I was disappointed with this show. I wasn't sure if it was because I saw Hamilton a few days prior to watching Dear Evan Hansen, but it didn't really live up to the hype. Who knows? Maybe, I just had extremely high expectations. I noticed that people sitting around me were tearing up at certain parts of the show, but I didn't feel moved by the topic, the story line, the acting, or the singing. I also disagree with some people that this show be deemed as appropriate for children under 16 years old as there is a lot of profane language and topics discussed include: bullying, suicide, and sex which may not be suitable for immature audience. read more

Dear Evan Hansen - Dear Evan Hansen Playbill Pride 2018 - Performing Arts Near Me - New York, New York

Wow. This show is amazing. It was funny and touching. I laughed a lot and then tested up at the end. Fantastic performances. Oddly Connor Murphy was my favorite. Well the Connor Murphy created by Evan. The actor did a superb job on that. The show should be required watching for any parent of a high school kid. It's a good show in terms of understanding the Teen psyche but not in a heavy handed way. Great score and lyrics. I have been listening to it on Spotify as soon as I was done. Well done. read more

Dear Evan Hansen - Clever set design that brings in technology elements. - Performing Arts Near Me - New York, New York

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Dear Evan Hansen is a fun, quirky, beautiful coming of age story about a teen who begins to find himself after the death (suicide) of a classmate-- and two very different families who face and overcome their own struggles. The short: I highly recommend it! The longer: the interplay between technological and in-person interactions & communication is so super cool and well done in this show. They bring texting, vitality of social media video content and emailing to life, and juxtapose that to in-person relationships. The play shows that everyone can be heard and have a voice. The music is beautiful, the cast was perfectly chosen, and sitting next to my two besties during this made me truly happy... :: end sappy Yelp post :: But, seriously-- this is well worth a view. (I just hope you don't sit behind the overly PDA couple like we did ) read more

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Never have I been so disappointed in a Broadway show. I've seen better musical productions at my high school. I was so excited for this show since it had won Tony awards and was critically acclaimed. However, the cast was sorely lacking in talent. The premise was interesting - Evan is an awkward high-schooler who gets caught up in a web of lies as a result of one misunderstanding, and gets progressively deeper into the mess because the lies are what allow him to carve out a new identity for himself. I know that Evan is supposed to be awkward, but both his speaking and singing were just so cringe-worthy. We watched a matinee and later found out that the understudy was Evan during the show that we watched. Throughout the entire show, I kept praying that he would hit the notes and that his voice wouldn't crack. It baffled me how someone who clearly lacked singing talent could be cast as the lead in an award-winning Broadway musical. The set design was minimalistic/bare, with only a few screens depicting the flurry of social media activity related to these high-schoolers lives, but they didn't contribute much and could also have easily been copied by a high school production. Can't believe I'm saying this, but save your money and don't watch this show. read more

BRILLANT The acting, staging and story line are fantastic. It is unfortunate that that it resembles real life. A common occurence with the youth of today. Hopefully the play will bring to light the need for more behavioral professional in our schools. read more

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Dear Alexander W., Today was a good day and here's why: because today, today at least you witnessed this amazing show and--that's enough.​ Words fail to describe this musical. It is a show that addresses everyone's insecurities about their own self-worth and presents it in serious, yet lighthearted way. The mesmerizing songs performed by the brilliant cast will be good for you. Sincerely, Me. P.S., The theater is rather small by Broadway standards. The stage rises fast and is close to the front row. You should avoid sitting in the first two rows, since the views could be partially obstructed. read more

Dear Evan Hansen - Performing Arts Near Me - New York, New York

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This is one of those musicals whether you love it or hate it. In my case it was a big disappointment. The actor playing the lead role of Evan Hansen spoke so fast that I could barely keep up with what he was saying. I know this was to depict the social anxiety within him but whoa!!! Slow it down please! With poor acoustics it was very difficult for me to follow the plot. "Dear Evan Hansen" tells his story who yearns to make a connection with his peers that he fabricates a relationship with a suicidal classmate in order to become closer to the boy's family. From writing letters to himself for encouragement to creating a fake e-mail account of the deceased student's relationship with him, he wins the love and affection of the family as well as fulfill his crush on Zoe, the deceased's sister. Evan comes from a dysfunctional family himself and eventually inconsistencies found in the emails as well as a "suicide" note he claimed to be Conner's (the deceased) eventually goes viral and the family he hoped to have received get blamed for influencing their son's suicide. The technical background that constantly changes really doesn't help explain the story. Sometimes it gets to be overwhelming. The show has two redeeming qualities. First the musical score. "Waving through a window" was certainly my favorite song as well as "To break a glove." Second, I also liked how the small band they used were in the upper left hand corner of the stage but I was disappointed at the curtain call that the cast didn't acknowledge them. I really thought they did a good job. My favorite character was the actor who played Conner Murphy-the one who committed suicide. He was the only one who signed the famous "cast" on his arm with his name a perpetual reminder of Evan's fabricated friendship as the story-line develops. Dear Evan Hansen is currently touring the country if you are not able to make it to NY. It is selling to packed out theaters. My suggestion would be if you plan to see it then read the synopsis first. I normally don't do this but if the acoustical quality is so bad and the fact the Evan is speaking so fast that all I can hear is the repetitive "I'm sorry" then the show gets boring and just as depressing as both of the teenagers-Connor and Evan. Like me with this show-"Anyone have a map?" Evan eventually finds himself but it takes a lot of true confession for him to learn that the real key to acceptance is being one's true self. read more

Everybody and their mom was speaking so highly of this play so I decided to check it out. I went with some friends for Broadway week where they were offering tickets at a discounted price. I don't know if it was Broadway week but the performances/props/makeup felt like a discount version of a Broadway show. I wasn't a fan of the actor's interpretation of Evan Hansen. The visual effects were cool but everything else made it seem amatereurish. I was expecting better for the price of the tickets. The actress who played Evan's mom did a fine job, and the reason why I give it three stars, apart from the visual effects. read more

My friend and I went here because it was so highly rated. My friend and I felt like we were missing something? Like it wasn't good? Or "remarkable" like everyone makes it seem. It's a story about a kid that kills himself, and another kid gets stuck in a uncomfortable situation and ends up lying about being friends with him and it just turns into this huge thing. A lot of people were acting like it was extremely sad, and were crying. But it just wasn't? Nothing sad specifically happened Like they tell you the kid killed himself in the first 5 mins before you even like grow to like him or anything. And it was just like boring. It was mostly just watching this socially awkward kid that you just couldn't relate to. I really don't understand the hype. seats were uncomfortable. And my back really hurt. And I wanted to leave during admission really bad. read more

Dear Evan Hansen - Water bottles - Performing Arts Near Me - New York, New York

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4.5 stars In the vein of "13 Reasons Why," "Dear Evan Hansen" grapples with issues of the American high school experience; subjects such as loneliness, mental health, suicide, & the permanence of social media & its potential damaging effects make this musical feel very modern & relevant. Ben Platt's performance as Evan Hansen is fiercely raw. He devastates the audience with his compulsive twitching & blinking & the fact that he's constantly either bawling or on the verge of tears. Myself & those around me stifled sniffles as giant tears threatened to roll. Having a lump in your throat for 3 hours straight & being damned-near dehydrated from crying -- isn't this why we love musical theater? Though most of the musical numbers cause the emotional floodgates to swing wide open, there are a few hilarious lines, usually delivered by family friend Jared. Eight characters bring this smartly-written production to life. Worth the (increasing) price of admission. read more

I am a Broadway fanatic, and this may be one of my most favorite shows of all time. It does not have much traditional "Broadway magic" - ie very little choreography, minimal stage effects, etc. At heart it is a beautiful, moving story about a boy and his journey. The themes are heavy, and they made me emotional and feel ALL the feelings. I couldn't help but tear up at various points of the musical. The songs are beautiful and lyrical. I cannot stop thinking about this musical and its messages. read more

Dear Evan Hansen - Performing Arts Near Me - New York, New York

A great play! I would probably not listen to the album quite as much as other musicals. I could not tell if it was the sound system, the actors, or just the songs but some of the songs just sounded off. The storyline overall was really good. It manages to stay new a relevant but does not feel like it will be outdated. It surprising that the play is so popular among those that have seen it or know about it but the play does not seem to be widely known. read more

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I tried. Having had a 2k a month Broadway habit a few years ago I decided to go back! They changed all of the shows to be more polite aka took the funny out of broadway. Also, I do not mind wearing a mask and all IF its valid. 1. Asking for 2nd ID for Admissions is OK BUT this means (like at the airport) they actually ask you to lower your make to confirm second ID. Broadway is lacking covid since here as they do not require your mask to be lowered. Also, in the show the woman in our section spoke to everyone as if they were inn 1st grade plus had clear comorbidities. If you are going to lecture me about my health please be sure to maintain your own health. Maybe the show will understand that this looks out of place and correct the issue. BUT I doubt it. read more

Andrew Barth Feldman was BRILLIANT as Evan Hansen! This was such an emotional journey towards self-acceptance. You are immediately drawn in as this was written in such a way that anyone can see a bit of themselves in one character or another. Raw, humorous, heart-wrenching, bitter sweet. I laughed, I sobbed, I sang, I creid some more. My daughter wanted to see this for quite some time, so I bought the tickets months in advance to surprise her for her birthday. It definitely was worth the wait. It's a must see! read more

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Wow! What a wonderful show!! I was sold within the first 5 minutes. I had previously read the summary of the show, but never was I expecting the plot. The guy playing Evan was amazing and his singing voice was so unique. I really enjoyed listening to him. I also enjoyed how the show touched upon things that I'm sure most people struggle with on a daily basis. Not only could I resonate with it, I was also able to take away some good points for my everyday life. This show was well worth the cost of the tickets ($200 each for center balcony with an amazing view). read more

Amazing show! I won lottery tickets to see the show so of course I took them! The music is incredible, and the story and lesson behind the characters is deep. There are funny sections, serious sections, and very tense sections. An emotional roller coaster for sure but in the best way possible. I can't recommend this show more; it truly is remarkable! read more

The show was very good! The music was covert good .Topics addressed are those many kids experience today! I do wish the language used in the show could be less explicit or modified so that schools could take students to see the show! This should be offered at a discount of course to schools. I think students would get a lot out of watching it. read more

Dear Evan Hansen - Playbill! - Performing Arts Near Me - New York, New York

This play has Tony nominations written all over it... a compelling story about a young teen with anxiety issues and a chain of events that are seemingly out of his control but help him along a very important journey in his life. Ben Platt is absolutely incredible in the role of Evan Hansen, delivering a powerful performance conveying the internal struggle that Evan is going through with great emotion, the ensemble delivers strong performances embodying their characters, the score is modern and complements the story -- and this is all against the backdrop of some very interesting stagecraft that captures the world of social media that surrounds us. I really regretted missing this show while it was in previews in DC (you know, one of those things you mean to get around to but never do), but this is one play you most definitely don't want to miss. Hop online and get your tickets soon, so you can see this performance with the original cast - you'll be glad you did. read more

Dear Evan Hansen - Performing Arts Near Me - New York, New York

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I am a big musical fan. I was expecting a good show based on reviews of the original cast, so I am sad to report that the current production (October 2018) missed the mark for me. For a eight-person show with minimal stage props and special effects, the actors really have to carry the show, because there isn't much else to see. In my opinion, there were some good individual performances, but not all. Specifically, I didn't agree with how the title character was portrayed. The character was interpreted as a major dweeb, but the emphasis on making him a dweeb got in the way of good singing. On broadway, strong vocal performances can come from a variety of roles: French prisoner, musical phantom, genie in a bottle, even a princess suffering from amnesia. I expect strong vocals for a Broadway show. read more

I just got back from an evening performance of Dear Evan Hansen. It was an incredible night of theater filled with amazing talent, a good story, and catchy songs. I had heard the buzz about this show while it was off-Broadway, but was unable to get tickets. I ended up watching it opening week. Of course, all eyes are on Ben Platt, in his breakout role as Evan Hansen. He carries this entire show and is on stage almost the entire time. His singing was superb and he was able to play the role of an anxious, neurotic, possibly autistic, and ill-adjusted high schooler to perfection. I doubt his performance can be beat by any other actor this year. The Music Box is a small theater and the mezzanine is the perfect place to watch this show. Even the very last row of the mezzanine ($69) offers a great view. The cast as a whole is perfect. Catch this while the original Broadway cast is still intact. This is definitely going to sell well, so buy tickets now. This is one I'll be thinking about for a long time to come. read more

Dear Evan Hansen - Performing Arts Near Me - New York, New York

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As someone who is a huge fan of the original cast recording, I was a bit nervous to watch a brand new cast. I had no reason to be nervous, though, because the new cast is just as phenomenal! :) Go see this show, it lives up to the hype!! Though the whole cast was great, the standout is definitely Mallory Bechtel as the new Zoe Murphy. Her voice is gorgeous! read more

Dear Evan Hansen - Performing Arts Near Me - New York, New York

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Wow. I purchased tickets and it was worth every penny of it. I was so moved by the story and the way it was told. It was more modern than anything I've seen and it makes it so relatable as a musical. The songs - wow. I still listen to the soundtrack sometimes in full, but "Waving through a window" and "You will be found" are my favorites. Ben Platt (even though I was sitting in the balcony) was so powerful in his performance and I was so lucky to see him when he was still performing. I will say, I want this to go on tour and I will be bringing all my friends. Protip: go see it. read more

This show is wonderful! I loved the music and the acting is truly phenomenal. Although the storyline didn't really appeal to me when I first read about it, the emotion that the actors bring to the script makes it very moving. I made a point to get to see this musical before Ben Platt left and I'm so glad I did. His Tony award was well deserved. All of the actors are incredible, though, and have great voices. I've been listening to the soundtrack ever since! Make sure to go see this show. read more

Dear Evan Hansen - Performing Arts Near Me - New York, New York

Excellent show. Excellent music. Excellent cast and acting. Had tickets for December, heard Ben Platt was leaving in November, purchased tickets for October to be able to see him. Placed the December tickets on StubHub and spent a small fortune to get tickets for Ben's run. And then he called out. We had an understudy. Who was fantastic, by the way, and the show is worth all the hype. But I paid Ben Platt prices and I didn't see Ben Platt. Had I wanted to not see him, I would have kept my December tickets. I saw Hedwig 6 times and that was quite literally a one man show with a lot of physical and mental demand, and Hedwig HAD NO UNDERSTUDY. Just disappointed is all, as was everyone around me in the theatre, especially the woman who took a red eye from LA in time to see the Sunday matinee. She was in tears. Great show overall. Worth the attention it is getting. I'm sure Ben is fantastic, but I can not afford to go back and see him. Tried that once and failed. read more

Chances are, you will cry. Don't worry, half the audience is sniffling along with you. Dear Evan Hansen was the most poignant, thoughtful and touching live theatre production I have ever seen. An emotional story weaves through a series of upbeat to moody music, and the small cast hammers home every stirring beat. I get chills just thinking about it days later. If you can, go. Take your family, friends, children. If you have teenagers, drag them there. Everyone should see this production, hear the music, and understand the message. You are not alone, and no one deserves to be forgotten. read more

I'm not sure if this play is bad because of the cast or what but this is perhaps the most over hyped play I have ever seen. And I see a lot of theater. It's boring, the characters are unlikeable, and the story is utterly predictable. The production design is lazy, ugh. I just hated everything about it. There are so many amazing plays on Broadway right now. This was extremely disappointing. read more

This was a simply wonderful experience. I went here with my 15 yo daughter this Sat (Ben Platt's second to last performance) and it was an amazing evening. This is a very touching and sentimental performance the pulls on your heart strings. I will say that there is some bad language (nothing awful though) but the subject matter (suicide) might not be geared towards a younger audience. The music is great - I have been to some musicals (Waitress seems to spring to mind as an example ) where some of the songs are good but others I could take or leave. This musical was not that. It had a wonderful song list that virtually every song was top tier. Waving through the Window had to be my favorite. When Ben came on stage it took about three minutes for the cheering to calm down so I am curious to see how this play will do without him. I will say that some of his quirks and little character tweaks (and obviously the singing!) are what makes this performance shine. We waited outside for 45 minutes after the show but he did not come out to do autographs which would have been nice for his second to last performance so there were a lot of disappointed fans but that was our only disappointment. AMAZING experience. read more

I was lucky enough to win the lottery in Sept 2017 when Ben Platt was still playing Evan! I LOVED EVERY SECOND. FRONT ROW SEATS The lottery seats are all the way in the front row, which sounds really great, but actually we were eye level with the top of the stage. If you ask the ushers though, they will provide booster seats for shorties like me. THE PERFORMANCE This show blew me away - the choreo, the acting, the songs, everything was on point. Ben Platt is so great at emoting. He was crying almost constantly throughout the entire show (I thought he had a cold at first haha). How he does that every night I don't know. It's been 4 months since I've seen the show, but I'm still listening to the soundtrack! Favorite songs: Waving Through a Window, If I Could Tell Her read more

Watched this play about 5 times already. Very sad to see it go. It's a very well told story about mental health that should be watched by all who suffers or have close one who has suffered from mental health. read more

I will not be able to talk about this show without crying. I was so moved by the story and the performances. Got in line Sunday morning to be there when the box office opened at noon--thanks to cancellations, got 6th row center. Fabulous seats--fabulous show--what an afternoon. read more

"Dear Evan Hansen" has almost nothing we associate with the big, splashy Broadway musical. There is no chorus--just 5 "teens" and 3 adults. There is no flashy choreography. There is little in the way of scenery--just social media images projected on flats made of black scrim and a few homey set pieces--a sofa, a bed. There is no big event--war, a ghost terrorizing a theatre, a comet arcing across the sky. And there are fewer songs, less singing and more dialogue in this day of often through-sung musicals. So what is there to love that justifies a ticket price of more than $100? How about a simple story of high school students with a misfit at its core that resonates with truth? And while there is no chorus, there are eight very talented people singing and acting their hearts out in a score that repeatedly soars with some of the best arias I've ever heard on the Broadway stage. At the center of it all is Ben Platt in the title role. His acting and singing are star-making. If a Tony doesn't sit on his mantle by mid-June, there is no justice in the voting process. I've seen some iconic, legendary performances over the years (Angela Lansbury in "Sweeny Todd," Anthony Hopkins in "Equus," and Michael Crawford in "Phantom" to name a few). His work on this show resides in that territory. From his opening monologue delivered with machine-gun speed and perfect clarity to his final touching moments, his work is flawless. He is easily worth the price of admission. Add to that the very strong work by everyone else and you get musical theatre heaven. The show isn't perfect. For the musical theatre purist, this may be a disappointment, since in many ways it is a play with music. At times I felt it hammered the same point home when subtlety would have worked better. A couple of the teenage characters never really rise above the level of stereotypes. If you're easily offended by crude language, be warned that the high school characters actually talk like high school students. But these factors seem to make the right notes ring all the more true. How do audiences react to this simple tale about lies getting one a seat at the popular kids table? At the performance I saw the audience burst into applause and cheers when the lights came up on Platt sitting in his bed typing away on his laptop. Obviously his reputation preceded him. Number after soaring number was greeted with thunderous applause. If you've never actually seen a show with a literal showstopper, you will make up for it with this production. Probably a half-dozen times the actors had to hold while the audience went wild after one of the numbers. I've said very little about the plot, since layers are revealed during the course of the play. Part of the thrill of the show is discovering where the actions of the lead character are leading. If you can get a ticket, see it. Even more importantly, if you have kids, drag them to it. They'll squirm at times, as will you, because of the frankness of the parent/child dynamic, but in the long run all of you will appreciate it. Side note: This production has one of the best marketing ploys I have seen for Broadway. The artwork for the production features an image of Evan Hansen (sans face) prominently displaying the cast that he wears through much of the play. So what do they do when they sell you the window card (poster) in the lobby? They give you a souvenir Sharpie so that you can wait at the stage door and get the cast to sign your cast. Genius. My personal favorite show during my NYC theatre tour: read more

I had been looking forward to going into NYC to see this show since July, and it certainly lived up to the hype. The second you walk into the theatre and see the stage/hear the social media screens ticking, you know you are in for an amazing experience. Word to the wise: people line up WAY ahead of time to get into the theatre, and they mean it when they say that people are not admitted after the show starts. Four people in the row in front of us arrived late, and they didn't get seated until three songs into the first act. Second word to the wise: Ben Platt leaves 11/19, so rush rush rush and find tickets in the next two weeks! We saw almost all of the original cast except for Rachel Bay Jones--she was out, and Garrett Long was in her place, and she was phenomenal. Each scene is truly incredible, and the music absorbs you in/makes you feel as if you know the characters personally. There is not a dry eye in the house by the end of the show, and for good reason. I'm not sure I'll ever see another show like this. read more

Loved this. Unique score and song in a very non broadway typical way. Excellent plot and amazing acting by the whole cast. No weak link in the cast. Highly recommend. read more

Before going to see it, I was a little afraid that Dear Evan Hansen was all hype. Could it really be that good? Yes! This show truly deserves all of the praise it gets. I had the privilege of seeing it for Ben Platt's second to last performance a few weeks ago and I've been struggling with how to write a review ever since. Everything about this play is outstanding - the music, the writing, and the acting especially. It is emotional and moving, but has its funny moments, too. All I can say is go see it for yourself! This is definitely for a high school audience or older. read more

The musical was so so so good and Andrew Barth Feldman does a spectacular job. The staging is creative and the songs are filled with emotion. Plot is very heavy and touches upon various themes including loneliness, lying, and love. It accurately depicts the world we live in today. You will be found !! read more

Amazing show that will leave you in tears Dear Evan Hansen readily deserves every award and accolade that it's gotten so far. The music, acting, and set pieces are fantastic. The story is very timely and there are themes and messages in this story that people of all ages can appreciate. Dear Evan Hansen is kind of like a musical version of 13 REASONS WHY, except 100% less emo and 100% better, ha. The staging and props are particularly fantastic. The show doesn't have any huge settings or stage constructions like Wicked or Hamilton, and instead, goes for a much more simplistic approach. Besides for a bed, dining table, and a couch here and there, there aren't that many physical props that are used here. The bulk of the staging equipment that is used is the innovative panels and screens that are set up all over the stage. Because the story has a huge social media/internet component, the screens and panels are used to convey video messages, social media posts, etc. and it's all done perfectly. And of course, we can't forget the actors themselves. Everyone here shines and most if not every character is wonderfully layered and only complimented by their singing abilities. Obviously, Ben Platt is the standout here and his portrayal of Evan Hansen is brilliant. His performance of "Words Fail" will destroy you and the fact that Ben can belt out that balled while crying and having an emotional breakdown is a true testament to his talent. Rachel Bay Jones who plays Evan's mom also gets major props (a given since she also won a Tony for this). Dear Evan Hansen is a refreshing and heart-wrenching musical that shows that there can still be original theater on Broadway and not just adaptations and revivals. If you're in NY, this is a must see! read more

See this immediately. This show is amazing and fully lives up the the hype. The music is well written, emotional and easy to connect with. The actors (especially Andrew Barth Feldman, the new Evan) poignantly portray their characters. To convey such intense emotions while singing is impressive. Love love read more

Probably 3.5 stars Good choice if you like modern shows (especially Next to Normal), want an emotional show (some sad, serious, funny -- generally evocative), and are okay with themes including social anxiety, challenges of single parenting, high school bullying. I feel like the show tries to stay a little safer than I would've liked - it could have pushed boundaries a little further. They also use a verse one falsetto / verse two full voice vocal device too much for my taste - the first time it's powerful, the second less so, the rest just kind of grating. The first act feels stronger than the first to me, but the final Heidi song and the conclusion left me on a positive note. I think the cast does a great job with what they're given. I just think they could've been given a little more... read more

The absolute worst broadway play that I have ever seen! The lead was terrible. The rest of the cast were terrific, but the lead and the story line were unbelievably disappointing. Don't spend the money! read more

This musical is simply superb! A small cast, a storyline that anyone can relate to (including me at almost 70 & my granddaughter at 15), music and lyrics that fit the storyline exceptionally...and that's just the easy stuff! The acting hits the teen angst dead on; the music is flawless; the sets are contemporary, and the leads voice is worth admission. This is perhaps the best --and most unique--play I've seen! read more