Pioneer Theatre Nails Every Note in DEAR EVAN HANSEN

SALT LAKE CITY — I’ve seen Dear Evan Hansen multiple times—every production until now has either been a Broadway show or part of a national tour. This run at Pioneer Theatre Company marks the first time the show has been licensed for production by a Utah-based company, thanks to Music Theatre International (MTI). I’ll admit, I was a little hesitant knowing it would feature some local cast members, and an entirely local creative team and crew. But wow—was I wrong to underestimate Utah’s homegrown talent (with a few impressive guest artists boasting Broadway credits as well)!

No disrespect to the Broadway versions I’ve seen (I loved every one of them), but this production completely blew me away. Kyle Dalsimer, who played the title role, was hands down my favorite Evan I’ve ever seen. Andrew Samonsky, as Larry Murphy, made me like Connor’s dad for the first time ever. The vocals from every lead were outstanding. The perfectly cast equity artists were stellar and could easily hold their own against any Broadway or national tour. And the set—wow—was so much more impressive than any other production I’ve seen of this show. But more on that later.

The six-time Tony Award-winning Dear Evan Hansen, written by Stephen Levenson and music by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (the geniuses behind The Greatest Showman and La La Land), premiered on Broadway nearly a decade ago. This contemporary musical tells the story of a socially anxious high school student, Evan Hansen, who struggles to connect with others. After a classmate, Connor Murphy, dies by suicide, a misunderstanding leads Connor’s family and the community to believe that Evan was his closest friend. At first, Evan goes along with the lie, finding a sense of belonging and purpose for the first time. But as his fabricated friendship with Connor grows, and even sparks a romance with Connor’s sister, Zoe, the truth inevitably comes out—forcing Evan to face the consequences and discover what honesty and connection truly mean.

At its core, Dear Evan Hansen tackles difficult themes: suicide, mental illness, bullying, lies, family dysfunction, and loneliness. Yet its powerful messages of acceptance, friendship, belonging, and family coming together shine far brighter than the darker storylines. Evan feels invisible—both at home and at school—but he’s surrounded by others who feel the same. His bully, Connor, is equally isolated and takes his own life because of it. Evan’s classmates, Alana and Jared, also battle insecurity and self-doubt, while his mom struggles with her own feelings of inadequacy. These characters’ emotional struggles feel painfully authentic and incredibly relevant to real life.

Now, back to Pioneer’s mind-blowing cast and crew. Kyle Dalsimer brought Evan Hansen to life with remarkable poise and just the right touch of nervous energy. His vocals were phenomenal. My favorite Evan songs have always been “Waving Through a Window,” “You Will Be Found,” and “For Forever,” and Dalsimer delivered each one flawlessly with gorgeous falsetto and unbelievable vocal strength. But it was “Words Fail” that sealed the deal for me and made Dalsimer my favorite Evan of all time. I was completely numb, tears streaming down my face, as he sang with raw, gut-wrenching emotion while still hitting every note perfectly. Tears ran down his face too, and the vulnerability was breathtaking. My very critical, theater-loving friend leaned over to me after the song and said, “He’s f—ing amazing!” I couldn’t agree more. Everyone reading this needs to see this Evan Hansen. He’s incomparable.

Jordan Briggs was equally exceptional as Connor Murphy. His bad-boy attitude was completely convincing, and his vocals in “Disappear” and “Sincerely, Me” were excellent. Elyse Bell, as Zoe Murphy, blew the roof off in “Requiem” with her powerful alto voice and played Evan’s unlikely love interest with graceful authenticity. Donna Vivino gave a deeply emotional performance as Heidi Hansen, capturing both warmth and pain with visceral truth, especially in “So Big/So Small” and “Good For You.” Andrew Samonsky (Larry Murphy) transformed my least favorite song, “Break in a Glove,” into something meaningful and touching. His performance made me appreciate the character in a way I never had before.

Rounding out the cast were the talented Marika Aubrey as Cynthia Murphy, and Larry Saperstein and Khadija E. Sankoh as Evan’s classmates Jared and Alana. Every one of them left a mark on stage with authentic emotion, impressive vocals, and effortless chemistry. Each performer could easily succeed on a national stage.

Director and choreographer Karen Azenberg led this production with vision and heart. While she honored the elements audiences love about Dear Evan Hansen, she made it her own with a more immersive staging that brought constant movement and depth to every corner of the stage. From the opening moments, I was completely drawn in. So often in theater, there’s a barrier between the stage and the audience—but not here. This production made me feel like I was part of the story.

As for the set, Bryce Cutler outdid himself. He kept the signature video screens that have become a hallmark of Dear Evan Hansen but added a stunning, multi-level design that felt deeply authentic. The Murphy and Hansen homes, the school scenes, and especially the orchard—with its breathtakingly realistic, massive tree—were all perfectly executed. I absolutely loved it.

And finally, Helen Gregory’s music direction and live orchestra elevated the show to another level. Pasek and Paul’s score is already beautiful, but Gregory made it soar. Every number was impeccable. The music is the heart and soul of this show, and she ensured it pulsed with life from beginning to end.

I’ll be honest—I was nervous going in. I love this musical so much that I was afraid a local production might fall short. But this was nothing short of a transformative experience. I was moved, shaken, and completely captivated by the emotional power of this cast and crew. I can’t say it enough: you need to see this Dear Evan Hansen. You will not be disappointed.