Dear Evan Hansen Kickstarts on Broadway
A new addition to the Broadway Collection, Dear Evan Hansen began previews on November 14, 2016. Directed by Michael Greif, known for Rent, a book by Steven Levensen, and a score by Tony Award nominees Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, Dear Evan Hansen will officially open at the Music Box Theatre on Sunday, December 4, 2016.
Due to its evocative and contemporary nature, Dear Evan Hansen will attract multigenerational travelers. Internationally recognized for Pitch Perfect, 22-year-old Ben Platt portrays main character Evan Hansen. Young audience members will see a representation of themselves onstage, while accompanying parents of varying backgrounds will appreciate the parental figures in the show, who reflect the departure from a traditional nuclear family in today’s ever evolving society.
As for the plot, Dear Evan Hansen tells the story of one high school student’s struggle for identity and human connection amidst the impersonal world of social media. Following a tragedy in the community, Evan Hansen finds himself wrapped up in a convoluted lie, after a letter falls into the wrong hands. He must choose between maintaining his unintentional lie, amplified by the public and permanent nature of the Internet, or tell the truth and risk ruining the relationships he’s made along the way.
Dear Evan Hansen is a unique, deeply personal and profoundly contemporary musical for the digital age. Of note, the set design reflects the plot, with multiple banners of Facebook and Twitter feeds scrolling on hovering screens, mirroring the constant flow of social chatter to which individuals in today’s society are accustomed.