Second Stage Theatre has announced complete casting for the New York premiere of Dear Evan Hansen by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul and Steven Levenson. Reprising his leading role from the acclaimed D.C. production will be Ben Platt ("Pitch Perfect").
Also reprising their performances from the Arena Stage debut will be Laura Dreyfuss, Mike Faist, Rachel Bay Jones, Will Roland and Jennifer Laura Thompson. New cast members John Dossett, Kristolyn Lloyd, Becca Ayers, Gerard Canonico, Asa Somers and Remy Zaken will complete the Off-Broadway company. Second Stage is presenting the new work in association with Stacey Mindich Productions.
Performances are set to begin March 26 with an official opening night scheduled for May 1 at the Tony Kiser Theatre.
Sparked by a real-life death at Pasek's high school more than a decade ago, Dear Evan Hansen follows one student's struggle for identity amidst the ensuing chaos. The musical features music and lyrics by the Tony and Emmy-nominated composing team of Pasek and Paul (Dogfight), a book by Levenson ("Masters of Sex"), choreography by Danny Mefford (Fun Home) and direction by three-time Tony nominee Michael Greif (Rent, If/Then).
Here is how the plot is described in produciton notes: “All his life Evan Hansen has felt invisible. To his peers, to the girl he loves, sometimes even to his own mother. But that was before he wrote the letter — that led to the incident — that started the lie — that ignited a movement – that inspired a community — and changed Evan's status from the ultimate outsider into the somebody everyone wants to know. But how long can Evan keep his secret? And at what price?”
Scenic design will be by David Korins with costume design by Emily Rebholz, lighting design by Japhy Weideman, sound design by Nevin Steinberg and projection design by Peter Nigrini. The musical director is Ben Cohn, and the music supervisor is Alex Lacamoire.
Single tickets can be ordered by visiting www.2ST.com, calling the box office at (212) 246-4422 or visiting the Tony Kiser Theatre, located at 305 West 43rd St.
