The Island Theater Upgrades with ‘Be More Chill’

August 17, 2019
2 mins read
The Island Theater Upgrades with 'Be More Chill'
Photos by Gabriela Blasco

‘Be More Chill’ is a phenomenal musical about teen angst, self identity and the impact social disconnection has on the generation

The Island Theater Upgrades with 'Be More Chill'

Be More Chill may have closed on Broadway this past weekend, but it’s just ramping up at The Island Theater in Fleming Island and how lucky the fan base is that it is. Be More Chill is a musical with a unique history. It opened on Off Broadway and closed without making the leap to Broadway only to be revived two years later by popular demand. It’s second Off Broadway run quickly turned into a more than respectable Broadway run and a Tony nomination for creators Joe Iconis and Joe Tracz. For those who didn’t have the means or time to travel to NY, The Island Theater is the place to see this phenomenal musical about teen angst, self identity and the impact social disconnection has on the generation.

The Island Theater Upgrades with 'Be More Chill'
Photos by Gabriela Blasco

The story centers around a teen named Jeremy Heere (Edward Bazzell) as he finds himself with a growing desire to be more than just a background character in his own story. As he begins to finally pursue his heart’s desire Christine (Emily Poehlman), he finds he’s a little too late as high school jock, Jake (Brandon Flach) has stepped in and made a play for the quirky girl. Poehlman’s energetic and zany portrayal of the character makes it obvious why both Jake and Jeremy would want to compete for her heart.

The Island Theater Upgrades with 'Be More Chill'
Photos by Gabriela Blasco

That’s when the story takes a Little Shop of Horrors-esque turn as the Artificial Intelligence aka The Squip (Nikolas Wendorf) suddenly appears and offers to make Jeremy’s dreams come true for the small price of total submission and abandonment of his old life and only true friend, Michael (Angelo Goderre). As the representations of good and evil in Jeremy’s life, Goderre shines with humanity as he croons the show’s anthem Michael in the Bathroom as Wendorf truly dominates the scenes where he is controlling the fates of characters as the audience sits waiting to see who will win over Jeremy in the end.

Newcomer to The Island – Edward Bazzell plays the part of Jeremy with so many levels – even at the character’s whiniest moments – the audience feels his emotional pain and joy as the plot twists and turns. Paired with a particularly strong soliloquy song that resonates and punctuates the end of Act One as he belts out the Act One finale with chilling commitment as he takes a darker path to his try and reach his goal. 

The Island Theater Upgrades with 'Be More Chill'
Photos by Gabriela Blasco

Be More Chill at The Island Theater is filled with consistent and strong performers doing more than justice to the pop music score with new and fresh choreography by Caitlin Charrier. Peppered with college aged performers from Florida School of the Arts and FSU – the show is cast with just the right balance to maintain the high energy necessary for this science fiction/teen angst musical. 

Saturday night’s audience was filled with superfans of the show who were not disappointed by the fast paced presentation. However, despite its high school setting, the show does cover adult content and Act 2 is filled with profanity so it is not a show for minors. 

The Island Theater Upgrades with 'Be More Chill'
Photos by Gabriela Blasco

The Island Theater is located in Fleming Island right across from Fleming Island High School. Seating is general admission so be sure to arrive early for best seating choice. Get your tickets online at www.theislandtheater.com or call 904-254-1455 to reserve tickets. Be More Chill runs through August 25th with Thursday, August 15th’s performance serving as a benefit performance for Mental Health Awareness. If Saturday’s sold out show was any indication – waiting might make it hard to Be More Chill.

Current Issue

Recent Posts

SUBMIT EVENTS

Submit Events

Advertisements

SingOutLoadFestival_TheAmp_2025
liz-buys-houses-digital
generac-home-standby-generator-banners

Date

Title

Current Month

Follow FOLIO!

The Grey Area, Keagan and Drew Brown, The Grey Area: Local Filmmaker Keagan Anfuso Explores the Masculine Female Perspective
Previous Story

Filmmaker Keagan Anfuso: Definitions of Gender and How that Affects the Life of Masculine Women

1748 Bakehouse in Springfield, #EATUPJAX: Openings, Closings, and New Locations in the Local Jacksonville Food Scene
Next Story

#EATUPJAX: Restaurant Openings, Closings, and New Locations in the Local Jacksonville Food Scene

Latest from Feature

Crime Time

Say Cheese … and Duck. Words by Carmen Macri  A former Mayo Clinic doctor has found himself on the hot seat after allegedly pulling a gun on a group of teenagers in a fit of what the deputies are calling a road rage incident… sparked over a slice of

Escape Room on Wheels

Words by Ambar Ramirez & Carmen Macri We know what you’re thinking … an escape room on wheels? You mean a kidnapping? No. It’s none of that. It’s actually the future of escape rooms.  Escape Me Mobile took your run-of-the-mill escape room, the anxiety-inducing timer, the confusing puzzles,

Children’s Art Classes

Words by Carmen Macri and Ambar Ramirez Children’s Art Classes began in 1997, when Barbara Gay, a longtime public school art teacher, turned her garage into a creative art classroom for her two daughters. Nearly 25 years later, that passion project has grown into a nationwide program with more

SUBLIME BASSIST ERIC WILSON: PURE AUSTERE GRANDEUR

Words by Teresa Spencer, photo by @stvthrasher Eric Wilson doesn’t talk much. Never has. While frontmen flame out and drummers blow up, the bassist for Sublime has always preferred to hang back in the shadows grooving, steady and unbothered. He’s not chasing the spotlight. He is the spotlight’s bassline.

Under Watch and Under Fire

The Hidden Toll of Jacksonville’s Jail System Words by Carmen Macri and Ambar Ramirez  We’re quick to place the blame on the convicted. The ones locked behind bars. But how often do we question the ones holding the keys, the ones running the cell block, as being just as
July 5th Cleanup
GoUp

Don't Miss

Play Ball!

Words by Shelton Hull Baseball season begins in Jacksonville this
Major Awards for A Christmas Story at The Island Theater

Major Awards for A Christmas Story at The Island Theater

It’s the holiday season and options are abundant in the