BE MORE CHILL Broadway Cast!

[Alex M]

Posted: 12/18/18 at 2:14pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/BE-MORE-CHILL-Brings-Entire-Off-Broadway-Cast-Along-for-Upgrade-to-Broadway-20181218

Same cast as off broadway with some new understudies. Stay away from the Lyceum Stage Door at all costs folks, these fans are gonna be WIlD!

Updated On: 12/18/18 at 02:14 PM

[Fordham2015]

Posted: 12/18/18 at 2:40pm

But how many of them are gonna be able to find the Lyceum stage door?

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 12/18/18 at 2:41pm

I kinda wished they had switched out Will Roland. I liked him in DEH, but he is really miscast as Jeremy.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/18/18 at 2:45pm

Love him or hate him, Joe Iconis is nothing but loyal.   He seldom replaces people.

[YvanEhtNioj]

Posted: 12/18/18 at 3:01pm

I'm excited for them! But i do wish they replaced a couple people who read as a little younger. As a while, this cast doesn't pass for high schoolers to me unlike Prom or Mean Girls. 

[theaterlyfe19]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 10:33am

Anyone else have a feeling this won’t last long once it’s stars leave? 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 10:36am

I'm not convinced it has the legs to last WHILE its "stars" are still there.  

 

(Note: I'm not wishing it to fail.)

[YvanEhtNioj]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 10:42am

I kinda feel the same, but then again new doubt the power of teens with social media. I think they will come out in big crowds to see this for maybe the first year but after the Tony awards (assuming the starts start to leave), the kids will probably move on to the next big thing. 

At first I was comparing it to DEH but the difference is that kids AND adults will go to see that regardless of their theatrical background. I feel like even if they're really into musical theater, I cant see many people over the age of 30 willingly going to see this unless they're in love with it. 

 

[OhHiii]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 11:33am

YvanEhtNioj said: "I'm excited for them! But i do wish they replaced a couple people who read as a little younger. As a while, this cast doesn't pass for high schoolers to me unlike Prom or Mean Girls."

In the same vein of You're A Good Man Charlie Brown and Spelling Bee, there are youth-centric shows that deliberately cast people who read as adults as an artistic choice to help make the themes more apparent. In Be More Chill's case, I'd guess that's what they intended. It's not like there's a shortage of younger looking actors.

Updated On: 12/19/18 at 11:33 AM

[YvanEhtNioj]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 11:59am

OhHiii said: "YvanEhtNioj said: "I'm excited for them! But i do wish they replaced a couple people who read as a little younger. As a while, this cast doesn't pass for high schoolers to me unlike Prom or Mean Girls."

In the same vein of You're A Good Man Charlie Brown and Spelling Bee, there are youth-centric shows that deliberately cast people who read as adults as an artistic choice to help make the themes more apparent. In Be More Chill's case, I'd guessthat's what they intended. It's not like there's a shortage of younger looking actors."

 

Ahhhhh gotcha. If that's what they're going for then I guess it works. 

 

[MrsSallyAdams]

Posted: 12/19/18 at 1:55pm

I saw a student production of "Be More Chill" this summer. It works well with young actors and a chorus. The only uncomfortable part was the Halloween party where the teens, male and female, were dancing in "slutty" costumes. It may be true to life but I was worried the audience was about to get arrested. The underage drinking in that scene would probably upset some parents too. "Mean Girls" will have some of the same issues when high schools start producing it.

Updated On: 12/19/18 at 01:55 PM

[a12la]

Posted: 12/20/18 at 6:28pm

OhHiii said: "YvanEhtNioj said: "I'm excited for them! But i do wish they replaced a couple people who read as a little younger. As a while, this cast doesn't pass for high schoolers to me unlike Prom or Mean Girls."

In the same vein of You're A Good Man Charlie Brown and Spelling Bee, there are youth-centric shows that deliberately cast people who read as adults as an artistic choice to help make the themes more apparent. In Be More Chill's case, I'd guessthat's what they intended. It's not like there's a shortage of younger looking actors."

There really isn't anything in the show to suggest that. It would work much better with actual young actors (unlike Spelling Bee and Charlie Brown).

[theaterlyfe19]

Posted: 12/20/18 at 7:05pm

dramamama611 said: "I'm not convinced it has the legs to last WHILE its "stars" are still there.



(Note: I'm not wishing it to fail.)"

No I'm with you on that one. I'm not quite sure how long it'll last tbh

[Robbie2]

Posted: 12/20/18 at 9:04pm

YvanEhtNioj said: "I kinda feel the same, but then again new doubt the power of teens with social media. I think they will come out in big crowds to see this for maybe the first year but after the Tony awards (assuming the starts start to leave), the kids will probably move on to the next big thing.

At first I was comparing it to DEH but the difference is that kids AND adults will go to see that regardless of their theatrical background. I feel like even if they're really into musical theater, I cant see many people over the age of 30 willingly going to see this unless they're in love with it.

"

 

These actors are so far from being high school kids...George Salazar is 32 but acts like a kid from what I've seen in his appearances and what's with the head band all the time?  Is it like Nick Cannon and his turbans?

We have no desire seeing this unless my nieces (12-14) and nephews (13-16) mention it and then we'll have to seriously think about it...Also, seeing Mean Girls was not enjoyable! Bring on Hadestown!

[Scarlet Leigh]

Posted: 12/21/18 at 1:09am

YvanEhtNioj said: "I kinda feel the same, but then again new doubt the power of teens with social media. I think they will come out in big crowds to see this for maybe the first year but after the Tony awards (assuming the starts start to leave), the kids will probably move on to the next big thing.

At first I was comparing it to DEH but the difference is that kids AND adults will go to see that regardless of their theatrical background. I feel like even if they're really into musical theater, I cant see many people over the age of 30 willingly going to see this unless they're in love with it.

"

No amount of social media love is going to help this show that is way our of it's target audience's price range. First year? It will be luck to open up a second block of tickets past what they are currently selling.

I feel like this is destined to travel the same road that Spongebob did. Super popular with the teenage crowd but a miss for the average Broadway patron. After the hype of interest in it has come and gone, it will struggle to fill seats as it's target audience can't afford one showing let alone return visits to the show. The cheap seats have already been snatched up in the last few rows of the balcony so hope you have $120 saved up kiddies for a ticket AND can talk your parents into shelling out another $120 to take you. And that's BALCONY prices. Want to sit downstairs? $165. Want to sit CLOSE? $200. What teenager is gonna be able to afford that and what parent is gonna agree to take them when they have to pay that plus food plus transportation? Most locals that were interested already saw it when it played off Broadway and how many are gonna pay far more to see it again? I doubt many.

Anyway.... it's teenage fan base will become outraged when the show doesn't win big at the Tony awards and being that the show doesn't have a big money maker like Nickelodeon behind it to keep it afloat for a time, if it doesn't somehow secure a big advance post Tonys, it will not make it past it's original selling block which looks to be labor day 2019 currently. 

[Pashacar]

Posted: 12/21/18 at 1:31pm

The cheap seats have already been snatched up in the last few rows of the balcony so hope you have $120 saved up kiddies for a ticket AND can talk your parents into shelling out another $120 to take you. And that's BALCONY prices. Want to sit downstairs? $165. Want to sit CLOSE? $200. What teenager is gonna be able to afford that and what parent is gonna agree to take them when they have to pay that plus food plus transportation?

Personally I don't see it panning out that way. The NY metro is saturated with spoiled teens who have very free access to their parents' money. Plus, traveling teens could theoretically drag an entire family to the show.

On another note, I'm glad to see many of the same understudies in this cast. I saw Troy Iwata and Talia Suskauer at my performance and both were absolutely excellent.

[OhHiii]

Posted: 12/21/18 at 1:38pm

a12la said: "OhHiii said: "YvanEhtNioj said: "I'm excited for them! But i do wish they replaced a couple people who read as a little younger. As a while, this cast doesn't pass for high schoolers to me unlike Prom or Mean Girls."

In the same vein of You're A Good Man Charlie Brown and Spelling Bee, there are youth-centric shows that deliberately cast people who read as adults as an artistic choice to help make the themes more apparent. In Be More Chill's case, I'd guessthat's what they intended. It's not like there's a shortage of younger looking actors."

There really isn't anything in the show to suggest that. It would work much better with actual young actors (unlike Spelling Bee and Charlie Brown)."

As a post stated earlier, the show wouldn't be palatable watching actual teenagers or actors who read as teenagers partaking in what happens throughout the show. And there's one single adult in the cast. If you  don't think they made that choice consciously, you're wrong.

[Lot666]

Posted: 12/21/18 at 2:10pm

OhHiii said: "a12la said: "OhHiii said: "YvanEhtNioj said: "I'm excited for them! But i do wish they replaced a couple people who read as a little younger. As a while, this cast doesn't pass for high schoolers to me unlike Prom or Mean Girls."

In the same vein of You're A Good Man Charlie Brown and Spelling Bee, there are youth-centric shows that deliberately cast people who read as adults as an artistic choice to help make the themes more apparent. In Be More Chill's case, I'd guessthat's what they intended. It's not like there's a shortage of younger looking actors."

There really isn't anything in the show to suggest that. It would work much better with actual young actors (unlike Spelling Bee and Charlie Brown)."

As a post stated earlier, the show wouldn't be palatable watching actual teenagers or actors who read as teenagers partaking in what happens throughout the show. And there's one single adult in the cast. If you don't think they made that choice consciously, you're wrong."

In an older thread, there was extensive discussion of the apparent age of the cast versus the supposed age of the characters. It's interesting how much of an issue is being made of this when it's really quite common on Broadway. Rarely do teenage characters actually look their age, and sometimes even the inverse is true - in Phantom, the title character is actually supposed to be in his 40s, but has been played for quite some time now by actors far younger than that (even 20s). Similarly, Christine is supposed to be in her late teens or very early 20s, but she's typically played by actresses in their late 20s and even into their 30s. And there are few members of the ballet chorus who could pass for late teens in even the most forgiving light.

I'm not saying it doesn't impede suspension of disbelief for me, but this sort of casting is hardly unique to Be More Chill.

[Alex M]

Posted: 12/21/18 at 5:58pm

I feel like the show is going to have enough good word of mouth on social media alone to make it last for a lot longer then we are expecting. Although I don't love the show, the premise itself sounds extremely interesting so I feel people who read about it or see their TV performances will look online and see the countless amounts of teens going crazy for it and will buy tickets. Just my theory!   

[Lifesmellsweird]

Posted: 12/21/18 at 8:39pm

 

As a post stated earlier, the show wouldn't be palatable watching actual teenagers or actors who read as teenagers partaking in what happens throughout the show. And there's one single adult in the cast. If you don't think they made that choice consciously, you're wrong.

yes!!! Totally agree with this. I’m 40 and I adore the show. Also, I think there are a lot of adult fans of Joe Iconis. Having been to many of his Iconis and Family concerts, I can definitively say that he often draws an older crowd.

Not sure how long it will last at the Lyceum, but it’s tough to ever know what will be well received or successful. 

 

 

[Wick3]

Posted: 12/22/18 at 7:17pm

I think his show will last at least a year and will recoup. It has a huge social media presence and if school groups choose to see this show during their field trips or visits to nyc, I can see this show last a longer time!
Btw what is the squib zone?!? I dont recall those seats in the off bway production.

[LightsOut90]

Posted: 12/22/18 at 11:23pm

this isnt going to re-coup.

[Alex M]

Posted: 12/23/18 at 6:41pm

LightsOut90 said: "this isnt going to re-coup."

People also said this would be a flop off broadway and it would never transfer. Theres really no way of knowing!

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 12/24/18 at 10:59am

Hell, my college is already doing it as a production in the spring time! Like it or not, BMC has to be some special show if the reception it got from the fanbase alone made it transfer onto Broadway and I'm looking forward to seeing it in March.