‘Dear Evan Hansen’ Resonates Anew in a Post-Pandemic World
Almost nine years after Dear Evan Hansen premiered on Broadway with Ben Platt in the titular role, the musical finally makes its way to Manila in a non-replica UK touring production directed by Adam Penford.
Winner of six Tony Awards including Best Musical, Dear Evan Hansen tells the story of Evan, an anxious high school student who wants nothing more than to fit in. On his way to belonging, he doesn’t tell the whole truth and suddenly finds himself living a life he never dreamt he’d have. As events spiral and the truth begins to unravel, Evan faces a reckoning with himself and with everyone around him.
With music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land, The Greatest Showman), the show explores mental health, loneliness, the influence of social media, and the universal need to be seen. A feature film adaptation was also released in 2021, starring Ben Platt alongside Julianne Moore, Kaitlyn Dever, Colton Ryan, Amy Adams, Danny Pino, and Amandla Stenberg.
Why revisit Dear Evan Hansen in 2025?
For Ellis Kirk, who plays Evan Hansen in this production (and previously understudied both Evan and Connor in the West End replica staging), the story’s resonance is timeless.
“I personally think it’s just such an important story. It is so much about connection and people and people’s flaws, and I just think it is always relevant. I don’t think it matters what period you’re in. I think everyone could relate to someone in the story. Whether you’re a dad, a mom, a son—literally anyone can always relate to someone within the play.”
He adds that it remains powerful even for first-time theatergoers. “I think the music is beautiful and I think that tells the story in itself.”
Rebecca McKinnis, who plays Heidi Hansen (a role she also portrayed in the West End), highlights how the show resonates in a post-pandemic context.
“The show opened before COVID. The story is much about social media and isolation. I think we all experienced that during COVID. So bringing it back to life after COVID, I think people can relate to it even more.”
Tom Dickerson, who plays Jared Kleinman, notes how much the digital landscape has changed since the show’s premiere.
“Social media has come on so far in the ten years since the show’s been in existence. It used to all be about Facebook. And now, we have TikTok and all this, and it’s come on so much that it’s really great to visit that with a slightly younger audience.”
Messages of Hope
For Hal Fowler, who plays Larry Murphy, the show’s most powerful message is clear: hope.
“Evan Hansen, through no fault of his own really, finds himself in a situation which becomes more and more difficult with every scene, and you can see that he really is struggling under the weight of decisions which are too late to change. But when it seems it’s his darkest hour, there’s this glimmer of hope, and that message of hope at the end is really clear and really strong. [The song] So Big/So Small reflects that. Something that seems so big eventually becomes small.”
Zoë Athena, who has been a fan of the show since her teenage years, now revisits it as a young adult in the role of Zoe Murphy.
“A very strong message is ‘you will be found.’ Going through the motions of life isn’t easy. As you step into adulthood, especially after the pandemic and so much change in the world, it’s important to remember that we are all in this together. At the end of the day, we’re all here on this planet doing the same thing, and we need to look out for each other. You will be found and you’re not alone.”
Helen Anker, who plays Cynthia Murphy, recalls how the show has sparked conversations that families once struggled to begin. In the UK, she remembers fathers approaching the cast after performances to thank them, saying that Dear Evan Hansen opened up dialogues with their sons that had previously felt too difficult to start.
“That’s one of the wonderful things about theater. It just starts you talking.”
The international touring company is led by Ellis Kirk as Evan Hansen. Joining him are Rebecca McKinnis as Heidi Hansen, Zoë Athena as Zoe Murphy, Helen Anker as Cynthia Murphy, Hal Fowler as Larry Murphy, Rhys Hopkins as Connor Murphy, Tom Dickerson as Jared Kleinman, and Olivia-Faith Kamau as Alana Beck, with Sonny Monaghan serving as the alternate Evan Hansen. Rounding out the company are Jake Halsey-Jones, Sheri Lineham, Joseph Peacock, Annie Southall, and Ashlyn Weekes.
The UK touring production of Dear Evan Hansen is produced by ATG Productions, Gavin Kalin Productions, and Nottingham Playhouse.
Joining Penford on the creative team are Morgan Large (set and costume design), Carrie-Anne Ingrouille (choreography), Matt Daw (lighting design), Tom Marshall (sound design), Ravi Deepres (video design), Matt Smith (musical supervision), and Michael Bradley (musical direction). Casting is by Natalie Gallacher CDG for Pippa Ailion & Natalie Gallacher Casting, with Michelle Payne as associate director and Laura Llewellyn-Jones as orchestral manager.
Dear Evan Hansen runs from September 4 to October 5, 2025, at The Theatre at Solaire. Tickets are available via Ticketworld.
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