By Joshua Robison / The Jambar
University Theatre at Youngstown State University continued its 2025-26 theatrical season Nov. 14 with the premier of the musical comedy “Be More Chill,” directed by YSU professor Adam Howard at the Spotlight Arena Theater in Bliss Hall.
“Be More Chill” is inspired by the novel of the same name written by Ned Vizzini. The story follows the protagonist, Jeremy Heere, a social outcast who has difficulty navigating common struggles that come with high school.
Heere looks for a way to be different and considered “cool,” as well as find a way to win over his crush. He takes a pill that contains a Super Quantum Intel Unit Processor, or SQUIP. The SQUIP is an artificial intelligence, implanted in his brain, that gives him advice on how to be more chill.
“Imagine ‘The Matrix’ meets ‘Little Shop of Horrors,’ but a musical,” Howard said.
Howard said the show was selected as part of the University Theatre season to give his students experience in both contemporary and classical musicals.
“Because we are a training program, we can’t just do the same kind of musical all the time,” Howard said. “Sometimes you have to do the great big classic musical, the good old-fashioned, golden age or jazz age musical, and sometimes you have to do something really contemporary, and this [‘Be More Chill’] is one of the most contemporary musicals there is.”
Howard said that “Be More Chill” is important to YSU’s theatre program, as part of the musical was developed in Ohio.
Sam Nabring, senior piano performance major, led the show playing Heere and said that he feels he has a personal connection to his character.
“I feel like I can relate to the character a lot, both in the good and bad ways. I feel like just the traits of Jeremy match up with mine,” Nabring said.
Nabring also said that preparing for the show took a lot of work from him and the cast.
“We rehearse every night,” Nabring said. “We’re running shows from 7-10 [p.m.] essentially. We’re running the show without stopping.”
Natalie Horvath, senior double major in musical theatre and biology, said her favorite parts about her character, Christine, are the many traits the character possesses.
“Some of my favorite parts about the role is that she’s such an outgoing character, and she’s just so loving of everybody in theatre,” Horvath said. “It’s just so much fun to play a role that is similar to myself and getting to play a dream role of mine.”
“Be More Chill” will perform this weekend starting at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 21-22 and then at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 23.