Dear Evan Hansen

Dear Evan Hansen Opens Tonight!

2016-05-01 09.54.37-1

The New York Times

THEATER | THE WEEK AHEAD

In ‘Dear Evan Hansen,’ an Outsider Is Upended

By CHARLES ISHERWOOD

From left, Ben Platt, Will Roland and Mike Faist in “Dear Evan Hansen.” Sara Krulwich/The New York Times

A letter that falls into the wrong hands and is misinterpreted drives the intricate plot of “Dear Evan Hansen,” a musical about unhappy teenhood and its consequences (good and bad) opening at Second Stage Theater.

The show, which I first saw and enjoyed at Arena Stage in Washington, arrives in New York with much of its original cast intact, most significantly Ben Platt, a star of the “Pitch Perfect” movies, who plays the title role with wonderful sympathy and intelligence. Evan is an awkward, friendless teenager who is encouraged by his therapist to write daily pep notes to himself. When one of these is snatched by a fellow outcast, Evan finds his life, and his status as an eternal outsider, completely upended.

The accomplished pop-rock score is by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (“Dogfight,” Broadway’s “A Christmas Story”), and the book is by Steven Levenson (“The Language of Trees”). The veteran Michael Greif directs. (Opens Sunday, May 1, Second Stage Theater, 212-246-4422; 2st.com.)

Dear Evan Hansen

Dear Evan Hansen Opens March 26th!

DEAR EVAN HANSEN

A NEW MUSICAL FOR THE OUTSIDER IN US ALL

BOOK BY
STEVEN LEVENSON

MUSIC AND LYRICS BY
BENJ PASEK & JUSTIN PAUL

CHOREOGRAPHY BY
DANNY MEFFORD

DIRECTED BY
MICHAEL GREIF

All his life Evan Hansen has felt invisible.  To his peers, to the girl he loves, sometimes even to his own mother.  But that was before he wrote the letter – that led to the incident- that started the lie – that ignited a movement – that inspired a community – and changed Evan’s status from the ultimate outsider into the somebody everyone wants to know.  But how long can Evan keep his secret?  And at what price?

Dear Evan Hansen is the original new musical making its New York premiere this spring at Second Stage Theatre, following a sold-out run in Washington, D.C., whereThe Washington Post hailed it as “entertainingly smart and radiating charm, wit and humor.” The musical unites the award-winning creators behind some of Second Stage’s most celebrated productions.  A brand new score features the talents of the Tony-nominated composing team Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (A Christmas Story,Dogfight and NBC’s “Smash”). Directed by three-time Tony nominee Michael Greif(Rent, Next to Normal, Grey Gardens) and written by Steven Levenson (Showtime’s “Masters of Sex”).

A tribute to the outsider in us all, Dear Evan Hansen is about someone you know, maybe even someone you are, but more than anything, it’s about discovering the person we all long to be – ourselves.

BEGINS MARCH 26, 2016
at the Tony Kiser Theatre: 305 West 43rd Street

Buy Tickets Now!

Dear Evan Hansen

Cast Announced for Dear Evan Hansen!

 

Ben Platt to Star in NY Premiere of New Musical Dear Evan Hansen

By Olivia Clement
02 Feb 2016

Second Stage Theatre has announced complete casting for the New York premiere of Dear Evan Hansen by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul and Steven Levenson. Reprising his leading role from the acclaimed D.C. production will be Ben Platt (“Pitch Perfect”).

Also reprising their performances from the Arena Stage debut will be Laura Dreyfuss, Mike Faist, Rachel Bay Jones, Will Roland and Jennifer Laura Thompson. New cast members John Dossett and Kristolyn Lloyd will complete the Off-Broadway company. Second Stage is presenting the new work in association with Stacey Mindich Productions.

View the Entire Photo Gallery
Laura Dreyfuss as Zoe and Ben Platt as Evan
Photo by Margot Schulman

Performances are set to begin March 26 with an official opening night scheduled for May 1 at the Tony Kiser Theatre.

Sparked by a real-life death at Pasek’s high school more than a decade ago, Dear Evan Hansen follows one student’s struggle for identity amidst the ensuing chaos. The musical features music and lyrics by the Tony and Emmy-nominated composing team of Pasek and Paul (Dogfight), a book by Levenson (“Masters of Sex”), choreography by Danny Mefford (Fun Home) and direction by three-time Tony nominee Michael Greif (Rent, If/Then).

Scenic design will be by David Korins with costume design by Emily Rebholz, lighting design by Japhy Weideman, sound design by Nevin Steinberg and projection design by Peter Nigrini. The musical director is Ben Cohn, and the music supervisor is Alex Lacamoire.

Single tickets will go on sale to the general public Feb. 3 at noon by visiting www.2ST.com, calling the box office at (212) 246-4422 or visiting the Tony Kiser Theatre, located at 305 West 43rd St. The first 50 ticket buyers at the Second Stage Theatre box office will receive a complimentary Dear Evan Hansen T-shirt.

– See more at: http://www.playbill.com/news/article/ben-platt-to-star-in-ny-premiere-of-new-musical-dear-evan-hansen-383684#sthash.AUVvCJ7j.dpuf