L-R Noah Galvin, Ben Platt (photo: Henry Jacob Platt)
Ben Platt On ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ Film + More News
Tony Award winner Ben Platt (image via official Facebook)
Valentine’s Day: ‘Only Us’ From DEAR EVAN HANSEN
Ben Levi Ross & Taylor Trensch of ‘Dear Evan Hansen’
News Round-Up: May 20, 2021
(image via Lego)
so many people wikipedia-ing dear evan hansen today and so many people finding out it’s not a musical about a gay kid who broke his arm lol
— alex (@alex_abads) May 18, 2021
You Will Be Found: Ben Platt’s Star Turn In ‘Dear Evan Hansen’
Ben Platt is playing the role that made him uber-famous one more time, fortunately for us. Universal Pictures drops the official trailer for the film adaptation for Dear Evan Hansen, the moving stage musical that promises ‘you will be found.’ From Vanity Fair:
The story centers on a kid whose therapist has given him the assignment of writing letters to himself, addressing his fears, hopes, and insecurities.
A classmate named Connor Murphy (Colton Ryan, who understudied the role on Broadway) steals one of the letters and later takes his own life. That boy’s parents (played in the film by Amy Adams and Danny Pino) mistake the letter Evan wrote for their son’s final words, addressed to a kid they assume was his close friend. Evan lets them believe this because he thinks it brings them comfort—but the confusion and lies soon pile up, leading to greater heartbreak.
The Broadway production scored 5 Tony Awards including Best Musical and a Best Actor in a Musical statue for Platt. Folks on social media are making light of 27-year-old Platt playing a high school student, but come on folks – suspend your disbelief a bit and just enjoy. The movie hits theaters September 24.
Celebrating Mother’s Day With Broadway Musical Moms
L-R Lisa Brescia, Christiane Noll, Jessica Phillips, and Jennifer Laura Thompson (screen capture)
Liz Callaway really scored with this Act One closer for the 1983 Broadway musical, Baby. The song takes place after Liz’s ‘pregnant for the first time’ character feels her baby kick for the very first time.
From Stephen Sondheim’s brilliant Into The Woods, Broadway icon Betty Buckley served up a show-stopping “Children Will Listen” backed by the Boys Choir of Harlem at the 1992 Carnegie Hall concert honoring Sondheim.
In the 1996 stage musical adaptation of the Tom Hanks hit film BIG, Barbara Walsh played the mother of the lead character who magically grows up and leaves home on an adventure. At the top of Act Two, the mom reflects on how quickly kids can grow up wishing she could ‘stop time’ for just a while.
Just like in life (I’m thinking my own life here), Broadway musical moms take many forms – aunts, godmothers, neighbors, even god-like forces like Mother Earth – who show up at the right moment to help us on our way. I loved the creative and oh-so-moving 2017 revival of Once On This Island. Alex Newell and company brought the house down nightly with this jubilant and earthy “Mama Will Provide.”
As I recently reported, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and theater producers have announced Broadway shows will begin reopening this September.
Four Moms From Dear Evan Hansen Sing ‘Anybody Have A Map?’
L-R Lisa Brescia, Christiane Noll, Jessica Phillips, and Jennifer Laura Thompson
The Broadway producers wisely took advantage of the show’s terrific score to come up with unique spins on the songs. In the past, I’ve shared two ‘Evan Hansens’ singing “Only Us” to each other for Valentine’s Day and four actors who’ve taken on the title role from the Broadway, National Tour, Toronto and West End productions singing “For Forever.”
Good Night: Ben Platt & Casts Of ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ Sing “You Will Be Found”
Hey, folks. I usually end the day with my News Round-Ups, but this feels a little better tonight. Tonight, The Late Late Show with James Corden closed with Tony Award-winner Ben Platt joined by members of the Broadway and touring companies of the smash musical Dear Even Hansen singing, appropriately, “You Will Be Found.” This feels like a better note to end the night. Thanks for reading TRR folks. Have a great night. (and wash your hands…) …signed, human being, me…
Four Evan Hansens Sing “For Forever”
Four ‘Evan Hansens’ sing “For Forever” from Dear Evan Hansen
The Tony Award®-winning Best Musical also continues on Broadway, in Toronto and cities all across North America. In case you aren’t familiar, from the synopsis:
A letter that was never meant to be seen, a lie that was never meant to be told, a life he never dreamed he could have. Evan Hansen is about to get the one thing he’s always wanted: a chance to finally fit in.
Both deeply personal and profoundly contemporary, Dear Evan Hansen is a new American musical about life and the way we live it.
The producers have released a series of videos featuring actors from the multiple companies of the hit musical. One of my favorites showcases four actresses who have played the role of Evan’s mother on Broadway and in the national touring company – Lisa Brescia, Jennifer Laura Thompson, Jessica Phillips, and Christiane Noll – singing, “Anybody Have A Map?” Like the above video, the musical team turns these powerful solos from the show into expanded quartets with new arrangements. I love seeing the actors relate to each other as only those who’ve played the roles can; there’s a knowingness present in their connections.
Pentatonix Covers “Waving Through A Window” From DEAR EVAN HANSEN
Grammy Award winning vocal group Pentatonix serves up their take on “Waving Through a Window” from the hit Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen.
The multi-platinum selling group has dipped its toes in the Broadway catalogue a few times.
Band member Kirsten Maldonado joined the Broadway cast of Kinky Boots last year alongside Scissor Sister frontman Jake Shears. The fab five also recorded a track for the concept album of Finding Neverland, and they also dropped by the Wicked 15th anniversary special on NBC.
The song has been covered by several pop stars since Dear Evan Hansen’s debut, including Katy Perry and Rachel Tucker.