Dear Evan Hansen to Welcome Pace University Student Samantha Williams in Her Broadway Debut as Alana Beck

Samantha Williams, a junior musical theater major at Pace University, will take over the role of Alana Beck in the Tony-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen on May 7. Williams will make her Broadway debut, succeeding Phoenix Best, who will take her final bow at the Music Box Theatre on May 5.

"I am beyond thrilled to be joining this cast and sharing this incredible story," Williams told Broadway.com. "Being on Broadway has always been my biggest dream, so to say I'm grateful would be an understatement!"

Williams has been seen on her university stage as Dot in Sunday in the Park with George and Caroline in Caroline, or Change.

Williams joins a current cast that includes Andrew Barth Feldman, Jennifer Laura Thompson, Michael Park, Lisa Brescia, Sky Lakota-Lynch, Alex Boniello and Mallory Bechtel.

The winner of six 2017 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Dear Evan Hansen features a Tony-winning book by Steven Levenson, a Tony-winning score by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and direction by four-time Tony nominee Michael Greif.