From the talented minds who brought the world Edges, Dogfight, and James and the Giant Peach comes a new musical called Dear Evan Hansen. The musical, originally set to premiere on Broadway at the Belasco Theatre, has now been switched over to the Music Box Theatre with the same production dates. The show is about a teenager whose life is changed when the school bully commits suicide. The production won an Obie for its ambitious commentary on social anxiety and identity.

#YouWillBeFound

The production is being directed by Michael Greif who is a three-time Tony nominee for Rent, If/Then, and Next to Normal . Their director is used to creating art with musicals of hard-hitting material. With the incredible creative talent of Pasek and Paul, this production should be no exception.

Besides the Obie Award, the production has also received the Helen Hayes Award and the Outer Critics Circle Award. It has received many positive reviews already from its 2015 run at the Arena Stage, and its Off-Broadway run at Second Stages. The Washington Post said some great things about the production including this quote from the Dear Evan Hansen website:

“A heart-piercing trip to the place that musical theater can sometimes take us to.”

A Story of Realness

The plot of this musical is based on a real-life death in Benj Pasek’s grammar school past. Amidst the fights for transgendered individuals as well as the support for the 2016 democratic presidential candidate by the AEA, this production comes at a controversial time in our history. To see if this show makes an impact on audiences that I think it will, you should get your tickets soon for the previews starting on November 14th!