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GRIFFIN THEATRE COMPANY RETURNS TO THE GENRE OF MODERN TEEN ANGST WITH WORLD PREMIERE STAGE ADAPTATION OF HIT NOVEL, BE MORE CHILL
May 10 – July 6, 2008

Chicago, IL, April 12, 2008 –The Griffin Theatre Company wraps up their Nineteenth Season with a world premiere adaptation by William Massolia of Ned Vizzini's Be More Chill. Directed by Ensemble member Jonathan Berry, who's recent staging of Journey's End garnered rave reviews, the Griffin returns to the realm that made Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging a hit—now with a decidedly adult twist.  Press opening is Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 6:00pm. Tickets are on sale now at Theatre Building Chicago, (773) 327-5252, or online at www.ticketmaster.com.

High School. That exquisite brand of government sponsored, society endorsed torture that everyone between the ages of 13 – 18 must necessarily endure. Jeremy Heere is in the thick of it, and it is not going well.  Jeremy just isn't Cool. Every day is a painful reminder of what he can't have – drunken parties, hot sex, cool clothes and even cooler friends. If only there was some kind of pill you could take that would tell you how to be - Some kind of ingestible computer coming out of Japan – Something that would tell you how to get everything you want by being the coolest guy in High School - Something with the voice of Keanu Reeves?

From the New York Times best selling young adult novel by Ned Vizzini, listed as one of the “Top Ten Books of the Year” by Entertainment Weekly, and a Today Show Book Club selection the Griffin offers you a hilariously painful glimpse at what it's really like to be in high school and how one kid learns the hard way that coolness must necessarily come from within. Although written for young people the novel became a huge cult hit with both young and old because of its sexual frankness and honest portrayal of high school life.

The Griffin has assembled an outstanding cast of young performers to create the high school life so vividly brought to life in Be More Chill. The play stars 20 year old Jake Cohen in his professional debut as Jeremy. Rounding out the cast of 13 are, Stacie Barra, Brad Bukauskas, Chuck Filipov, Caroline Fourmy, Marsha Harman, Ryan Murphy, Caroline Neff, Nicole Pellegrino, Douglas Thornton, Rani Waterman, Steven Wilson and Edward Paul as the Squip (AKA Keanu Reeves).

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