{"id":57609,"date":"2025-10-03T08:00:57","date_gmt":"2025-10-03T14:00:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pioneertheatre.org\/?p=57609"},"modified":"2025-10-27T09:33:52","modified_gmt":"2025-10-27T15:33:52","slug":"dear-evan-hansen-press-release","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pioneertheatre.org\/dear-evan-hansen-press-release\/","title":{"rendered":"PIONEER THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS UTAH PREMIERE OF SIX-TIME TONY-WINNING HIT DEAR EVAN HANSEN<\/i>"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Cast Features Newcomer Kyle Dalsimer and Broadway Vets Donna Vivino, Andrew Samonsky<\/span><\/i><\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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[SALT LAKE CITY, UT OCTOBER 3, 2025] \u2014 <\/span>Pioneer Theatre Company<\/b> (PTC), Utah\u2019s premier professional theatre company in residence at the University of Utah, <\/span>presents the Utah premiere of <\/span>Dear Evan Hansen <\/i><\/b>at <\/span>Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre<\/b> from <\/span>October 24-November 8<\/b>. Winner of six Tony Awards, the musical features a book by <\/span>Steven Levenson<\/b> and music and lyrics by <\/span>Benj Pasek<\/b> and <\/span>Justin Paul<\/b>. <\/span>
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<\/span>Evan Hansen has always felt like he\u2019s on the outside looking in, his severe anxiety making it hard to connect. But when tragedy strikes his community, he unexpectedly finds himself at the heart of a growing misunderstanding\u2014one that offers him a chance to reinvent himself. Dear Evan Hansen, winner of both Tony and Olivier Awards for Best Musical, is a deeply moving and timely coming-of-age story about vulnerability and the longing for connection.<\/span><\/i><\/p>

\u201cThe story of Dear Evan Hansen <\/i>is even more timely today than when it first premiered\u2014especially in regard to the hold that social media has on our culture, especially youth culture. The show\u2019s themes of connection and belonging resonate deeply in the world we live in now,\u201d said PTC Artistic Director Karen Azenberg<\/b>. \u201cIt truly is an honor to work on this production with this incredible group of artists whose talent ensures our audiences will experience this landmark musical at its very best.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

CAST & CREATIVE
<\/b>Leading the cast is PTC newcomer <\/span>Kyle Dalsimer*<\/b> (<\/span>Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat<\/span><\/i> at Ivoryton Playhouse, <\/span>Ride the Cyclone<\/span><\/i> at Arena Stage) as Evan Hansen. He is joined by PTC alumni <\/span>Jordan Briggs*<\/b> (PTC\u2019s <\/span>Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,<\/span><\/i> Hart Theatre Company\u2019s <\/span>The Beauty Queen of Leenane<\/span><\/i>) as Connor Murphy and <\/span>Khadija Sankoh*<\/b> (PTC\u2019s recent insider reading of <\/span>Ten Brave Seconds, <\/span><\/i>Off-Broadway\u2019s <\/span>Little Shop of Horrors<\/span><\/i>) as Alana Beck.<\/span><\/p>

Making their PTC debuts are <\/span>Marika Aubrey* <\/b>(Royal Shakespeare Company\u2019s Australian production of <\/span>Matilda the Musical, <\/span><\/i>Lincoln Center\u2019s <\/span>South Pacific<\/span><\/i> at Sydney Opera House) as Cynthia Murphy; <\/span>Elyse Bell*<\/b> (<\/span>Don\u2019t Say Good Luck<\/span><\/i> on Netflix, <\/span>Queens<\/span><\/i> on ABC) as Zoe Murphy; <\/span>Andrew Samonsky* <\/b>(Broadway\u2019s <\/span>Lempika, The Mystery of Edwin Drood)<\/span><\/i> as Larry Murphy; <\/span>Larry Saperstein*<\/b> (<\/span>High School Musical: The Musical: The Series<\/span><\/i> on Disney+) as Jared Kleinman; and <\/span>Donna Vivino* <\/b>(Broadway\u2019s <\/span>Wicked<\/span><\/i>, Young Cosette in the original cast of <\/span>Les Mis\u00e9rables<\/span><\/i>) as Heidi Hansen.<\/span><\/p>

Rounding out the company are ensemble and virtual community members <\/span>Rachel Johnson<\/b> and <\/span>Adam Moore<\/b>. Additionally, a digital-only virtual community will be comprised of <\/span>Mary Fanning Driggs*, Nathan Andrew Riley*, Ariana Bagley, Kaden Conrad,<\/b> and <\/span>Hannah Rich<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Karen Azenberg<\/b>, who recently kicked off her 14th season as PTC Artistic Director, directs and choreographs <\/span>Dear Evan Hansen<\/span><\/i>. She is joined on the Creative Team by Musical Director\/Conductor <\/span>Helen Gregory <\/b>(PTC\u2019s <\/span>Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, The Rocky Horror Show<\/span><\/i>); Scenic & Video Designer <\/span>Bryce Cutler<\/b> (PTC\u2019s <\/span>Prayer for the French Republic, Bonnie & Clyde<\/span><\/i>); Costume Designer <\/span>Patrick Holt<\/b> (PTC\u2019s<\/span> Waitress; Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812<\/span><\/i>); Lighting Designer <\/span>Paul Miller<\/b> (PTC\u2019s<\/span> Waitress; Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812<\/span><\/i>); Sound Designer <\/span>Aaron Hubbard<\/b> (PTC\u2019s <\/span>Jersey Boys<\/span><\/i>; <\/span>Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812<\/span><\/i>); Hair & Makeup Designer <\/span>Savanna Finley <\/b>(West Valley Arts\u2019 <\/span>Alice by Heart<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>Puffs<\/span><\/i>); Associate Director\/Choreographer <\/span>Maggie Scott<\/b>; and Video Engineer <\/span>Adam Day<\/b>. <\/span>James O. Hansen<\/b> is Production Stage Manager. Casting is by <\/span>JZ Casting, LLC<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>

UNIVERSITY OF UTAH SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH COLLABORATIVE PARTNERSHIP
<\/b>As part of its commitment to producing theatre with care and authenticity, Pioneer Theatre Company has partnered with the <\/span>University of Utah School Mental Health Collaborative <\/b>for this production. Mental health experts from the Collaborative will conduct a series of workshops with the cast of <\/span>Dear Evan Hansen<\/span><\/i>, guiding them in the sensitive portrayal of the story\u2019s complex themes. In addition, the partnership provides a direct line of communication for the actors throughout the run of the show, ensuring ongoing support as they bring this important story to life.<\/span><\/p>

“At the Utah School Mental Health Collaborative, we are thrilled to partner with Pioneer Theatre Company in support of <\/span>Dear Evan Hansen<\/span><\/i>. This production highlights themes of isolation, connection, and hope that resonate deeply with the work we do every day in Utah schools,\u201d said USMHC Program Director <\/span>Sean Weeks, Ph.D.<\/b> \u201cWorking with the cast, providing mental health resources, and coordinating ways to engage with the community ensures that the story connects with the lived experiences of many Utahns. We are always excited to find ways to work together within the University of Utah and are honored to collaborate with PTC in bringing both artistry and awareness together on stage.”<\/span><\/p>

The partnership will culminate with a special community conversation titled \u201c<\/span>Strength in Connection: A Conversation About Mental Health in a Hyperconnected World<\/b>.\u201d The event will take place on Saturday, November 8 at 4:45 PM, following the matinee performance of <\/span>Dear Evan Hansen<\/span><\/i>. This community conversation is free to the public and will feature:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>