BEING A LOSER HAS NEVER BEEN SO COOL.
Broadway's new musical sensation is BE MORE CHILL. It's already "one of the most popular new musicals in America," raves The New York Times. And The Wall Street Journal cheers, "It's going to hit big - and deservedly so!" Discover this hilariously honest show for yourself, featuring an electric, ear-worm filled score by "one of Broadway's next great songwriters" (Billboard).
What if popularity came in a pill? Would you take it, no questions asked? In BE MORE CHILL, achieving the "perfect life" is now possible thanks to some mysterious new technology - but it comes at a cost that's not as easy to swallow. What could possibly go wrong? Blending the contemporary with retro sci-fi, this thrillingly exciting, comically subversive, and deeply felt new musical takes on the competing voices in all of our heads. And ultimately proves, there's never been a better time in history to be yourself - especially if you're a loser... geek... or whatever.
I couldn't be less chill, not after sitting through the insipid 'Be More Chill' for the second time. I saw it last year off-Broadway, a perch on which it landed by virtue of the mad crush many young folk developed for a cast recording that streamed online long before a New York engagement was ever in the works. It is, in that sense, the first musical to click its way onto Broadway, where it had its official opening at the Lyceum Theatre on Sunday. And, boy, were my misgivings from my initial encounter confirmed. 'Be More Shrill' would be a better title for director Stephen Brackett's heinously overamplified and overacted production, built on the story of a nerd played by the intrepid Will Roland, who takes a magic pill to become popular with the high school 'in' crowd.
Tracz's book solidly moves the story along, with Stephen Brackett's staging nailing comic moments without sacrificing sincerity. Chase Brock's fun choreography appropriately works within the capabilities of typical suburban high school sophomores.
2018 | Off-Broadway |
New York Premiere at Signature Center Off-Broadway |
2019 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
2021 | West End |
West End Premiere West End |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2019 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Costume Design for a Musical | Bobby Frederick Tilly II |
2019 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | George Salazar |
2019 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Stephanie Hsu |
2019 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Lyrics | Joe Iconis |
2019 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Music | Joe Iconis |
2019 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Musical | Be More Chill |
2019 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Orchestrations | Charlie Rosen |
2019 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Orchestrations | Charlie Rosen |
2019 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Projection Design | Alex Basco Koch |
2019 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Production of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical | Be More Chill |
2019 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | George Salazar |
2019 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding New Broadway Musical | Be More Chill |
2019 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding New Score | Joe Iconis |
2019 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Projection Design | Alex Basco Koch |
2019 | Tony Awards | Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre | Joe Iconis |
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