Written up in 27east’s Stage & Screen section, the piece features director Scott Schwartz discussing Bay Street’s production as a more intimate, character-driven take on the Tony-winning musical. A co-production with ACT (A Contemporary Theater) of Connecticut, the staging leans into Bay Street’s thrust configuration and close audience proximity, deliberately de-emphasizing the show’s signature technology to put the focus on the people at its center.
The article highlights what makes this production distinctive: both Evan Hansen and his mother, Heidi, are played by Black actors — Kenny Lee and Maya Days — which the creative team notes adds new layers to the story without changing a word of the script. Days, a Broadway veteran of “Rent” and “Aida,” and Lee both reflect on the significance of depicting a Black family onstage in a story that acknowledges race without being about it, and on the ensemble’s chemistry as the foundation for the performance. Schwartz frames the result as something audiences haven’t seen before.
The piece closes with details on the run: “Dear Evan Hansen” opens August 4 and runs through August 29, with the 6th Annual Heroes Night on August 5 offering complimentary tickets to first responders, healthcare workers, veterans, active military and teachers.
To read the full article, visit 27east.com
