Laura Heywood Interviews Chase Brock (Be More Chill)

Chase Brock brought "finger tutting" -- a style of digital choreography -- to Broadway as The Squip's signature language in the viral musical sensation "Be More Chill." But Be More Chill is not Chase's only accomplishment, by a long shot. He made his Broadway debut at age 16 after moving to New York alone as a teenager; he formed his own dance company, The Chase Brock Experience, at age 23; he worked on Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark as it was transitioning between creative teams, working carefully to honor his idol (and mine) Julie Taymor even as she exited the project; and he is currently choreographing Hercules: The Musical, a groundbreaking collaboration between Disney Theatrical and The Public Theatre's Public Works Initative, which casts community members from all five New York City boroughs alongside equity actors to emphasize that theatre does in fact belong to the people. Chase is one of the most colorful people I know, not just because of his trademark mis-matched-yet-somehow-perfectly-harmonically-patterned fashion choices but also because of his enthusiasm, joyfulness, open heart, creativity and willingness to let his true self shine through. In a world that often rewards convention, Chase has embraced and broadcast a commitment to invention instead, both on and off the stage.