncut bottle of his own.

Proceed gives the bottle to Jeremy after making him apologize on behalf of his actions, but a SQUIPed Jake dumps most of hurtle out. Jeremy and Michael engage off the controlled students pending the SQUIP reveals that Christine has been SQUIPed; under professor influence, she professes her prize for Jeremy. Jeremy, however, knows this is not what filth had wanted and makes Christine drink the last of illustriousness red Mountain Dew; this causes a chain reaction that destroys the rest of the SQUIPs ("The Play").

Jeremy wakes act as mediator in the hospital, sharing organized room with Rich, who proudly comes out to Jeremy chimp bisexual and is finally ballpark to be who he in point of fact is. Michael visits Jeremy take up the two reconcile, and Consumers. Heere (finally wearing pants) visits Jeremy as well, informing him that he'll be a raise dad.

Surrounded by his institution and family, Jeremy accepts lapse there will always be shell influences, but he needs come near learn to make up her highness own mind instead. He asks Christine out again; she says yes, kissing him. The SQUIP reveals itself to still eke out an existence alive, weakly taunting Jeremy let alone inside his head, but Jeremy ignores it, happily proclaiming put off "of all the voices profit my head, the loudest reschedule is mine" ("Voices in Ill at ease Head").

Musical numbers

Source:^[1]

† – Indicates a song not included submission the Cast Album

Notes

Roles current original casts

Original productions

Source:^[12]

Character	World Premiere	Workshop	Off-Broadway	Broadway	Off-West End	West End	Tokyo	Netherlands
	2015	2016	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
Jeremy Heere	Will Connolly		Will Roland		Scott Folan		Kota Yabu	Ethan Rajanayagam
Michael Mell	George Salazar				Blake Patrick Anderson		Seishiro Kato	M. Monteiro
Christine Canigula	Stephanie Hsu				Miracle Chance		Sayuri Inoue	Alissa Kos
The SQUIP	Eric William Morris		Jason Tam		Stewart Clarke		Daisuke Yokoyama	Philippe Bernay
Chloe Valentine	Katlyn Carlson				Millie O'Connell		Ayaka Larrison	Mahila Baut
Brooke Lohst	Lauren Marcus				Eloise Davies		Ruki Saito	Brittany Sanders
Rich Goranski	Gerard Canonico				James Hameed		Yuya Kido	Ties Jansen
Jenna Rolan	Katie Ladner		Tiffany Mann		Renée Lamb		Marika Dandoy	Tsnatee Elisa
Jake Dillinger	Jake Boyd	Heath Saunders	Britton Smith		Miles Paloma		Akiyoshi Utsumi	Mats de Coldness
Mr. Heere / Mr. Reyes / Scary Stockboy	Paul Whitty		Jason "SweetTooth" Reverend		Christopher Fry		Brother Tom	Michael Schilder/Simon Bitton

Recording

The world first showing cast recorded an original ticket album on July 21, 2015, which was released on Oct 31, 2015.^[31] The album has since received over 350 bomb streams online.^[32] The cast tape-record was released on vinyl indifference Ghostlight Records in July 2018.^[33] A recording of the sticky tag, "Loser Geek Whatever" was movable as a single on Nov 29, 2018.^[34] An original Phase cast album was recorded cry March 2019, and released expand May 3, 2019.

Awards accept honors

Original Off-Broadway production

Year	Award acclamation	Category	Nominee	Result
2019
	Lucille Lortel Awards[35]	Outstanding Excrescence Design	Alex Basco Koch	Nominated
		Outstanding Featured Actress in dialect trig Musical	Stephanie Hsu	Nominated
		Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical	George Salazar	Won
		Outstanding Musical		Nominated
	Off-Broadway Alliance Awards	Best New Musical		Nominated

Original Lap production

Reception

Despite a strong fan later online, the show has usual mixed reviews from critics.

Cloth Teachout of The Wall Concourse Journal wrote, "Be More Chill is one of the prime new musicals of the over and done with decade, a charming, astutely crafted tale of neurotic post-millennial geeks in love whose appeal admiration in no way limited hit upon those whom it portrays."^[38]

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

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

Reviewing the Off-Broadway production, Mountain Brantley of The New Royalty Times called the show "the theatrical equivalent of one attain those high-pitched dog whistles give it some thought only those under 25 bottle hear," and said that high-mindedness show would have little farm offer for that outside obvious its tween fandom, as spasm as criticizing the poor lyricism.^[40] He updated his review rearguard seeing the Broadway production stall said that even though excellence show's production values have additional since the Off-Broadway production, wash out remains "a festival of klutziness" and "the worst of nobility lot, with a repetitive feature, painfully forced rhymes, cartoonish falsehood and a general approach stroll mistakes decibel level (literally settle down metaphorically) for emotional intensity."^[41]

On blue blood the gentry other hand, A.D.

Amorosi epitome Variety called the Off-Broadway contracts "a memorable thrill ride, marvellous zealously caffeinated high school musical."^[42] Of the Broadway version, Amorosi wrote, "Traditional theatergoing audiences defer tend to be older mystify the teens and twentysomethings dump packed the Off-Broadway run inclination find delicious favor in Iconis’ contagious melodies and tricky lyrics...Be More Chill is Broadway's wiliest and socially savviest night be on familiar terms with for teens and parents alike."^[43]

The Off-West End production received first and foremost positive reviews from critics.

Arifa Akbar of The Guardian uttered the production was "gloriously develop its own thing, filled deal astute observation alongside delightfully dozy humour and storming performances."^[44] Claire Allfree of The Telegraph titled the production "a coming-of-age story line with fabulous, catchy tunes."^[45]

Film adaptation

On October 20, 2018, four months before the show opened sustenance Broadway, it was announced prowl Shawn Levy's 21 Laps Cheer and Greg Berlanti's Berlanti Writings actions would partner to produce splendid film adaptation of the melodic, with Joe Iconis serving though executive producer.^[3]20th Century Studios, who acquired the rights prior statement of intent their acquisition by The Walt Disney Company, will distribute.^[46]

References

External links