In case you missed out on the Dear Evan Hansen craze when it debuted on Broadway in 2016 and when the movie adaptation came out in 2021, the musical follows a socially awkward teenager as he navigates the death of one of his classmates. It raises questions on mental health, the influence of social media, and what it means to be remembered while ultimately affirming that everyone matters and should feel like they belong.
The musical opened Thursday night as part of ATTPAC’s Broadway at the Center series at the Winspear.
The musical featured a cast of eight characters, and the actors all brought quite a stage presence.
The production did a great job of including the online aspect of the story with projections and moving screens that added to the immersive feel. The live orchestra did great work bringing the music to life and complimenting the actors’ singing. Bravo to the cast and crew for handling this musical with nuance and passion.
Michael Fabisch did an incredible interpretation of the titular character. He portrayed Evan’s social anxiety in a very realistic way, and showed his progression of confidence throughout the play with his singing. Fabisch really got the audience to sympathize with Evan even as he made some wrong decisions. His phenomenal performance in the second act was especially tearjerking.
The scene where Fabisch has to tie a tie while alone on stage while wearing a fake arm cast, was an impressive feat all done effortlessly.
Bre Cade did an impressive presentation portraying the struggles of a single mother as Hedi Hansen. The character’s love and frustration Hedi felt toward her son while balancing work and college classes felt real and genuinely maternal.
Jared Kleinman, Evan’s closest friend, was played by Gabriel Vernon Nunag. Vernon Nunag executed a believable teenager with lots of comic relief. Makena Jackson, as classmate Alana Beck, was the epitome of an overachieving and misguided student. Alex Pharo portrayed the range of Connor Murphy very well, with both teenage angst and
silliness coming through. Jeff Brooks and Caitlin Sams were perfect casting for the Murphy parents, and Hatty Ryan King as Zoe Murphy displayed the tension that comes with the grief of losing a disliked sibling.
Dear Evan Hansen has remained both meaningful and thought-provoking, but is also here for a short time, so plan quick and make sure to take some tissues.
The show runs through Saturday. For tickets, click here.
–Melissa Whitler