Dear Evan Hansen

mfaye9
#1Dear Evan Hansen
Posted: 7/11/15 at 12:08pm

Did anyone see this last night in DC? Curious to hear how it is.

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VotePeron
#2Dear Evan Hansen
Posted: 7/11/15 at 12:14pm

Seeing it next week! Will report back.

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LizzieCurry
#3Dear Evan Hansen
Posted: 7/11/15 at 12:18pm

Same here!


"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt

CoreyRyan3
#4Dear Evan Hansen
Posted: 7/11/15 at 12:35pm

Seeing it the 21st. Will report back as well. Hearing the audience loved it last night though.

Actriz2
#5Dear Evan Hansen
Posted: 7/11/15 at 2:13pm

Hoping to go sometime next month. Hopefully it gets to Broadway if its good.

Finch
#6Dear Evan Hansen
Posted: 7/11/15 at 3:46pm

I saw it last night, and was blown away by most of the show.  Ben Platt really carried the show flawlessly.  He was offstage for just a couple of minutes in the entire 2½ hours, and his delivery, characterization and singing were spotless.  What starts out as a very funny comedy, smoothly moves into the serious sections through well designed dialogue and music.  There was none of the 'let's say something -- stop -- and now we'll sing about it'.  The music and the script twined very well.   The show is original -- this one is not from any novel, short story movie or tv show that I can think of.  There are some similarities with Next to Normal, in the characters of the grieving parents and sister,  but the reasons for their grief are somewhat different.  [I am trying to avoid filing this with spoilers, because there are a couple of good surprise elements in the script].  Yes, there are weaknesses in the book, especially in the very ending.  But last night was the very first public performance of the show, and since it's in DC for six weeks, I have the feeling that there will be changes, additions, and subtractions during this time period.  I haven't been going to the "premiere" performances in many years, but I am really happy that I saw this last night!  The audience really loved the show.  I am sure that a good portion of last night's house was of the family and fiends variety, but where I was sitting it was filled with regular DC theatre patrons who truly liked the show.  They only staged a single company bow, but the audience, standing of course, kept clapping for a good three minutes until the company came back out,bowed, and just moved back a little to give Platt the solo bow he definitely deserved.


 

rjm516
#7Dear Evan Hansen
Posted: 7/11/15 at 5:37pm

^ Oh my gosh it sounds wonderful! 

Finch
#8Dear Evan Hansen
Posted: 7/11/15 at 6:02pm

In many ways, I think it was . . . is!

Updated On: 7/11/15 at 06:02 PM

yfs
#9Dear Evan Hansen
Posted: 7/12/15 at 12:55pm

I saw it last night. Probably not as "friendly" an audience as the first night, but they were completely won over, as was I. Very strong story and characters, very strong score (if a little ballad-heavy) and wonderful performances. It's long at the moment, but I'm sure they'll make it shorter. But it's a really wonderful work, still in gestation. I'd be shocked if it didn't have a secure and fairly swift journey to NY. It's a true original.

Actriz2
#10Dear Evan Hansen
Posted: 7/12/15 at 2:30pm

Absolutely thrilled to hear that this is a winner, not only because I love Pasek & Paul (they could very well be our next great composer/lyricist team imo) but because a friend of mine is in this. Hoping to see it soon.


Can anybody who has seen it recommend the best place to sit in the theater and also give an estimate of the running time?

Finch
#11Dear Evan Hansen
Posted: 7/12/15 at 3:25pm

It it runs just about 2 1/2 hours.  I was sitting on the far stage right, about 3/4 back, and it was very good.  It is as a small house, and the show is done in thrust.  The orch is above the stage on stage left.  The sound design is great.

yfs
#12Dear Evan Hansen
Posted: 7/12/15 at 3:30pm

The second perf ran closer to 2:45. It went up at about 8:05 and didn't come down until 10:45. I imagine they'll start to make snips soon. 


 


 

Actriz2
#13Dear Evan Hansen
Posted: 7/12/15 at 3:39pm

Thanks for the info!


For those who aren't aware, ArenaStage (the company putting this show on) has a program called "Pay Your Age" where anybody aged 30 or under can buy any seat in the theater (yes, any seat in the theater) with the price being their age plus a $2 facility fee. Very convenient for those of us on a budget.

Claudia Draper
#14Dear Evan Hansen
Posted: 7/12/15 at 6:38pm

I saw it last night. Needs work, but it is a promising work..,. IMO, the show does not need to be 2 acts.. I like the trend of 100 minutes - no intermission.    The big let down for me, was his confession. It was anticlimactic.  it should be the shocking moment, but it just comes to fast and easy - for such a big build up.  There needs to be more reaction by characters and a song by the parents.  The scene needs to be re-worked and move to the end of the show... 

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RippedMan
#15Dear Evan Hansen
Posted: 7/12/15 at 8:33pm

What's the jist of the plot? 

Liza's Headband
#16Dear Evan Hansen
Posted: 7/12/15 at 9:27pm

The plot itself is a spoiler and is thus not explicitly advertised. Similar, in some respects, to NEXT TO NORMAL. The "jist" is that it's about a boy who lies and then has to deal with the consequences of that lie. 

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notalwaysontime
#17Dear Evan Hansen
Posted: 7/12/15 at 11:21pm

This is making me so happy to hear! I was hoping this would be a good show. I love and adore Ben Platt and I feel like he's just on this verge of breaking out and setting himself apart and earning some well deserved attention, so I've been really excited about the prospect of him getting to originate a leading role on broadway, but you never know if a show will work or not. I watched a little preview video of rehearsal footage the other day and heard just a tiny bit of the music in it, and the score definitely sounds like one that's in line with styles I like. Fingers crossed it keeps heading in a good direction.

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RippedMan
#18Dear Evan Hansen
Posted: 7/13/15 at 12:35am

Is it like a Catfish situation?

Claudia Draper
#19Dear Evan Hansen
Posted: 7/13/15 at 1:27pm

No. It is an unexpected event. He decides to use it his advantage.. Getting drawn further and further into it..The setup is well done. It is the climax that needs attention

Finch
#20Dear Evan Hansen
Posted: 7/13/15 at 1:37pm

No, he doesn't decide to take advantage of this situation.  He is surprised, shocked and stunned about the whole picture that has been created.  He doesn't know how to get out, and he, along with the others, builds on it until it more or less explodes.


And, I am trying to avoid giving everything away.  Spoilers will take away from the show.

Updated On: 7/13/15 at 01:37 PM

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Alix
#21Dear Evan Hansen
Posted: 7/13/15 at 1:45pm

Thanks, Actriz2, for the Pay Your Age info! I'd looked into tickets a bit but had totally missed that. Glad I didn't buy them before I knew! I'll be seeing this sometime in the next few weeks. Very much looking forward to it!

Liza's Headband
#22Dear Evan Hansen
Posted: 7/13/15 at 3:14pm

Finch and Claudia, to an extent, have nailed the plot without giving away anything. If you're not going to see it and you're just dying to know, you'll need someone to PM you an actual synopsis. 

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Phillypinto
#23Dear Evan Hansen
Posted: 7/13/15 at 5:26pm

This show is coming to Broadway next season! Thats the goal!


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Liza's Headband
#24Dear Evan Hansen
Posted: 7/13/15 at 6:53pm

Your first sentence is a lie. Nothing has been confirmed. You have no sources. 

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Phillypinto
#25Dear Evan Hansen
Posted: 7/13/15 at 7:09pm

My friends are my sources 


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