(BURLINGTON CITY, NJ) -- Bridge Players Theatre Company is thrilled to announce its long-awaited return to its home stage at Broad Street United Methodist Church. The first presentation in its regular space since February 2020 will be the exciting pop musical Be More Chill, opening February 9 and running through February 24, 2024.
First produced in 2015 in Red Bank, NJ, Be More Chill premiered on Broadway in 2019. Featuring music and lyrics by Joe Iconis and a book by Joe Tracz, Be More Chill is a fresh and fun sci-fi tale about growing up, high school, and what we will do to get what we want.
The musical follows Jeremy, an average teenager – that is, until he learns about "The Squip," a tiny supercomputer that promises to bring him everything he desires: a date with his crush, Christine; an invite to the hottest party of the year; and a chance to survive his suburban New Jersey high school. But is being the most popular guy in school worth everything?
Director/Choreographer Jessi Meisel of Glassboro has assembled an energetic cast of local performers, including Felix Ramos of Burlington Township as Jeremy Heere; Artemis De Groot of Bordentown as Jeremy’s friend Michael Mell; Cassidy Remeniski of Maple Shade as Christine Canigula; Yeshua Irizarry of Philadelphia as Rich Goranski, Jeremy’s nemesis; Lindsey Kilchesty of Burlington as Brooke Lohst; Lindsey Grelis of Tabernacle as Chloe Valentine; Ellorah Maeve of Oaklyn as Jenna Rolan; Lofn Klaus of Burlington as Jake Dillinger; John Salera of Mount Laurel as The Squip, and Ethan Rundell of Glassboro as “Adult Male.”
Be More Chill’s ensemble includes Michael Aquilino (Cherry Hill), Molly Connolly (Browns Mills), Hannah Lee DeFrates (Haddonfield) and Jackie Reinhart (Pitman).
Meisel says: "This show is definitely for the underdogs, the misfits, the outcasts. For most of us, all we want in life is to be more chill. We just want to more than survive our day, upgrade our experiences, and maybe ignore the doubting voices in our heads. As someone who has always felt like the underdog, this musical is definitely something I relate to, and feel most audiences can, too! This cast has been a dream to work with, much like the show can seem."
The show is produced by Marissa DiPilla-Clendaniel of Warminster, PA (formerly of Delran), and Diana Dohrmann of Willingboro serves as musical director, Terri McIntyre of Runnemede is fight choreographer, Paul DeJoseph of Willingboro is stage manager, and Kris Kauker of Edgewater Park is technical director.
Performances will be held at Broad Street United Methodist Church, 36 E Broad Street, Burlington, NJ. Show dates/times: February 9, 10, 16, 17, 23 & 24 at 8:00pm; February 11, 17 & 18 at 3:00pm. The show features adult themes; discretion is advised.
Tickets are $20 for all performances. For tickets, and to learn more about Bridge Players Theatre Company, please visit www.bridgeplayerstheatre.com.
The Makin Waves Song of the Week is "ICE SS" by the Central Jersey punk act Sally Draper.
