In 2017 the big musical to come to town was Hamilton. This season the must-see show has proven to be Tony Award winner Dear Evan Hansen. The show, which won six Tony Awards including Best Musical returns to Southern California with a stop at the Segerstrom Center in Costa Mesa.
Written by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul and Steven Levenson, Dear Evan Hansen tells the story of the title character (played in the national tour by Ben Levi Ross), who claims to have been the confidant of a fellow student in school who has died. Given how socially awkward Evan is, this comes as a surprise to some and a relief to the deceased student’s parents who hope to learn more about their son through Evan’s insights. The show was directed by Michael Greif.
Dear Evan Hansen is one of those rare shows whose use of technology and current social norms contributes to the show rather than feeling like artifice. This is a show very much about the world we live in. It also beautifully addresses the need to find your own place in the world. With songs like “Waving Through a Window, ” “You Will Be Found” and “For Forever,” Pasek & Paul have written songs that both beautifully fit into the story being told and will stand on their own apart from the show.
Pasek & Paul were the songwriters for The Greatest Showman and won an Oscar for their lyrics for La La Land. Having seen the show in New York, I can assure you this is one of the most emotional musicals ever put on stage.
And if you thought comparing this show to Hamilton in terms of being a phenomenon was crazy, apparently Lin-Manuel Miranda thought it was pretty powerful, too.
Dear Evan Hansen will play Segerstrom Hall in Costa Mesa (January 1-13).
Fans of Pasek & Paul might be interested in attending a special evening with them at Segerstrom on January 7th. The event is a fundraiser for ASCAP, so tickets range from $189-$1000.
Photo by Matthew Murphy