Some wonderful news about the critically acclaimed production of Dear Evan Hansen now playing at Arena Stage: It’s having a Summer 2016 production at Second Stage. What a smart move to put it in a small, intimate space (One of my all-time favorite places to see a show) and to build an audience, hopefully leading to a Broadway transfer (maybe to Second Stage’s newly purchased The Helen Hayes Theatre-also a very intimate venue?).
I am a huge fan of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul’s work and this incredible new musical. DCMetroTheaterArts’ Derek Monk gushed in his review: “Dear Evan Hansen is a breath of fresh air and is quickly becoming the hottest ticket in town. Frankly, it’s stepping into the spotlight and poised to be the metaphorical Hamilton of the nation’s capital—and for good reason too…Dear Evan Hansen touches you in the most profound way. Following in the footsteps of similar, though unique, shows about dysfunction like Spring Awakening, Next to Normal, and Fun Home, Dear Evan Hansen is poised to be the next showstopper in a growing genre that doesn’t shy away from tackling difficult issues in the modern age.”
John Stoltenberg wrote a ‘Love Letter‘ in his column Magic Time!: “I know it might sound odd, but this is a love letter to a musical. I saw you for the first time in my life last night, and I knew right away I had to write you to tell you it was love at first sight. You moved me, you thrilled me, you out and out wowed me. (Gosh, I hope you will not think me weird for gushing.)…Together they had told a story on stage so original, emotionally identifiable, and redemptive that what’s possible to achieve in a musical got a Big Bang that will ripple through theater history from now on. Plus everyone who attends can come out a healed and happier person. Thank you, dear Dear Evan Hansen.”
According to Michael Gioia in Playbill: “Dear Evan Hansen “will open at Second Stage’s Tony Kiser Theatre in spring 2016 under the direction of Michael Greif…”The story of Evan Hansen couldn’t be more current or immediate and I am proud to present the New York premiere of this powerful and moving new American musical,” said
Second Stage artistic director Carole Rothman in a statement. “I’m also very much looking forward to welcoming Benj and Justin, with whom we so happily collaborated on Dogfight, and Michael Greif, who memorably staged Next to Normal for us, back to the Second Stage family. And I’ve been a fan of Steven’s [book writer Steven Levenson] work for many years, so I am very excited to work with him on this project.”
We are all thrilled at DCMetroTheaterArts and wish everyone involved in Dear Evan Hansen much success!
Running Time: Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission.
Dear Evan Hansen plays through August 23, 2015 in the Kreeger Theater at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater – 1101 Sixth Street SW, in Washington, DC. For tickets, call the box office at (202) 488-3300, or purchase them online.
LINKS
Mike Faist on Playing Connor in Dear Evan Hansen at Arena Stage by Joel Markowitz.
Derek Mong reviews Dear Evan Hansen on DCMetroTheaterArts.
Magic Time!: A Love Letter to ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ by John Stoltenberg.
Dear Evan Hansen info on Pasek and Paul’s website.
