Be More Chill (Off-Broadway) NYC Reviews and Tickets
About the Show
This New York premiere musical is an edgy, comic look at coming of age in the digital age. Get tickets to the Broadway transfer here!.
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See it if I saw the original a few years back and caught the new production a few weeks ago. BMC 2.0 was bad ass awesome!!!!!
Don't see it if skip it if you're not into pop/rick musicals
See it if you want to be on the cutting edge of teen culture. Relationships feel very real. Great score & fun sci-fi element to it. Story has heart.
Don't see it if teen angst makes you nuts. The story is a little far-fetched & characters are stereotypes but will remind you of your high school years. Read more
See it if I thought I would hate it but WOW! Loved every minute. Great super talented cast and wonderful physical production! Don’t miss it!!!
Don't see it if No good reason to miss this wonderful entertaining evening!
See it if you want to see a great cast in a refreshing, up-beat contemporary musical that became a cult classic in its off-Broadway run.
Don't see it if you don't like musicals with a contemporary score or prefer more "traditional" musicals. Read more
See it if Iconis a future bright star on Broadway. Clever entertainment with important messages without being an after-school special. Broadway-bound
Don't see it if If you cannot get a ticket
See it if You like fresh new musicals that are also a little bit quirky. Want to see some fab performances by the whole cast.
Don't see it if You don't like teen coming of age stories or pop/rock musicals or shows with elements of science fiction. Read more
See it if You want to see something original (even if it's an adaptation, it's something new and different) where characters feel real and relatable
Don't see it if You can't relate to experiences of youth and insecurities
See it if You like musical about kids coming if age.
Don't see it if If you don't like musical and high energy dance tunes.
Critic Reviews (35)
"Most notable is Mr. Roland who jumped from a supporting role in the original Broadway company of 'Dear Evan Hansen' to take on 'Be More Chill’s' central character. He anchors the 10-member ensemble with a humorous, emotionally charged performance, and while his vocal delivery hits decibel-shattering levels thanks to Ryan Rumery’s sound design, it lacks the color and nuance of some of his co-stars."
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"Despite the committed work of a first-rate cast, a superbly polished technical production, and the lively direction of Stephen Brackett and choreography of Chase Brock, the 2 ½ hour show can too often feel like a cocktail made of equal parts 'Dear Evan Hansen,' 'Mean Girls' and, ultimately, 'Little Shop of Horrors' as concocted by an inexperienced mixologist."
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"'Be More Chill' is a highly polished, high decibel, high school based entertainment whose score, while providing a few highlights, lacks sufficient variety to sustain interest. Similarly, its subject matter is neither engrossing nor witty enough to make its sci-fi take on conventional situations overcome its persistently sophomoric attitude. I'm sure, though, that the show's legions of fans would love to tell me I need to be more chill."
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"You don’t have to be 15 to be thrilled by the best moments in the Off-Broadway production of 'Be More Chill,' a musical about high school, presented by a terrifically talented cast, that is too quirky and clever to be dismissed as a standard high school musical bestiary, But it might help to be a teenage fan in order to enjoy all two and a half hours of 'Be More Chill,' even those times when the music turns very loud and the story turns very weird."
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“Brackett directs this piece with glee, mirth and energy galore...Iconis’ songs are catchy and go in places you don’t expect...Iconis’ music is made just that much better by up-and-coming orchestrator and band leader Charlie Rosen. ‘Be More Chill’ has a unique pop and electronica influenced score and Rosen gets the balance just right...Tracz’s book is predictable but it still has heart...Like ‘Dear Evan Hansen’, this show gets a rock show ending with audiences of all ages on their feet.”
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"Unfortunately, The Squip fails to prevent Jeremy from making the most mundane rhymes when it comes to singing Joe Iconis’ repetitive score...Director Stephen Brackett takes the 'Spelling Bee' route in casting adult (often very adult) actors in the teenage roles. What was charming years ago in a far better musical comes off slightly sad here. These overwrought people on stage recall the street performers in nearby Times Square."
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"'Be More Chill' is as confused and un-self-aware as a hormonal teenage boy — and nearly as reckless...The musical, with score by Joe Iconis and book by Joe Tracz, considers frustrated male desire its primary problem in need of solving. Not by teaching its protagonist that he’s not entitled to the woman he wants, or that he should simply be himself and love will find a way, but by tempting him with a pill that helps him say all the rights things to score."
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"Rock numbers are high energy and aptly juvenile, if musically unmemorable. Lyrics are idiomatically specific – Iconis completely 'gets' it, sometimes very clever, at others somewhat awkward and repetitive. None of this matters in the end. The sweep and relevancy of the piece is on target both with teens and the times...Tracz’s book makes sense, acting as ballast between fantastical events. Both writers handle compassion as well as they do youthful brutality...Quirkily entertaining and it works.”
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