Several different actors will play the title role in the Broadway production of the Tony-winning Dear Evan Hansen in the coming months.
Jordan Fisher, currently playing high school student Evan Hansen at the Music Box Theatre, plays his final performance February 20. Zachary Noah Piser, who has been part of the Dear Evan Hansen family since March 2019 and is currently the Evan alternate on Broadway, will then share the role with the Evan covers through March 20.
This spring, the show will welcome back Ben Levi Ross, who earned acclaim when he originated the role of Evan on the first North American tour after understudying the role on Broadway. Piser will then become the first Asian American actor to step into the role full-time. And, Sam Primack, who began as an understudy on Broadway and is now the alternate Evan on tour, will take over the role this summer.
Talia Simone Robinson
“The Dear Evan Hansen understudies and alternates are an extraordinarily hard-working and multi-talented group of actors, and I'm very excited to see so many valued members of our family have the opportunity to lead the company throughout the next year,” says producer Stacey Mindich. "It's also thrilling to welcome back Ben Ross, who originated the title role on tour in 2018, but began his journey with the show as a triple cover on Broadway.”
In other casting news, Talia Simone Robinson will become the first Black actor to play the role of Zoe Murphy beginning 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 reopened its Broadway production December 11, 2020. The company currently features Fisher, Carrubba, Jessica Phillips, Christiane Noll, David Jeffery, Ivan Hernandez, Jared Goldsmith, and Phoebe Koyabe, with Piser, Reese Sebastian Diaz, Linedy Genao, Nathan Levy, Mateo Lizcano, Dan Macke, Jane Pfitsch, Robinson, Asa Somers, Josh Strobl, and Nicole Van Giesen.
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.
