It’s virtually unheard of for a hit broadway show to suddenly turn into a fictional novel. Popular books are often reimagined for the stage by producers, with recent examples being Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Fun Home, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime and The Color Purple, among many others. But “Dear Evan Hansen,” a musical that continues to sell out performances two years after its 2016 opening, was released on the page in early October.
As in the musical, the novel adaption follows Evan Hansen, an anxiety-ridden teenager, as he tries to get out of the lie that he was best friends with classmate Conor Murphy. With the lie spiraling out of control, the coming-of-age story explores connections in a disconnected, social media driven world.
On Monday the 8th, I was lucky enough to go to the Dear Evan Hansen book launch event at The Town Hall in the theater district. Unsure of what to expect, I was blown away by the commentary and multitude of performances.
The event was led by Antoni Porowski and Tan France, two members of the “Fab Five” on Netflix’s new television series, “Queer Eye.” Porowski and France facilitated a conversation with the creators of the show, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul and Steven Levinson, as well as the book’s co-author, Val Emmich, focusing on how the book stays true to the original Broadway show.
Even with numerous awards for this musical and “La La Land” under their belt, Pasek and Paul both seemed humble throughout the evening. The pair’s comments about the inspiration behind the book, even after the show’s incredibly successful run, stuck with me. Pasek talked about the astronomical price for a ticket to see “Dear Evan Hansen,” and mentioned that the book offers a new way for people across the world to experience the show. The story inspires important conversations between children and their parents, and they shouldn’t be limited to those who can afford a certain price tag.
“We hope to actually reach people in a genuine way, in a real, authentic way, in a way that fully defines Evan’s story,” said Paul.
Supplementing these conversations, guest performers, some of whom are members of the previous or current cast of “Dear Evan Hansen,” sang popular songs from the show and read portions from the new book. Darren Criss, Will Roland, Barrett Wilbert Weed and Rachel Bay Jones were just a few of the stars who made their way onto the stage on Monday.
Anyone who knows me knows how much I love all types of theater, especially Broadway shows. No matter where I am, I can always be found listening to the newest cast recording of some show, and it was no different when “Dear Evan Hansen” first came out. I look forward to reading the book, especially after hearing the writers themselves speak about the difficult process of transferring the gripping scenes and songs to the page. I hope the book, like the Broadway show, contains a message of inclusivity and works to eliminate the stigma around mental health. There’s no better time to talk about it than now.
