April 12, 2019

Next month, the Drexel University Co-Op Theatre Company will present its final show of the season, Be More Chill, May 9 – 12 in the Mandell Theater. Following productions this season of Tartuffe and She Kills Monsters, Be More Chill concludes a season of stories featuring and advocating for the misfits and geeks of the world. Be More Chill, a new musical that recently made its Broadway debut, has already earned a massive teenage fanbase. The musical centers around Jeremy Heere, a typical high school wallflower who desperately wants to be popular. Jeremy discovers he can swallow a pill - a Super Quantum Unit Intel Processor, or SQUIP - that implants in his brain and teaches him how to be popular. What could possibly go wrong?

Drexel’s production will feature a large cast of 22 students and a recent Drexel graduate, Will Poost, who takes on the production’s only adult character roles. With an upbeat musical score by Joe Iconis, Jamison Foreman (Music Director) and Dann Dunn (Choreographer) will help to bring this story to life on a set designed by Meghan Jones. Costumes are designed by Richard St. Clair, Lighting Design is by J. Dominic Chacon, Sound Design is by Nick Kourtides, Video Design by Janelle Kauffman and Francesca Cimino, and the show will be conducted by Nicholas Place. The piece is helmed by Director Nick Anselmo, Artistic Director of the Co-Op Theatre Company.

In selecting this piece to close the season, Anselmo was moved by the universality of Jeremy’s story. As we go through life and discover who we are and where we fit into the world, we find that sometimes our true self isn’t always accepted. As Anselmo said in a recent interview, “who doesn’t want to feel like they belong?” Be More Chill takes audiences on Jeremy’s journey of self-discovery, where he learns that being unique is what makes you special in the world, finding out what it means to truly belong. Anselmo says, “this show resonates with people...audiences of any age can find themselves invested in the journey.”

For more information about the show and tickets, visit the Co-op Theatre Company website.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Thursday, May 9^th (preview) @ 8:00 PM

Friday, May 10^th (opening) @ 8:00 PM

Saturday, May 11^th @ 2:00 PM

Saturday, May 11^th @ 8:00 PM

Sunday, May 12^th (closing) @ 2:00 PM

Drexel University's Mandell Theater

3220 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104

TICKETS $20 General Admission, $15 Non-Drexel Students, $10 Drexel Students

Tickets are available for purchase at cooptheater.westphal.drexel.edu, or in person at the box office one hour before show time.

About Drexel University’s Co-Op Theatre

Drexel University’s Co-Op Theatre Company is a resident theater company that produces shows as part of the Theater Program at Drexel University and is sponsored by the Department of Performing Arts. Under the advisement and direction of Theater Program faculty, students from all over the University can get a hands-on experience running a theater company at a professional level by serving in various artistic, administrative, and production roles of Co-Op Theatre Company productions. Student roles include: Assistant to the Producing Director, General Manager, Social Media Director, Production Manager, Assistant Technical Director, and Director of Marketing, along with other key production positions. Many students, especially those in Entertainment and Arts Management, choose to fill one of these administrative positions as their culminating senior project.

About Drexel University’s Department of Performing Arts

The Drexel University Department of Performing Arts is a dedicated community of artists, faculty and staff committed to providing a quality education in dance, music, and theater. The Department looks to expand students' knowledge and skills through academic course work, rigorous technical training, experiences with professional artists, innovative community outreach, and outstanding performance opportunities. The Department of Performing Arts is home to the dance, music and theatre programs at Drexel, including a dance major and eight minors. It is also home to over 20 performing ensembles including the Drexel Co-Op Theatre Company. For more information, visit the Performing Arts website.