Ben Levi Ross stepped into the title role of the Tony-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen March 22, returning to the Music Box Theatre after making his Broadway debut as a cover in 2017. The actor, who was subsequently the original Evan in the first North American tour of the hit musical, is playing an eight-week engagement through May 15.
The company currently also includes Gabrielle Carrubba, Jessica Phillips, Christiane Noll, David Jeffery, Ivan Hernandez, Jared Goldsmith, and Phoebe Koyabe with Reese Sebastian Diaz, Linedy Genao, Nathan Levy, Mateo Lizcano, Dan Macke, Jane Pfitsch, Talia Simone Robinson, Asa Somers, Josh Strobl, and Nicole Van Giesen.
Check out these new behind-the-scenes photos of Ross and the Broadway cast below:
Ben Levi Ross Ben Levis Ross, Ivan Hernandez, Christiane Noll, and Gabrielle Carrubba in Dear Evan Hansen
Ben Levi Ross in Dear Evan Hansen
Ben Levi Ross in Dear Evan Hansen
Jessica Phillips and Ben Levi Ross in Dear Evan Hansen
Jessica Phillips and Ben Levi Ross in Dear Evan Hansen
Jessica Phillips and Ben Levi Ross in Dear Evan Hansen
Ben Levi Ross and Company in Dear Evan Hansen
Ben Levi Ross and Gabrielle Carrubba in Dear Evan Hansen
Ben Levi Ross and Gabrielle Carrubba in Dear Evan Hansen
“I joined the company of Evan Hansen when I was 19, and I’m 24 now,” Ross said in an earlier statement. “I was a Broadway understudy, then led the first national tour, and now with this return to Broadway, it feels like a perfect conclusion to my time with this fantastic company that jump-started my career. Stepping back into the role has allowed me to feel just how much I’ve grown as a performer and as a person these last four years, and I’m really excited to connect with audiences once again.”
As previously reported, Zachary Noah Piser, who has been part of Dear Evan Hansen companies since March 2019 and is currently the Evan alternate, will follow Ross to become the first Asian-American actor to step into the role full-time on Broadway beginning May 17. Stephen Christopher Anthony, who currently plays the lead role in the North American tour, will join the New York company as Evan for a limited four-week engagement August 8. And, Sam Primack, who made his Broadway debut as an Evan cover, will take over the role from Anthony in September.
READ: Checking In With… Dear Evan Hansen Star Zachary Noah Piser
Dear Evan Hansen reopened its Broadway production December 11, 2020, following the pandemic shutdown.
Talia Simone Robinson, as previously announced, will become the first Black actor to play the role of Zoe Murphy in May. Robinson, currently understudying the roles of Zoe and Alana, will succeed Gabrielle Carrubba, who plays her final performance May 1.
Dear Evan Hansen features a score by the Tony- and Oscar-winning songwriting team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (Dogfight, A Christmas Story), a book by Tony winner Steven Levenson (tick, tick...BOOM! movie), choreography by Danny Mefford (Fun Home), and direction by multiple Tony nominee Michael Greif (Rent, Next to Normal, If/Then).
The musical also features scenic design by David Korins, projection design by Peter Nigrini, costume design by Emily Rebholz, lighting design by Japhy Weideman, sound design by Nevin Steinberg, and hair design by David Brian Brown. Music supervision, orchestrations, and additional arrangements are by Alex Lacamoire. Ben Cohn is the associate music supervisor. Vocal arrangements and additional arrangements are by Justin Paul. Casting is by Tara Rubin Casting's Kevin Metzger-Timson.
Dear Evan Hansen began previews at the Music Box November 14, 2016, prior to an official opening December 4. The musical was nominated for nine 2017 Tony Awards, winning six: Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Ben Platt), Best Featured Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Rachel Bay Jones), and Best Orchestrations.
The London production of Dear Evan Hansen reopened at the Noël Coward Theatre October 26, 2021. The national tour resumed December 7 in Greensboro, North Carolina.
The Dear Evan Hansen film premiered in September 2021. Platt reprised his Tony-winning performance in the title role opposite Julianne Moore, Amy Adams, Danny Pino, Kaitlyn Dever, Amandla Stenberg, Colton Ryan, and Nik Dodani.
