Young Artists of Bravo Academy
At Bravo Academy, we pride ourselves on providing more than just a performing arts education. Theatre is an outlet for the stress of the outside world, a community that comes together and supports their own, and a positive space to explore identity and make strong connections.
Our staff see and hear our students’ struggles every day. We’ve heard stories from parents and students alike about the pressures they face at school, at home, in their peer groups, and on social media.
That’s why we chose Be More Chill, a popular musical, for our summer teen production. The story follows Jeremy Heere, a high school student searching for his place in the social order. The opening number (“More Than Survive”) follows him on a typical day, in which he is bullied or invisible to his peers; he sings,
I’m never gonna be the cool guy
I’m more the one who’s left out
Of all the characters at school,
I am not the one who the story’s about
Why can’t someone just help me out
And teach me how to thrive
Help me do more than survive
Jeremy learns of a pill (called a S.Q.U.I.P.) that will implant a micro-computer in his brain, which will speak to him and tell him how to be cool. As the story unfolds, Jeremy abandons his “uncool” best friend, pursues the girl of his dreams to no avail, and learns that the computer has designs on world domination.
The story has a happy ending – best friends reunite and the evil computer is defeated – and concludes with a song called “Voices in My Head.” The cast of teens acknowledge that there will always be external pressures in their lives telling them how to act – be cooler, be sexier, be anything but yourself – but only one voice really matters: your own.
Be More Chill has an overwhelming fan base, mostly teens and young adults. Our own students participating in the show (ages 13-19) identified so strongly with the story, and found so much of their own lives within it, even with its sci-fi side plots. Our short run quickly sold out.
View this post on Instagram
Tomorrow is opening night and we are SOLD. OUT. Can’t wait for everyone to see this amazing show!
Our cast and crew voted on which charity to support, and overwhelmingly chose Stella’s Place, due to their incredible mental health services for young adults. All proceeds from our snack bar went to Stella’s Place, as well as several cash contributions. The importance of youth mental health resonated so strongly with our community that we are currently developing a new teen musical on similar themes.
We are so grateful for Stella’s Place, providing quality services to people like our students. Every young person should have the opportunity to do “more than survive” and Bravo Academy is thrilled to have played a small part in making that a reality.