All Chicago cast to present ‘Be More Chill’ at Apollo Theater, beginning April 17

Chicago, IL – On the heels of a wildly successful opening in London, Be More Chill, the mind-bendingly fun, smash hit Broadway musical, announces an all-Chicago cast for its new production at the Apollo Theater. Known for their work on some of Chicago’s biggest stages, the cast members of Be More Chill include Jeremiah Alsop (Michael), Alex Goodrich (Mr. Heere/Mr. Reyes), Rebecca Hurd (Christine), Teressa LaGamba (Jenna), Michelle Lauto (Chloe), Eben K. Logan (Brooke), Liam Oh (Jeremy), Billy Rude (Jake) and Koray Tarhan (Rich). The role of the Squip will be announced at a later date.

Joe Iconis comments, “I am absurdly proud of the singular, all-Chicago cast we have assembled for our new US production of Be More Chill. I just got off the plane from London (where we were really feeling the Be More Chill love!) and I am energized to jump back into rehearsals and create a new crop of beautiful misfits with this sensational Chicago cast. As an artist who is particularly obsessed with persnickety, actor-driven theater, I’ve always had a huge crush on the Chicago theater scene. I am humbled and honored that the city has opened its arms to our musical.”

Based on the novel by Ned Vizzini, Be More Chill features music and lyrics by Tony nominee Joe Iconis and book by Joe Tracz. The Chicago production is led by the original creative team of Director Stephen Brackett and Choreographer Chase Brock. Be More Chill starts performances April 17, 2020, at the Apollo Theater, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave. in Chicago. The press openings are scheduled for April 25, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Tickets for the limited 18-week run of Be More Chill, priced $35-$125, are on sale at the Apollo Theater box office (2540 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago), by phone at (773) 935-6100, and online through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com.

Be More Chill tells the atypical love story of a boy, a girl…and the supercomputer inside the boy’s head guiding him every step of the way. Jeremy Heere is just an average teenager desperately trying to fit in. That is, until he finds out about “The Squip” – a tiny supercomputer that promises to bring him everything he desires most: a date with Christine, an invite to the raddest party of the year and a chance to survive life in his suburban New Jersey high school. The only catch: the supercomputer wants to take over the world! Is being the most popular guy in school worth the risk?

The Tony Award-nominated score by Joe Iconis bursts with addictively catchy songs including “More than Survive,” “Be More Chill,” and the hugely popular “Michael in the Bathroom.” The 2019 Broadway Cast Recording released by Ghostlight Records debuted at #2 on the Top Cast Albums Chart. Songs from the musical have accumulatively garnered over 350 million streams, with the breakout track “Michael In The Bathroom” amassing over 31 million streams and 8 million YouTube views alone. Tumblr has ranked Be More Chill as the #2 most talked-about musical on their platform, behind only Hamilton.

Be More Chill was originally commissioned by and premiered at Two River Theater in Red Bank, New Jersey in 2015. The overwhelming response to the original cast recording led to an off-Broadway production in 2018, followed by a Broadway run at the Lyceum Theatre. Its runaway success continues with its recently extended London premiere at The Other Palace and a film adaptation which is currently underway.

The creative team includes Charlie Rosen (orchestrations), Beowulf Boritt (set design), Bobby Frederick Tilley II (costume design), Tyler Micoleau (lighting design), Ryan Rumery (sound design), Alex Basco Koch (projection design) and Emily Marshall (vocal arrangements). The production manager is SenovvA and Chicago casting is by Lynn Baber.

The Chicago production of Be More Chill is produced by Jerry Goehring, co-produced by Marleen and Gary Cohen, Harold F. Mills, Connor Tinglum/Andrew Hendrick, Jeffrey Neuman, Fred and Randi Sternfeld, Two River Theater and general managed by Lisa Dozier King/LDK Productions.

About the Artists
JEREMIAH ALSOP (Michael) Chicago credits include Head Over Heels (Kokandy), Oliver!, Madagascar (Marriott Theatre), Beauty and the Beast (Drury Lane), Spring Awakening (Blank Theatre Co), and Yank! (PFP). Hailing from North Carolina, he’s been happy to work with Regarding Actors, The Jewish Plays Project, and The Broadway Dreams Foundation.

ALEX GOODRICH (Mr. Heere/Mr. Reyes) Chicago credits include shows at Chicago Shakespeare, Court Theater, Marriott Theater, Writers, Northlight, Royal George, Chicago Children’s Theater, Next Theater and Indiana Repertory.

REBECCA HURD (Christine) Chicago credits: Top Girls (Remy Bumppo); Something Rotten! (Marriott); Mamma Mia! (Drury Lane); An Enemy of the People (Goodman), The Importance of Being Earnest (Writers); Short Shakes! Twelfth Night (Chicago Shakespeare). Regionally, she has worked with the Guthrie Theater, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, American Players Theatre, and Montana Shakespeare in the Parks. TV credits include Chicago PD (NBC); NeXt (FOX); and she holds a BFA from the University of Minnesota/Guthrie Theater.

TERESSA LAGAMBA (Jenna) is a Chicago based actor/musician from Pittsburgh, PA. Recent features include IWFTYA (Rivendell Theatre), 1776 (Porchlight Music Theatre), Legally Blonde, Sweeney Todd (Paramount Theatre), A Little Night Music, Marie Christine (Boho Theatre), Ragtime (Marriott Theatre), Heathers, Little Fish, Tomorrow Morning (Kokandy Productions). She has worked with Emerald City Theatre, Broadway In Chicago, Griffin Theatre, Haven Theatre and more. She received her BA in Acting and American Sign Language from Columbia College Chicago and is represented by Paonessa Talent. AEA.

MICHELLE LAUTO (Chloe) Credits include Spamilton: An American Parody (Forbidden Broadway, Jeff Award Winner: Best Actress in a Revue), In The Heights, Sunset Boulevard (Porchlight Music Theatre), Grease, Oklahoma!, Ragtime (Marriott Theatre) and HAIR (Mercury Theatre). Michelle is a member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA and is represented by Stewart Talent.

EBEN K. LOGAN (Brooke) Most recently seen as Celie in The Color Purple (Drury Lane Theatre). Other Chicago credits include Matilda the Musical (Drury Lane Theatre), The Producers (Paramount Theatre) and Sweet Charity (Marriott Theatre).

LIAM OH (Jeremy) is a sophomore at Northwestern University studying theatre with a certificate in musical theatre. He was most recently seen in David Cromer’s Next to Normal at Writers Theatre. Northwestern: Eurydice; Scotland, PA; Carrie; Never Not Once. He is represented by Stewart Talent and Robert Stein Management.

BILLY RUDE (Jake) Nat’l Tour: “Jerry Lee Lewis” in Million Dollar Quartet (Gershwin Entertainment) Recent Theatre Credits: Sunset Boulevard (Porchlight Music Theatre), Grease (Marriott Theatre), The Civility of Albert Cashier (Stage 773), Beauty & The Beast (Drury Lane Theatre), Million Dollar Quartet (Solvang Festival Theatre). TV: Chicago PD (NBC/Universal).

KORAY TARHAN (Rich) Koray is a Columbia College graduate who has performed regionally from San Diego to Cincinnati. Most recently, you may have seen him in Paramount’s Newsies as Davey or The Mercury Theater’s Pippin in the title role. Along with performing, Koray is a podcaster (Super Thought Bros/Seed to Tree podcasts) and a fitness coach.

Fact Sheet / Be More Chill

Title: Be More Chill

Music and Lyrics by: Joe Iconis

Book by: Joe Tracz

Based on the novel by: Ned Vizzini

Directed by: Stephen Brackett

Choreographed by: Chase Brock

Featuring: Jeremiah Alsop (Michael), Alex Goodrich (Mr. Heere/Mr. Reyes), Rebecca Hurd (Christine), Teressa LaGamba (Jenna), Michelle Lauto (Chloe), Eben K. Logan (Brooke), Liam Oh (Jeremy), Billy Rude (Jake) and Koray Tarhan (Rich).