A letter, a lie, a life he never dreamed he could have.
Fresh from a hugely successful run at Washington's Arena Stage, Michael Greif's Dear Evan Hansen will set alight the Off-Broadway scene with a New York premiere in early 2016. The poignant and thought-provoking musical has thus far received rave reviews from critics for its unexpectedly touching portrayal of misunderstood youth, young love and the search for acceptance, all wrapped up in a perfectly pitched contemporary pop score by the Tony nominated composing duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Pitch Perfect star Ben Platt stars as the titular Evan.
With a book by the award-winning, up and coming young writer Steven Levenson, whose recent credits include popular TV shows Masters Of Sex and Wayward Pines, and helmed by the three-time Tony nominee Greif (the man behind the 1996 smash hit Rent and most recently If/Then with Idina Menzel), Dear Evan Hansen is making its mark as highly relevant, original and above all, surprisingly moving. This is musical theatre at its most exciting!
What Is Dear Evan Hansen About?
When a high school student succumbs to depression and commits suicide, the local community, not to mention his family, is thrown into turmoil. In the wake of Connor's death, awkward teen and fellow loner Evan Hansen emerges as the misfit's only friend with the discovery of a suicide note, seemingly addressed to Evan. Connor's parents and sister Zoe, who just happens to be Evan's love interest, find solace in this. Unbeknownst to them, the letter is not what it seems... Social media, teen angst and grief collide in this intelligent take on what it means to be young, in love, outcast and lonely in modern life.