Award-Winning 'Dear Evan Hansen' Is In Manila, Here's Why You Need To Catch It While You Can

The "Teenage Dirtbag" era is a trend that frequently resurfaces on social media, along with the now-romanticization of the year 2016. As someone who was actually a teenager during that time, the thought of my teen years being brought back as some "glory days" is both nostalgic and, well, a teensy bit mortifying, too. Both because it has been that long ago and also because it reminded me of things that used to be good. 

Watching the Olivier, Tony, and Grammy award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen—currently being staged in the Philippines by GMG Productions in partnership with UnionBank at the Theatre at Solaire—felt a lot like that. It beautifully encapsulates and honors high school woes, feelings, and even the occasional cringe we all facepalm to now, when we remember it. But at the very core of it all is a powerful and necessary message that you may feel alone or lost, but you will be found. 

Dear Evan Hansen follows the deeply personal story of high schooler Evan Hansen—a teen who struggles with anxiety and longs for connection. The story starts on the first day of school, when Evan comes wearing a cast. To help him out with communication with his peers, Evan's mom suggests that he ask people to sign his cast. Failing his attempts and feeling defeated, Evan wrote a letter to himself as part of his assignment from therapy. 

After he finished writing his letter, Evan stumbled upon a schoolmate, Connor Murphy, whom he had met earlier that day. Connor asked to sign Evan's cast, saying at least they both can pretend they have a friend. It was seemingly going well until Connor saw Evan's therapy assignment letter in the printer. The letter mentioned Connor's sister Zoe Murphy, so Connor thought this was an attempt made by Evan to use him to get closer to Zoe. Upset, Connor took off with Evan’s letter, leaving Evan worried about what Connor would do with it.

Following this, Connor did not show up to school for three days, worrying Evan even more about what Connor was probably up to with his letter. Until one day, Evan was asked to come to the principal’s office. There, he met Connor Murphy's parents, who returned Evan’s therapy assignment letter. Only, they thought it was a suicide note from Connor, who had taken his own life.

Completely shocked, Evan couldn't bring himself to tell the Murphys that the letter they had found was not written by Connor, but by himself. This moves the story as Evan finds himself in a situation where he can't stop to tell Connor's family the truth in the hopes of helping them with their grief. In the middle of it all, Evan is also now in a place that suddenly benefits him.

The rest of the musical navigates the rest of Evan's relationships—with his mom, the Murphys (including Zoe), his family friend (and only real buddy, actually) Jarred, himself, and the truth in a beautiful play by Steven Levinson with songs written by EGOT award winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.

Fans of Dear Evan Hansen or those familiar with the musical are likely aware that Ben Platt (Pitch Perfect) portrayed the titular character in both the original Broadway staging and the 2018 movie adaptation. The original Broadway cast also included Mike Faist (Challengers) as Connor Murphy. 

For the Manila production, the UK touring cast will be taking the stage as the musical's beloved characters. The company includes Ellis Kirk as Evan Hansen. Joining him are Zoë Athena, Helen Anker, Tom Dickerson, Hal Fowler, Rhys Hopkins, Olivia-Faith Kamau, Rebecca McKinnis, and Sonny Monaghan as the alternate Evan Hansen. The ensemble cast comprises Jake Halsey-Jones, Sheri Lineham, Joseph Peacock, Annie Southall, and Ashlyn Weekes.

Dear Evan Hansen opened on September 4 and, due to popular demand, extended their run until October 5, 2025, at the Theatre at Solaire. You may book your tickets at ticketworld.com.