In general, I’d say the theatrical community are a very nostalgic bunch. For example, it’s no accident that the show we used to heal after the pandemic is something like The Music Man (I went to NYC to see it in 2021 as so many did.) Despite these shows usually containing outdated elements we love what they have to say about family, community and acceptance. However, I’ve noticed that we don’t always extend this nostalgic forgiveness to more modern shows. Not that we shouldn’t analyze and criticize shows with problematic elements: We should, but we should also be able to accept things as creatures of their time for both modern and classic shows.

I bring all of this up because the new production of Dear Evan Hansen at Pioneer Theatre Company is a good example of a show that screams the 2010s but still has much to offer an audience-member in 2025. It’s the first Utah-based production of this Tony Award winning musical and they have done an excellent job bringing out the best of this material while minimizing the elements that may have not aged as well.

If you think about 2016, when the musical first premiered on Broadway, it captures the millennial battle with social media and the hope that even at its worst moments it could be manipulated into something positive and good. It also acknowledged neurodivergence in Evan in a way we hadn’t seen on the stage (or much in pop culture.) Evan is not the science nerd of the past or a Steve Urkelish misfit but he’s a legit awkward person who strives for acceptance. This makes him particularly vulnerable to his big lie that gets out of control.

At PTC Evan is played by Kyle Dalsimer, and he captures this awkward energy of the character well giving a desperate-to-please-others energy that is easy to connect with. He also has a lovely falsetto that works beautifully for the more challenging belty moments in the songs. Where the book goes too far is Evan starting a relationship with Zoe (Elyse Bell.) Even though this is a dream of his it doesn’t feel authentic to his character to embark on such a relationship and feels too cold and calculated to keep us liking the character. I also find Alana to be a confusing character. I suppose she is meant to symbolize the best and worst of social media but it’s odd to have someone with such cynical actions be presented with such positivity.

Luckily director Karen Azenberg tries to minimalize these problematic elements and focus on the journey Evan goes on- mistakes and all. She has gotten the best out of her entire cast and uses her double-sided set to keep things moving with ease (set design by Bryce Cutler.) The adults are also excellent particularly with Donna Vivino not being afraid to make Heidi exasperated and even unlikable. We are seeing the story through Evan’s eyes and his resentment of his mother is obvious and not unfair given his point of view (Aren’t we all so tough on our mothers as teens?.)

My only real critique of the production at PTC is while I admire the community voices elements it takes too long to bring them into the story. For a while I was wondering if they were going to use the screens at all but then at the assembly they have them for “You will be Found.” This is a problem because it removes the context of the story, the environment Evan is in and the catalyst for expanding on the lie- we have to keep telling it because it’s become this great movement. I realize there is a budget for a show like Dear Evan Hansen, but I think using the community voices sooner and more consistently would help us feel more immersed in the story and empathetic to what Evan is going through. Particularly during “Waiving Through a Window” more social media surrounding Evan would help us understand what his state of mind pre-Connor suicide might be.

While I didn’t hate it as much as most, if you’ve only seen the movie of Dear Evan Hansen I challenge you to check out this production. Even with some dated elements, it still has a lot to say about loneliness, the lies that are so easy to tell through social media, and America in the 2010s. It also has some terrific songs well sung by a talented cast. PTC couldn’t ask for a better start to its 2025-2026 musicals. It is playing through November 8th and tickets can be purchased here.

Dear Evan Hansen has music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul with a book by Steven Levenson. It first premiered on Broadway in 2016 and it won 6 Tony Awards including Best Musical.

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