Photos provided by Matthew Murphy

With six Tony Awards to its name including the coveted “Best Musical,” Chicago was well prepared for the arrival “Dear Evan Hansen” to the point where it sold out an entire month-long run well in advance. And for nearly two-and-a-half-hours on opening night at the newly named James M. Nederlander Theatre, those who were fortunate enough to land a ticket or invite found out precisely why this life-affirming show is breaking the box office in tandem with the Broadway mold.

For starters, “Dear Even Hansen” takes an unflinchingly honest look at many of the mental health problems plaguing society, from the brokenness of depression to the utter despair of suicide. It also dives right into the social networking cyclone and how those subjects sometimes intersect, which in this instance stems from an uncorrected misunderstanding that quickly gets recast as truth.

The musical starts out innocently enough when socially awkward high schooler Evan Hansen (played by breakout star-in-the-making Ben Levi Ross) stumbles through his first day of school with a broken arm and not a single friend to sign his cast. But a chance encounter with a troubled bully changes everything, at least on the surface, and that very web continues to get spun until it grows wildly out of control.

Though a dark cloud of deceit swirls around Evan’s quest for kinship, it winds up being an impetus of healing for those who’ve been hurt the most, not to mention an entire internet community that rally around his efforts to make sure a misunderstood classmate is never forgotten. Along the way, there are some heavy moments of teens and parents butting heads, empathy from both sides, and eventually, suspicions surrounding the authenticity of the main man’s intentions.

In addition to the consistently clever storyline, “Dear Evan Hansen” soars in the soundtrack department with standalone smashes such as “Waving Through A Window,” “For Forever” and “You Will Be Found.” Katy Perry’s already gotten her crack at the former, Josh Groban could easily come calling for the other two, while even the general population will surely be able to sense their longevity.

With that in mind, there’s a tremendous likelihood that “Dear Evan Hansen” is going to be around for the foreseeable future thanks to its widespread embrace by the millennial masses and a real-life viral visibility that mirrors its fictional premise. There’s a ton for parents to embrace too, yet more lasting than its artistic impact are the conversations it has the potential to spark on healing, wholeness and the assurance that no one is ever entirely alone.

“Dear Evan Hansen” continues at the James M. Nederlander Theatre through Mar. 10. For additional details, visit DearEvanHansen.com and BroadwayInChicago.com.

Related Articles

World premiere of modernized “Tootsie” musical all ready to roll to Broadway “A Whole New World” for “Aladdin” in spectacular stage adaptation Glam rock and gender-bending converge for the entirely unique “Hedwig And The Angry Inch” Come what may, “Annie” provides endless optimism in the wake of divided election Third time’s a charm for hysterically irreverent “The Book Of Mormon” “Cheers: Live On Stage” compiles the best bits from the bar “where everybody knows your name” “The Phantom Of The Opera” haunts on overdrive thanks to massive cast, pumped up production A traditional throwback meets an exciting evolution in “Circus 1903” on Broadway In Chicago