In 2016, Dear Evan Hansen swept the nation with a central message that people resonated with and a soundtrack every theatre kid became obsessed with. Seven years later, the touring cast has arrived at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre for a second time drawing a dedicated fan-base along with a number of first timers. Does this show live up to its original hype and still have as big of an impact as it did seven years ago? I was determined to find out.

Not long after Dear Evan Hansen first made its debut, I was in college for music education fulfilling my student teaching requirements with a local high school. All of my students were obsessed with the show. They listened to the soundtrack on repeat and brought in sheet music to learn and practice in their private lessons. It truly spoke to them more than any show I had seen before, and it wasn’t hard to see why. 

Dear Evan Hansen follows the story of Evan Hansen, a high school student struggling with social anxiety, who becomes caught up in a web of lies after the death of a classmate. As Evan tries to navigate through the complexities of grief, friendship, and the search for belonging, he learns valuable lessons about honesty, self-acceptance, and the power of human connection. To my students, Evan was a very relatable character. The anxieties and challenges he faces are those we all grapple with at some point in our lives: Am I worthy of being remembered? Would people accept me as I truly am? Am I alone in my struggles and emotions? 

 Anthony Norman does a wonderful job embodying the internal struggles of an anxious teenage boy through his mannerisms and acting choices he makes in his portrayal of Evan. He also shows an impressive vocal range required to reach the higher register that many of Evan’s songs sit in. Norman’s rendition of “Words Fail” really moved me the most with how he played with differences in volume and strength to stir emotion and represent the turmoil and weight of the moment.

My favorite performer in this production has to be Alaina Anderson as Zoe. Her voice has such a unique, almost folksy quality to it that is able to be so gentle and light at times and then booming and powerful at others. The day after I attended the show, I found myself listening to the original cast recording and wishing it was Anderson’s voice instead of Laura Dreyfuss’ so that I could hear her exact renditions over and over again. Pablo David Laucerica as Jared Kleinman offers a perfect foil to Evan’s character and has excellent comedic timing. The cast overall was very strong, had great chemistry, and worked very well together. 

The set design of Dear Evan Hansen features a versatile and minimalistic approach, utilizing movable platforms and screens to depict various locations such as Evan’s bedroom, the school, and the Murphy’s house. The lighting design plays a crucial role in creating the emotional atmosphere, using a combination of warm and cool tones to enhance the mood and highlight the characters’ inner struggles. I found the beams of light to be very impactful when added to the dramatic crescendos of music. Additionally, subtle projections and digital effects are used to represent social media interactions, emphasizing the impact of technology on modern-day communication and identity. 

I once again felt captivated by the music’s tightly woven harmonies and its gradual building in intensity that feels on the verge of bursting at the seams. The closing number for Act One, “You Will Be Found” always feels so incredibly powerful and easily stirs up emotion. Another personal favorite is “Good for You” because I enjoy the climactic moment of everything in Evan’s life imploding on him at once and the anger and turmoil each character is facing. 

Clearly Dear Evan Hansen continues to leave its audiences awestruck and emotionally moved. From start to finish, this powerful musical captivates with its poignant story, unforgettable performances, and resonating themes. The exploration of mental health, isolation, and the universal longing for connection strikes a deeply personal chord, inviting empathy and understanding from all who experience it. 

Dear Evan Hansen runs June 20^th-June 25^th, 2023, at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre

Run time is approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes with a 15-minute intermission

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