Dear Evan Hansen

 

Dear Evan Hansen is an award-winning musical that can be seen either in London, New York or Toronto, it has even been turned into a movie. The musical has had enormous success with six Tony’s, the Grammy, and Olivier Award for Best Musical.

The musical premiered in 2015 in Washington, DC, and moved to Broadway in 2016. The creators of the musical include Val Emmich, Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, later on in 2018 they published a novel based on the musical. With the only notable difference between the two being that the novel includes Connor Murphy’s perspective, which are dispersed throughout the novel. The inclusion of these perspectives could then allow future actors of the character Connor Murphy  to have greater insight into their character and therefore give a greater performance.

The musical is based around a teenager Evan, who invents an role for himself in a tragedy that he did not earn. He has severe social anxiety that prevents him from what many would call an ordinary life, including a difficulty forming friendships. Due to this he sees a therapist, takes medication and writes letters to himself, hence the title of the musical. Evan also has a strained relationship with his parents

In the beginning we see Evan with another two teens Alana and Jared. They are interrupted by the school outcast Connor Murphy, this results in Jared taunting Connor, Evan laughing and Connor pushing Evan to the ground. Later on, when Evan is finishing a letter to his therapist (addressed to himself) he runs into Connor once more, he signs Evan’s cast (he broke his arm) and takes his letter. He confronts Evan about why the letter mentions his sister (Evan’s crush) and leaves, letter in hand. A couple of nervous days later Evan is called to the principal’s office where he finds Mr and Mrs Murphy and finds out that Connor committed suicide. Connor’s parents believe that the letter Evan had wrote is actually from Connor to Evan and that the hold it dear as it is all they have left of their son.

The musical then follows Evan’s journey through the lies he tells about his and Connor’s friendship and the lengths he goes to, to protect the lie and subsequent popularity. Evan even creates an initiative with Alana and Jared dedicated to Connor and to spreading awareness of mental health and suicide. This gains attention from across the country.

Eventually Evan can no longer take lying to the Murphy’s, as he sees them as the family he does not have, and tells them the truth. Instead of outing Evan’s secret as he had feared they forgive him and keep the initiative going to become a memorial of Connor’s life and a symbol of hope to all.