Ben Platt Will Reprise His Dear Evan Hansen Performance Off-Broadway; Full Cast Set

Broadway alum and Pitch Perfect fave Ben Platt will headline the off-Broadway premiere of Dear Evan Hansen. The new musical from Benj Pasek, Justin Paul and Steven Levenson played Washington, D.C’s Arena Stage last year, with Platt originating the title role. Tickets are now available for the production, which will begin performances at Second Stage’s Tony Kiser Theatre on March 26, with opening night set for May 1. The limited engagement is currently scheduled to run through May 22.

Also returning for the off-Broadway transfer are Tony nominee Jennifer Laura Thompson as Cynthia, Rachel Bay Jones as Heidi, Laura Dreyfuss as Zoe, Mike Faist as Connor and Will Roland as Jared. Tony nominee John Dossett and Kristolyn Lloyd will round out the cast as Larry and Alana, respectively.

Platt made his Broadway debut in 2014 in The Book of Mormon, reprising his performance as Elder Cunningham after taking on the role in the Chicago sit-down and national tour. His film credits include the Pitch Perfect films and Ricki and the Flash opposite Meryl Streep. Susan Blackwell stole his kite virginity.

Thompson most recently appeared on Broadway in Nice Work If You Can Get It; her additional credits include a Tony-nominated turn in Urinetown, Wicked and Footloose. Jones, who recently starred in First Daughter Suite at the Public Theater, has appeared on Broadway in Pippin, Hair and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. Dreyfuss’ Great White Way credits include Hair and Once. Faist made his Broadway debut in Newsies. Roland is a resident artist and board member at Studio42. Dossett earned a Tony nomination for the 2003 revival of Gypsy and has recently appeared on Broadway in Pippin and Newsies. Lloyd returns to Second Stage after appearing in Invisible Thread; her additional credits include The Liquid Plain and Heathers off-Broadway and The Bold and the Beautiful on screen.

All his life Evan Hansen has felt invisible. To his peers, to the girl he loves, sometimes even to his own mother. But that was before he wrote the letter—that led to the incident—that started the lie—that ignited a movement—that inspired a community—and changed Evan's status from the ultimate outsider into the somebody everyone wants to know. But how long can Evan keep his secret? And at what price?

With a book by Levenson, lyrics by Pasek and music by Paul, the production, directed by Michael Greif, will feature choreography by Danny Mefford, set design by David Korins, costumes by Emily Rebholz, lighting design by Japhy Weideman, sound design by Nevin Steinberg and projection design by Peter Nigrini.