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The Broadway musical ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ is a story we can all relate to. It’s about a teenager finding his way and place in the world we all call home. It debuted in 2015 and has gone on to be nominated for multiple Tony awards, as well as earning wide theatrical acclaim for its music, lyrics and performers. On Wednesday and Thursday, February 5 and 6, ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ takes the stage at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts and invites attendees to dive into the complex, interconnected and online-centered world around us.

actors on stage performing a scene from 'Dear Evan Hansen'
For two nights only, ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ will illustrate the difficulties of growing up in today’s digital landscape, especially for shy teenagers just wanting to fit in. Photo credit: Evan Zimmerman

Broadway’s ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ Comes to Downtown Olympia for Two Nights Only

When you’re a kid, growing up isn’t easy. We juggle school, family, friends and hormones all with a gangly, eternally hungry body that’s prone to breakouts and growing pains. And that’s before you mix in the 24/7 reality of social media, likes, reels, hashtags and the latest Insta-worthy pix.

“Dear Evan Hansen,” which premiered in Washington DC in 2015, off-Broadway in 2016 and ran on Broadway from 2016 until 2022, is still in production worldwide. With a score by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul the Tony, Grammy and Oscar winning team behind “The Greatest Showman,” “La La Land” and television’s “Only Murders in the Building,” the play is originally based off a book by Tony winner Steven Levenson.

“Dear Evan Hansen” takes place from the point of view of both teenagers and their parents as they try to find and build connection in our digital age. Because of adult themes including youth suicide, this production is recommended for ages 12 and up.

The show’s producers explain that it’s a piece about fitting in. After writing a letter to himself that was never meant to be seen, Evan Hansen becomes entangled in a lie that was never meant to be told and a life he never dreamt could be his. This results in a musical that NBC Nightly News called “an anthem resonating on Broadway and beyond.”

Don’t Miss This National Tour of an Award-Winning and Well-Loved Musical

“Dear Evan Hansen” will be  in Olympia on Wednesday, February 5, and Thursday, February 6, at 7 p.m. Tickets are still available for both dates and can be purchased online, by calling 360.753.8586 or at the Washington Center Box Office. The Box Office is open from noon until 5:30 p.m. from Tuesday through Saturday or two hours before any ticketed event. Email boxoffice@washingtoncenter.org with questions.

Want to get in the mood beforehand? Listen to excerpted songs from the musical or find video and cast biographies online.

actors on stage performing a scene from 'Dear Evan Hansen'
This production is just one of several Broadway or Hollywood productions gracing the Washington Center stage. Stop by the box office and get your tickets today! Photo credit: Evan Zimmerman

The Great White Way Comes to Oly Thanks to the Washington Center for the Performing Arts

“Dear Even Hansen” isn’t the only iconic show to travel from New York to downtown Olympia. Follow it up with plenty of five-star performances which have graced everywhere from New York to Los Angeles and around the world.

Spamilton: An American Parody” includes sassy nods to fellow Broadway blockbusters, celebrity satire, pop culture and historical hip-hop.

For old school Hollywood, check out the Center’s Valentine-themed offerings. They’ll host a live organist for two silent film classics sure to woo your beloved, Harold Lloyds “Girl Shy” (1924) and Laurel & Hardy’s “Double Whoopee” (1929).

There’s more silent cinema on March 9 but with a musical twist. Buster Keaton’s “Sherlock Jr” (1924) will be accompanied not by the traditional organ but a live cellist. Musician Gideon Freudmann starts the night with a mini concert before providing the soundtrack for this comedy masterpiece.

Looking for a more global flair with a little added spice? Scottish rock fusion Skerryvore combine the traditional with rock and roll. Step Afrika! is another melding, this time of contemporary dance along with traditional African dance.

Whatever phase of life you’re in, the Washington Center for the Performing Arts has something that’ll have you laughing, dancing, learning or just unwinding from the hustle and bustle of our plugged-in digital world.

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