“Dear Evan Hansen,” a new musical that opened to critical acclaim last month at Off Broadway’s Second Stage Theatre, will transfer to Broadway this fall.
The show is slated to begin performances in November 2016 at an as-yet undetermined Shubert theater, producer Stacey Mindich announced Wednesday.
With a book by Steven Levenson, score by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul (“Smash,” “A Christmas Story”), and direction by Michael Greif, “Dear Evan Hansen” had its world premiere at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., last summer and will conclude its record-breaking New York premiere at Second Stage this Sunday.
In the Off Broadway production, Ben Blatt stars as the title character, an awkward high school outsider who suddenly gains online popularity for his tenuous association with another teenage loner who committed suicide.
“Dear Evan Hansen” recently received two 2016 Obie Awards, for Musical Theatre presented to writers Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, and for Performance presented to Ben Platt; the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical; and the Helen Hayes Awards for Outstanding Musical.
“Dear Evan Hansen” features scenic design by David Korins, 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. Danny Mefford is the choreographer.