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This article was originally published on October 7th, 2026.

I’ve known Be More Chill since 2019 when it was on Broadway, and I wanted to see its Off-West End production in 2020, which for obvious reasons, never happened. Then I wanted to see it on the West End in 2021, which also never happened.

I forgot about it for a while until I needed an escape in 2023, and ended up fully immersing myself into the show (and mildly regretting not getting into it sooner when it was still in the UK.)

Be More Chill is a musical with original music and lyrics by American composer, lyricst, and playwriter, Joe Iconis, with the book written by Joe Tracz.

Initially a novel written by the now late Ned Vizzini, it was adapted as a stage play in the late 2000s, and eventually Iconis picked up the rights to the book and decided to turn it into a musical. It debuted in 2015 at the Two-River Theatre in Red Bank, New Jersey, from May 30 to June 28. The show then moved Off-Broadway to the Irene Diamond Stage at the Pershing Square Signature Center in 2018, and later opened at the Lyceum Theatre for its Broadway production in 2019. The show later closed on Broadway on August 11, 2019, after failing to win any Tony Awards and declining ticket sales.

On December 12 that same year, it was announced that an 18-week limited engagement in Chicago at the Apollo Theater. Previews were set to begin on April 17, 2020, with an opening night set for April 26. Unfortunately, the production was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the run was never greenlit after lockdown.

Both London productions of Be More Chill have always been my favourites, I’ve preferred them over the USA productions, and that’s not because Blake Patrick Anderson is in it — well, maybe just a bit.

However, Be More Chill has always had issues with its productions. It’s a musical that everyone knows in the theatre industry, but it’s one that people rarely talk about. I, myself — had a hyperfixation on it between October, 2023-September, 2025. I’ve seen the Birmingham production last year in August with friends I met online, and I thought it was pretty solid for a non-replica. I saw a college production of the show in September, 2024, which I also thought that was good despite being amateur.

Both London productions of the show were absolutely spectactular, and I don’t think any other production could top it — I do have a preference for UK productions, so I may be a little biased, but these two runs opened up my eyes and I dived in to research all the actors that appeared in the show, and honestly? Some of them are still my favourite actors to this day.

Be More Chill announced an Off-West End run on September 29, 2019, and previews began at The Other Palace on February 12, 2020, and it’s opening night set for February 18.

On December 9th, 2019, casting for the production was announced. It included Scott Folan (Brotherhood, Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger!) as Jeremy Heere, Blake Patrick Anderson (Here & Now, Starlight Express) as Michael Mell, Miracle Chance (Heathers: The Musical, The Rocky Horror Show) as Christine Canigula, Stewart Clarke (Assassins, Les Misérables) as the SQUIP, Eloise Davies (Just For One Day) as Brooke Lohst, Six stars Millie O’Connel as Chloe Valentine and Renée Lamb as Jenna Rolan, Miles Paloma as Jake Dillinger, James Hameed (Paddington: The Musical) as Rich Goranski, and Christopher Fry (Avenue Q, EastEnders) as Mr. Heere/Mr. Reyes/Scary Stockboy. Gabriel Hinchliffe, Eve Norris, and Jon Tsouras were swings for the production.

The set had numerous changes, with little props, costume changes, and most of the set was replaced with an LED screen for the background. The final number for the first act, “Loser Geek Whatever” had been shortened, and another number, “Upgrade”, was added to the end of the previous song mentioned. The show was scheduled to close on June 14, 2020, but on June 3, it was announced that all remaining performances would be cancelled following its early closure on March 16, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If my calculations are correct, the run would’ve lasted over 17 weeks if it didn’t close early.

A couple of swings had their debuts in this run; Tsouras had his Mr. Heere and the character’s respective tracks on February 29, alongside his SQUIP and Hinchliffe’s Rich debut somewhere down the line.

​I remember buying Michael’s creeps’ long-sleeved shirt in 2020, mainly because I thought it looked cool. I still like to wear it sometimes, especially during the long, cold winter months. I think I do relate to Michael quite a lot — being obsessed with old technology, video games, and the yearning to go back to when things were better. I also don’t have a Jeremy in my life, or someone I care about to the point I base my entire life revolving around that particular person.

Despite its early closure, the Off-West End production sold amazingly well — the show blew up in popularity around 2018-2019 from its USA productions, so it was for sure still in its peak when it came to the UK in 2020. I think if COVID-19 didn’t happen, it truly would’ve skyrocketed even more with countless possibilities.

And it’s upsetting because I don’t think those possibilities will ever happen.

On May 14, 2021, it was announced that the production was to have its West End debut and transfer to the Shaftesbury Theatre for the summer, resuming performances from its Off-West End run in 2020. Most of the original London cast reprised their roles apart from O’Connell and Lamb, who were replaced by Grace Mouat (& Juliet) and Nathania Ong (Les Misérables, Hamilton). Brandon Lee Sears (The Devil Wears Prada) also joined the production as a swing.

It opened at the Shaftesbury on June 30, and closed on September 5 — and to my caluclations, that is a 10-week run.

10 weeks. It somehow got less time on the West End, which is what would’ve been if the Off-West End production didn’t have an early closure.

The production didn’t have any changes after its transfer to the Shaftesbury — the only noticable difference being that most of the swings had their respective cover debuts; Norris had her Brooke debut on July 10 for its matinée performance, playing the role again that night. Hinchliffe had his Jeremy debut on July 15’s matinée, followed by his Jake on July 28, and Michael on August 31. Sears had his SQUIP debut near the end of August, and Norris never got to debut as Christine in both of the London productions — though there is a photo of her in the role during tech rehearsals.

Norris later joined the London cast of Matilda as Miss Honey on the West End, which has been playing at the Cambridge Theatre since 2011.

The production at the Shaftesbury had successful ticket sales, and its success encouraged other countries to open up their own versions of the musical — notably its Japan tour in 2022, which played at the New National Theatre in Tokyo before wrapping up on August 10, and continued its run in Fukuoka and Osaka. The Japan production contained the London script and set.

Now the question remains — both London runs sold massively well, so why did nothing come out of it?

One theory I came up was that the COVID-19 pandemic impacted its financial stance, causing issues with attempting to branch out and produce their own version of anything you can think of, such as:

• An original London cast recording, twinning with its Two-River Theater and Broadway cast albums
• Touring productions, such as UK and Ireland
• A professionally filmed performance during its Shaftesbury run

But none of those things happened.

Another theory of mine is simply that nobody wanted to pick the show up after closing on the West End, or it just wasn’t popular enough to embark on a tour, produce a cast album, etc.

The show never got a major revival in the UK until August, 2025, where the show had its official non-replica Birmingham production at The Old Joint Stock Pub & Theatre, which ran from August 6 to August 31, 2025. Despite its small venue, the production was an incredible success, and I for one enjoyed how amazing it was for its cheap budget, and it was also lovely to meet the cast after my show.

However, once again, nothing has since emerged despite that successful run.

I think that Be More Chill London deserves so much better because despite them cutting a lot of the set, costumes, and all that — it was, and still is, a very good version of the show, and it doesn’t feel right for it to be abandoned here in the UK despite its great reviews, even though it never got nominated for any awards. The production never got to perform at West End Live, either.

​Both were spectacular runs, I think it was just unfortunate timing.

In September, 2025, Folan opened up a new production company, Teal Moon Productions LTD, and announced on September 23 that the show would head back to the West End at the Arts Theatre as a reunion concert, celebrating its 5th anniversary in the UK. O’Connell, Hameed, Lamb, Ong, Davies, and Clarke would not reprise their respective roles, with Hinchliffe stepping in as Rich; Jessica Lim, who played Jenna Rolan in the Birmingham production, reprised her role in the concert; Norris as Brooke, and Brandon as the SQUIP.

The West End concert was originally scheduled to be one-night only on November 10, 2025, but due to how fast it sold out, a second date was added, which was November 17. Anderson, who was touring in the Here & Now production at the time, was pulled in to reprise his role as Michael.

The production was successful, but once again, nothing has emerged since.

A short non-replica production is set to produce at the Bridewell theatre in London from October 20 to October 24 later this year, but I highly doubt it will move beyond anything bigger.

So, what happened to the actors that appeared in both of the London productions after closure, and their future endeavours?
​

• Folan went on to focus on his new company, producing workshops for shows he writes — his recent one being Give Her My Love.
• Anderson made television appearances, such as playing Eddie Castile in Vampire Academy and Doctor Who, and recently toured across the UK and Ireland in the Here & Now musical as Robbie.
• Chance went on to appear in the Off-West End revival for Heathers: The Musical as Veronica Sawyer at The Other Palace from February, 2023, until its closure on September 3 later that year. She has recently appeared in One Day at the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh earlier this year from March to April.
• Clarke appeared in the West End production of Les Misérables as Javert for the 2024-2025 cast, with his rising career in voice acting.
• Davies appeared in many shows since, notably playing Mrs. Puff and the understudy for Sandy Cheeks in The SpongeBob Musical’s UK and Ireland tour; Frenchy in Grease for its fifth West End revival and eighth UK tour; Ally, Suzanne, and Young Suzanne in Just For One Day.
• O’Connell appeared with Lamb in Cake: The Marie Antoinette Playlist for its Off-West End production in 2024 as Nicole Le Guay d’Olivia, and just recently played Demeter in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Cats at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre in London.
• Mouat has appeared in several shows, recently had finished playing the role of Rem in Death Note: The Musical, which played at the Barbican Centre in London; other appearances included Lucy in 13 Going on 30 for its Manchester production last year from September to October, and Izzy in the West End production ofThe Great British Bake Off Musical.
• Ong appeared in the West End production of Hamilton, playing the role of Alexander Hamilton’s wife, Eliza Hamilton, and Éponine in the Arena Spectacular World Tour production of Les Misérables.
• Hameed currently appears in the West End production of Paddington: The Musical as the off-stage voice of Paddington Bear, he previously played Feris in Eugenius! for its Off-West End revival, and appeared with Davies in Just For One Day as Khali.
• Norris currently appears in the West End production of Matilda, playing Miss Honey; Hinchliffe recently appeared as Adam in the Off-West End production of The Mad Ones, and Sears in the West End production of The Devil Wears Prada as a swing, understudying Nigel Owens. He also appeared in Heathers: The Musical as Preppy Stud and Officer McCord, also understudying Kurt and Veronica’s Dad, and Principal Gowan.

Unfortunately, it seems that even if Be More Chill were to have a London revival, it would have to be with an entirely new cast as it looks like most of the original cast have moved on. It’s a shame, really.

Be More Chill London deserved better, so ​much better.