r/DearEvanHansen

Hamilton had Szin, Be More Chill had Claudia Cacace, was there any distinct/iconic dear evan hansen animator? You know, with an artstyle that the whole community knows and character designs that became people's go to when imagining the characters?

No matter how much hate it gets, DEH is what made me realize I had SAD, which allowed me to get a diagnosis and meds. I related/relate to this story so much, and the character of Evan made me feel like I was looking in a mirror. I can’t understate how important this was to me three years ago.

It may be problematic, but it helped me through freshman year, and made me feel less weird.

"I wish that everything was different. I wish that I was a part of something. I wish that anything I said... mattered to anyone. I mean, face it: would anybody even notice if I disappeared tomorrow?

Sincerely, your best and most dearest friend, Me."

When I first heard those words, tears started streaming down my face, because that's exactly how I felt and still feel. For the first time, I was seeing a character who suffers from the same things I suffer from. This excerpt from the letter and the entire lyrics of "Waving Through a Window" affected me in an inexplicable way. I could see a lot of myself in Evan, I can perfectly imagine myself in the situation he got himself into and all his mistakes, all his lies, and all his cowardice, even his moments of explosion. Honestly, I think the only difference between me and him is that I wouldn't take the lie so far, I would just let people forget about Connor and let the Murphys believe we were friends but without keeping in touch with them. I know exactly what he feels and why he did what he did, and that's why I get so upset when I see someone saying he's a manipulative sociopath or a great villain. And yes, I suffer from social anxiety and depression, and my mother also stuffs me with medication because of it, so I understand that identifying with Evan Hansen is not a positive thing, and that's why I didn't want to identify with him so much.

Anyway, it was just a small rant. Now I have to take care of myself so I don't make a big mistake like him.

I love musical theatre, and I love Dear Evan Hansen. I used to do theatre all of the time, but since graduating high school, I haven't had the chance to do another stage production. That was two years ago. I haven't done anything since, and I've been really scared I wouldn't be able to do another show again. Then my mom sent me a link to a community theatre opening auditions for Dear Evan Hansen, and It doesn't clash too hard with my schedule. Theres no other community theatre nearby that is opening auditions for a summer show. So, this feels like a gift.

However, this theatre is not casting an ensemble for the show, it's just the leads. And there are only 2 roles in my age range: Zoe, and Alana.

Theres a lot of pressure for me to get into this show. I don't know when I'll have another chance to do a show again. It might be years, and it might be never. I want as many chances to be in this show as possible. So I'm thinking of auditioning for both Zoe and Alana.

However, I'm white. And while this doesn't affect my chances for Zoe, I am a little worried about White Washing Alana- But I also don't know if it technically counts as white washing?

I know Alana is typically portrayed by women of color. and that is Wonderful. And if she were written to be a woman of color, or if her race was mentioned in the script, then I wouldn't even be considering it.

However, there is nothing I can find that states Alana IS a woman of color

And some of the original actresses playing her were white

So, TECHNICALLY She was not WRITTEN to be a Woman of color, and her race is not central to the story, which means TECHNICALLY she can be played by someone of any race, white included,

But I'm still a little nervous. She is usually portrayed by Women of color, so I really don't know. I don't want to white-wash her, I don't want to hypothetically steal the spot from a woman of color.

And of course, this is all assuming I'm even cast, because there is a HUGE chance I won't be.

So, what do you guys think? Is it whitewashing? Because if it is, I won't audition for her. But if it's not, I will. I want to take as many chances as possible.

Thanks guys!

Sorry If I'm being insensitive, I'm not trying to be!

I've seen animatics of the songs, as well as some reactions to it on yt (I love yt reaction videos) but never got the full plot and experience before now. What are some things you like and dont like about this musical specifically irl?

For example the screen for the background pissed me off SO much, and I found the dance moves awkward. I loved a lot of the stage design and general choreography though as well as the insane lighting during the big songs. Also the experience of getting ice cream in the break crying was so funny

This has always been my #1 song from the musical for me, I feel like it's rarely anyone's number 1 (and also good number of people don't even rank it top 5 lol). But I think the song's just so "fresh" at every listen and I also love mix of dialogue + singing

So like i was on tiktok and It was video like making fun of the things the old bmc and DEH fandom used to do and in one of them was like "you cant ship kleinsen because its toxic!!" Like no seriously but to mock people who said this,did It existed genuine people who said this or...? (I'm new to the fandom)

Finally got to see Dear Evan Hansen after wanting to for years (I had previously listened to the soundtrack, read the book, and knew the whole plot). And something that the actors did blocking-wise during YWBF had me really curious if it was a Fulton invention or if the blocking was also in the Broadway version.

During the song’s climax, Connor came up behind Larry and comforted him. Seeming to sense his spirit, Larry then broke down crying. Shortly after Zoey was on stage and Connor started to approach her, reaching out but hesitating, and then she ran off. After that, the entire Murphy family came togethe, and Connor joined in in embracing them.

That moment struck me so I need to know, was that blocking in the Broadway play too?

(Fulton Theater’s performance was phenomenal, by the way. The guy playing Evan was the same one who played him in the touring show.)

EDIT: Omitted a detail I forgot to add last night.