High school is a different world from what many of us experienced growing up. Now, social media is an integral part of life and that fact is evident from the scrolling feeds presented on the hanging panels of the Dear Evan Hansen set. The story of a community coping with the suicide of a teenage boy took Broadway by storm when it premiered in 2016. It helped people feel seen and connected in a time when suicide and hopelessness run rampant in our society. The show is greater than its summary. The description doesn’t capture the grief and depth of loneliness the characters are facing. While the plot is relatable for so many, the show would fall flat without its incredible score. It was written by Grammy®, Tony®, and Academy Award® winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land, The Greatest Showman). A live orchestra performs each number of the captivating composition on a riser above the stage. The Tuesday night production was entirely understudies except for the roles of Zoe and...
Midwest theater reviews, everything from Broadway musicals to Shakespeare.