Review: Act Up Theatre Presents Regional Premiere of Dear Evan Hansen

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The production runs through May 30th

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Act Up Theatre and Minnesota State University Moorhead present the regional premiere of the Tony Award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen.

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Dear Evan Hansen features music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, with a book by Steven Levenson. The musical follows Evan Hansen, a high school senior struggling with social anxiety who suddenly finds himself at the center of a tragedy and the connections that grow from it.

The show premiered at Arena Stage in 2015 before moving Off-Broadway to Second Stage Theater and eventually opening on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre in 2016. The production went on to win six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book, and Best Actor for Ben Platt.

I had the pleasure of attending the final dress rehearsal before opening night. With only around 50 to 75 people in attendance, you would never have guessed it from the thunderous applause that filled the theater throughout the evening. Director Craig Ellingson and his creative team assembled an outstanding cast to bring this emotional and challenging production to life.

First and foremost is Josiah Gillen as Evan Hansen. I honestly wasn’t sure if Josiah could top his performance as Jesus in Concordia’s recent production of Jesus Christ Superstar, but he may have done exactly that here. Josiah portrayed Evan with remarkable vulnerability and authenticity. His vocals were absolutely stunning, especially during “Waving Through a Window,” “For Forever,” “If I Could Tell Her,” “You Will Be Found,” and “Words Fail.” Beyond the vocals, his acting and stage presence carried the emotional weight of the entire production with confidence and sincerity.

I should also mention that this production features two talented actors alternating in the role of Evan. After seeing Josiah’s performance, I genuinely hope I can return to see Isaiah Jensrud’s interpretation as well.

Liz Wilhelmi delivered an exceptional performance as Heidi Hansen, grounding the production emotionally from beginning to end. Her rendition of “So Big / So Small” was one of the evening’s most powerful moments, beautifully capturing the exhaustion, fear, and unconditional love of a parent doing everything possible to support her child while struggling herself. She also showcased her incredible vocals during “Anybody Have a Map?” and “Good for You.”

I’ve watched Seth Lamont perform since he was a little kid, so seeing him step into what may be his best role to date as Jared Kleinman was an absolute joy. His sarcastic wit provided the perfect comic relief without ever diminishing the emotional stakes of the story. Seth had the audience laughing out loud throughout the performance, particularly during the email-writing scenes with Evan. His vocals stood out prominently during “Sincerely, Me” and “Good for You.”

Whitney McClain gave a beautiful and heartfelt performance as Zoe Murphy. She brought warmth and emotional depth to the role, making Zoe far more than simply Evan’s love interest. Whitney portrayed a young woman wrestling with grief, confusion, and a deeply complicated relationship with her brother Connor. Her vocals on “Requiem” and “You Will Be Found” were absolutely wonderful.

Drew Relling also turned in a tremendous performance as Connor Murphy. Though Connor has limited traditional stage time, Drew made a lasting impression, balancing anger, pain, vulnerability, and emotional intensity throughout the show. His appearances throughout Evan’s imagination served as a constant reminder of the tragedy at the center of the story. He also delivered standout vocal performances during “Disappear” and “Sincerely, Me.”

The Murphy family as a whole added tremendous complexity and emotional weight to the production. Shanna Franzen, as Cynthia Murphy, radiated compassion and grief, making her desperate longing for connection both understandable and heartbreaking. She particularly shined vocally during “Anybody Have a Map?” and “Requiem.” Clayton Perala, as Larry Murphy, brought emotional restraint and realism to the role, portraying a father trying to remain composed while quietly falling apart underneath the surface. His performances during “Requiem” and “To Break in a Glove” were especially strong.

Olivia Landsverk portrayed Alana Beck with both ambition and sincerity, showing how Alana’s relentless positivity masks her own loneliness and need for purpose. She shared several wonderful scenes with Josiah, and her vocals during “Good for You” and “You Will Be Found” were terrific.

Overall, this production of Dear Evan Hansen succeeds because it never loses sight of the humanity within its flawed characters. Rather than offering easy answers, it challenges the audience to wrestle with themes of loneliness, truth, forgiveness, and the universal desire to belong. It was a moving and memorable evening of theater that lingered long after the final curtain. I truly hope everyone gets the chance to experience this production.

Photo Credit to: 5foot20 design lounge

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_Originally reported by [BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/fargo/article/Review-DEAR-EVAN-HANSEN-at-Act-Up-Theatre-20260527)._