The Sheffield University Performing Arts Society (SUPAS) have announced casting for both of their upcoming semester one productions. Showing in weeks 9 and 11 of semester one, the cast of Be More Chill and Amélie were first revealed on the group’s Facebook page. The casts contain both new and returning performers, as well as SUPAS committee members, following auditions at the beginning of October.
In a series of posts in their Facebook group, the cast lists were announced alongside the show’s respective ticket links, with tickets already on sale for their productions. Whilst the show’s technical teams or band accompaniment have not yet been revealed, auditions and tech calls for both productions have already passed, with updates expected in the coming weeks.
Beginning with week 9’s Be More Chill, Jamie Stephens (Made in Dagenham, Songs for a New World) has been cast as Jeremy Heere, Sophie Warren (Made in Dagenham) as Chloe Valentine and Nancy Rutter (Made in Dagenham, The Addams Family) as Brooke Lohst, each with a variety of previous SUPAS credits to their names. Joining them, however, are a remarkable seven SUPAS debut performances, including Alicia Adeleye as The SQUIP, Jess Aldersley as Christine Canigula, Esther Scourse as Michael Mell, James Laikin as Rich Goranski, Grace Imonhimi as Jake Dillinger, Izzy Woolcott as Jenna Rolan and Henry Barrett as Mr Heere. Completing the company are Stan Smith (Made in Dagenham, The Addams Family) as Mr Reyes/Dance Ensemble and Abby Lever (Made in Dagenham, The Addams Family) as Scary Stockboy/Dance Ensemble.
Be More Chill follows the average and unpopular Jeremy, seeking to survive high school. Faced with an elusive opportunity, he takes a supercomputer in the form of a pill, hoping it will reward him with popularity with his peers, and attention from his crush Christine. However, The SQUIP turns out to be a conscious form of Artificial Intelligence, determined to take over the world using its newfound host. Written by Joe Tracz with lyrics by Joe Iconis, the musical is based off of an acclaimed 2004 novel of the same name by Ned Vinizzi, and has seen stagings both on- and off-Broadway, and in the West End.
Switching to SUPAS’ week 11 production Amélie, the production has a strong showing from the SUPAS Committee, with the titular role played by Welfare & Inclusions Officer Orlaith Day (Made in Dagenham, Songs for a New World), Secretary Ben Jowett (Made in Dagenham, The Addams Family) as Raphael Poulain, President Eve Catanach (Made in Dagenham, The Addams Family) as Gina Wells and Digital Publicist Liv Slater (Made in Dagenham, The Addams Family) as Blind Beggar/Ensemble (Dance).
Joining them and giving SUPAS debut performances are Will Merritt as Nino Quincampiox, Grace Fryer as Amandine Poulain, Maddy Hicks as Georgette Cornuel, Ellie Potter as Suzanne Sacripant, Holly Atkin as Julien Dufayel/Adrien Wells, Natalia Prucnal as Philomene De Norpois/Sylvie, Winko Kyaw Oo as Hipolito Jeunet/Priest, Rhiannon Finn as Lucien Villeparisis/Myertious Man, Rory Violet as Gnome/Tourist/Goldfish, Freya de Monte as Ensemble/Collingnon’s Father, Kirsty Oakley as Ensemble/Collingnon’s Mother, and Sophia Kim and Emily Williamson as Ensemble (Dance).
Completing the cast are Jess Hamilton (Made in Dagenham, The Addams Family) as Young Amélie Puppeteer/Ensemble (Dance), Evan Donninger (Made in Dagenham, The Addams Family) as Dominique Bretodeau/Collingnon, Nathan Cook (Made in Dagenham, The Addams Family) as Joseph Cottard/Elton John and Charley Moffat (Made in Dagenham, The Addams Family) as Ensemble.
Amélie tells the story of the titular ‘heroine’, who orchestrates the lives and daily mannerisms of the people around her, all without their knowledge. This comedy was written by Craig Lucas, and based upon the 2001 film of the same name. It saw runs on Broadway and in various locations around the UK, including an off-West End run at The Other Palace, where it received three Olivier Award nominations, as well as a West End run at the Criterion Theatre.
With student theatre at our university underway yet again this week with SUTCo’s Your Heart’s Too Open, Close It, these announcements are the first clues as to SUPAS’ productions this semester. With four weeks until Be More Chill takes to the stage and six until SUPAS ends the year with Amélie, we are anxiously counting down to the return of musical theatre to the University of Sheffield Drama Studio, curated by our very own students.
Be More Chill is playing from November 28th to November 30th at the University of Sheffield Drama Studio, with tickets available here. Amélie is playing from December 11th to December 14th, also at the Drama Studio, with tickets available here
