‘Dear Evan Hansen’ opens at the Engeman Theater
There is something immediately uncomfortable about Dear Evan Hansen, and that is part of what makes the musical so compelling.
At its center is Evan Hansen, a lonely high school student who desperately wants to feel seen and connected to the people around him. Evan struggles with anxiety and has difficulty fitting in at school. When a classmate, Connor Murphy, dies by suicide, Evan becomes caught in a lie after Connor’s family mistakenly believes the two were close friends.
What begins as a misunderstanding quickly grows. Evan allows the Murphy family (and eventually much of his community) to believe that he and Connor shared a friendship that never existed. The story follows Evan as that lie gives him the attention, friendships and sense of belonging he has always wanted, while the consequences of keeping it alive become increasingly difficult to ignore.
Directed by Scott Weinstein, the production at the John W. Engeman Theater in Northport brings the Tony Award-winning musical to the stage with plenty of emotional weight, memorable music and performances that understand the complicated line between wanting to help someone and wanting to help yourself.
As star of the show, Joe Serafini gives Evan the nervous energy and vulnerability that make the character both sympathetic and, at times, frustrating. Evan is not an easy character to watch. His choices become increasingly questionable as the story unfolds, but the performance keeps him grounded in the loneliness and anxiety that drive those choices.
That vulnerability comes through particularly well in “Waving Through a Window,” one of the show’s most recognizable songs. The number captures Evan’s feeling of standing outside the lives of the people around him, desperately wanting to be part of the picture. Serafini brings the song the right combination of nervousness and longing, making it one of the production’s early standouts.
As Connor Murphy, Jimmy Schumacher makes an impression even though Connor’s presence in the story is largely shaped by how other characters remember him. His performance helps establish the troubled teenager at the center of the story before the consequences of Evan’s mistake begin to unfold.
The families behind the story also bring remarkable talent to the table.
Christina DeCicco brings a strong emotional presence to Heidi, Evan’s mother, particularly in the quieter moments. Her relationship with Evan gives the production some of its most affecting scenes, as she tries to understand a son who is struggling in ways she doesn’t always recognize.
Aquila Sol then brings dimension to Zoe, who is caught between grief, anger and the complicated feelings that come with suddenly believing that someone understood her brother in a way she couldn’t. Zoe and Connor’s parents, Cynthia and Larry (Maggie Bera and Ryan M. Hunt) add another layer to the story. Their grief is genuine, but so is their desire to find something positive to hold onto. That makes their growing attachment to Evan increasingly complicated.
And then there are the songs.
“For Forever” is another standout, particularly because of the way it shows Evan creating a beautiful story around a friendship that never actually happened. The song is warm and hopeful on the surface, which makes the truth underneath it all the more uncomfortable. It is one of those moments when the audience can understand exactly why Evan is tempted to keep the lie going.
Later, “Words Fail” takes the story in a very different direction. It is one of the show’s most emotionally demanding numbers, as Evan is forced to confront what his actions have done. Serafini gets the opportunity here to move beyond Evan’s nervous, awkward exterior and show the guilt and fear underneath it.
And then there is “You Will Be Found,” perhaps the musical’s biggest emotional moment. What begins as a relatively simple message about reaching out to someone who feels alone grows into a full-scale ensemble number.
The musical does have its lighter moments. “Sincerely, Me” gives the production one of its biggest opportunities for comedy, as Evan, Jared (Danny Meglio) and Connor’s fictional correspondence takes on a life of its own. The number provides a welcome burst of humor while also moving the central deception forward. Meglio brings a cringy energy that he weaves throughout the story, giving audiences a chance to smile, roll their eyes and laugh. Arwen-Vira Marsh does something similar, with her character Alana being that annoying, overachieving nerd we all knew in high school.
Visually, the production makes effective use of technology and screens, fitting a story in which social media, text messages and online attention play such an important role thanks to Kyle Dixon’s design. The digital world isn’t simply decoration; it becomes part of how these characters communicate, judge one another and construct versions of themselves — something that is far too real in the modern-day high school setting. The visuals, combined with the choreography by Matthew Stern blend perfectly together.
Evan’s story takes place in a world where a carefully crafted online version of yourself can quickly take on a life of its own. The show understands how powerful that can be, particularly for people who already feel invisible in their everyday lives.
For those seeing Dear Evan Hansen for the first time, there is much more here than a collection of catchy Broadway songs. It is a story about loneliness, grief, friendship, family, the desire to belong and the damage that can happen when those needs don’t happen. It is also a reminder that being seen is important, but being honest about who you are may be even more so.
Is it a happy musical? No. Is it impactful and moving? Absolutely.
