Tag Archives: Musical

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

Snapshots

Snapshots Gets a Rave in Phoenix!

“Snapshots” – Arizona Theatre Company

Chris Curcio January 04, 2016 Theater, KBAQ No Comments

This review aired on KBAQ January 4, 2016

SUPERB “SNAPSHOTS” PAYS TRIBUTE TO STEPHEN SCHWARTZ

“SNAPSHOTS”
Arizona Theatre Company, Center Stage, Herberger Theater Center
Phoenix, AZ

Several musical revues pay tribute to various composers and Broadway musical theater teams.  Recent examples include “Jersey Boys” take on Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, “Beautiful,” the Carole King tribute, “Mamma Mia’s” ABBA accolade, and Leiber and Stoller’s “Smokey Joe’s Café.”  In “Snapshots,” Arizona Theatre Company’s superb premiere show homage is given Stephen Schwartz, composer of Broadway smash hits like “Wicked,” “Godspell,” and “Pippin” among his 12 shows represented in “Snapshots.”

But co-conceivers Michael Scheman and David Stern developed a different approach that distinguishes “Snapshots” and makes it smashing.  They’ve created a touching story about a long-time married couple who deal with their changing relationship and its impact on the marriage.  We see the pair as young teens who fall in love, as an older married couple, and today as they confront many evils.  The creators weave 25 Schwartz tunes throughout the narrative to explore in greater depth the myriad of emotions that have occurred.  Although I will not spoil the ending, know that the issues tackled are realistic and relevant to most married couples.  Each situation is enhanced by Schwartz’s perspective tunes.

Unlike many musical revues, about 75 percent of the song lyrics have been changed to fit the story that is set in Sue and Dan’s attic where many things from their marriage have accumulated.  While in the attic, many things that weren’t said earlier get dissected.

Arizona Theatre Company’s masterful production is staged eloquently by Daniel Goldstein in the cleverly designed attic that permits projections of thoughts and pictures from throughout the marriage.  A band plays the Schwartz songs with sublime brilliance that is enhanced by Abe Jacob’s sound that blends the orchestra and the on stage ensemble so not a lyric is missed.

A marvelous cast handles the couple at the three stages of their marriage and they essay additional characters that cause other marital stresses.  As the contemporary couple, Beth DeVries soulful Sue and Hugh Hastings introspective Dan bring out the pair’s inner thoughts.  Tracy McDowell’s Susan and Jim DeSelm’s Daniel, the middle duo, have several experiences foreshadowing the couple’s later problems.  Mallory King as the flirtatious but thoughtful Susie and Ben Wynant as the effervescent but clueless Danny are a dynamo of youthful energy.

“Snapshots” HAS ITS intimacy make it a better off-Broadway presentation where it can tell its heartwarming story better than in a larger Broadway theater.  “Snapshots” plays through January 17 and earns five stars out of five.  For tickets, call the Arizona Theatre Company box office at 602-256-6995 or order online at www.arizonatheatre.org.

Grade: A