Be More Chill (NYC) NYC Reviews and Tickets
Show-Score Member Reviews (821)
See it if you want to see a musical about high school students trying to find their way in the world. Great music and choreography.
Don't see it if you don't care see a play about high school students struggles or if you like standard Broadway type of music. 1st act is better than 2nd.
See it if Teenage angst in a high school setting involves trying to fit in with the cool kids. The plot is interesting with great singing & dancing.
Don't see it if First Act is a little long but well worth the wait for an energetic second Act.
See it if you want a campy fun show. It's geared towards a younger audience, but is still fun. It is a unique show and amazing actors.
Don't see it if looking for a serious musical like Hamilton or Les Miserables. This is set in high-school and geared towards that audience. Read more
See it if you want to have a fun night out at the theatre and hear a great score by Joe Iconis. This version is much better than what was Off-Broadway
Don't see it if you cannot stand teenage angst. The audience is full of screaming teens and the subject is for millennials. It is very loud as well.
See it if you like new material with sci-fi and youthful twist. Love the cast energy. So great. Put Your Pants On (a song) and go.
Don't see it if you're a musical curmudgeon. If you can't remember being a teen.
See it if Out-of-step nerd leans on magic-potion pill to be helped through teen stressors in an out-of-breath musical.Arrives to B'way w/ cult intact.
Don't see it if Only hits stride when male leads hit stage.Until then...waiting.Once they exit...waiting.For 2.5 hours...waiting.Wait at stage door 2get old
See it if you’re ready for a vaguely vulgar absurdist sci-fi romp with a slight pinch of Disney’s Channel. The layers of absurdity work so well.
Don't see it if anything above doesn’t speak to you. It’s not great theatre in a conventional sense, but it’s still worth checking out.
See it if You’ve ever felt like you don’t fit in, or ever went to (or plan to go to) high school. It’s a high-energy romp of a show.
Don't see it if You don’t want to see a rock score, aren’t up for something new and hip or if you hate sci-fi or musicals set in high school
Critic Reviews (50)
"It is clearly aimed at young audiences...As for older folk, beware. The super-loud electronically oriented pop music and mostly witless lyrics are by Joe Iconis, and the book about high school angst by Joe Tracz...The cast does its job big-time, eliciting loud applause for solo numbers from the adoring audience members who act as if they are experiencing euphoria...I do have one optimistic takeaway: anything that introduces a younger generation to the theater is a plus."
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"A frenetic and unnerving new musical…‘Be More Chill’ is as confused and un-self-aware as a hormonal teenage boy — and nearly as reckless...Salazar stands out with the score’s best song, though his character seems merely coded as queer in a show lacking courage enough to follow through...In the end Jeremy still has voices in his head, the loudest of which he says is his own. The problem is, he still hasn’t learned that the only thing he needs to be is more…himself."
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“Brackett has smartly streamlined the storytelling, without sacrificing its wit or its underlying pathos. Iconis’ songs are still catchy and the performances of the show's multicultural cast have been sharpened too...You also can see where the producers spent the money...The costumes are funnier, the sets are flashier and yet neither go overboard...This feel-good show has always been aimed at young people but I saw a lot of 40-plus folks...having a good time too.”
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"In sum, the narrative is clearer and the manic and zany camp tone tighter and more even, thanks no doubt to the benefit of additional time and skillful revision by director Stephen Brackett...While Mr. Iconis’ lyrics can be cloyingly cute, baldly expositive, and often predictable, the music in this musical quite literally justifies its existence, and there’s a lot of interesting texture and instrumentation in Charlie Rosen’s smart orchestrations."
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"Even more exuberant, even more colorful, even more fluid than ever before, but still as funny and moving and insightful and connected as it always was...It’s not just the youthful spirit and engaging sense of fun that make 'Be More Chill' a hit. It’s also the important message for kids to be themselves, to develop a sense of self-worth, to stop the bullying, and to connect with others around you, even if they seem different than you on the outside."
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"It left me puzzled, cold, and (at moments) plain furious...The cartoonish acting, the ‘crazeee’ expressions and heightened everything means that every moment comes at you like an ‘OMG!!!’ sledgehammer...You can pick whatever message path you want through this brightly lit madness...The worst feeling during ‘Be More Chill’ is that you’ve seen all these characters before…‘Be More Chill’ feels squawkily split between camp sci fi romp and searing teenage-life-today commentary."
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"A high-octane pop score by Garden City native Joe Iconis that comes at you full blast, the rock concert vibe and universal emotional appeal sure to keep loyal fans snapping up for tickets...As for everyone else, the unique sci-fi twist makes for a story with far broader appeal...Roland is a powerhouse as Jeremy, a vocal force with impeccable timing...And he gets fine backup from the rest of the 10-person cast, directed in full-speed-ahead style by Stephen Brackett."
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“The entertaining new musical will be remembered for finally bringing edgy, accomplished downtown composer and lyricist Iconis to Broadway all while being plagued by Tracz’s uneven book and Brackett’s inconsistent direction. These elements collide to ensure that ‘Be More Chill’ cannot decide if it wants to be a campy, cult classic or a hard-hitting teenage drama...Brock’s dance vocabulary is absolutely one of the production’s strongest creative assets.”
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