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Anastasia or DEH?

DramaTeach

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Anastasia or DEH?#1
Posted: 6/28/16 at 10:45am

Taking 12-14 year olds to one show. Now that Anastasia has officially been announced, should it be that one or Dear Evan Hansen?

disneybroadwayfan22

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Anastasia or DEH?#2
Posted: 6/28/16 at 10:46am

I haven't seen DEH, but I loved Anastasia. It's Disney-like like the movie, but more serious with the history behind the tale. If your kids love the movie, they'll like this

aaaaaa15

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Anastasia or DEH?#3
Posted: 6/28/16 at 10:49am

I would say it depends on their maturity. If they're mature for their age, go for Dear Evan Hansen. Either is fine though.

BroadwayConcierge

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Anastasia or DEH?#4
Posted: 6/28/16 at 10:51am

^agreed. Definitely a maturity question. Dear Evan Hansen is by no means a light, breezy show...

usn120 said: "Really... REALLY...? It's been 8 years and you thought it was worth bumping to share that you THINK Broadway "Star" Alex Wyse is Jewish?"

DramaTeach

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Anastasia or DEH?#5
Posted: 6/28/16 at 10:56am

They are mature kids - all part of our school's drama club, so they have an understanding of character and story (I hope, anyway). This year we did School of Rock, so it may be nice to do something different with DEH, but I love the music from Anastasia and know it is, without a doubt, appropriate.

dramamama611

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Anastasia or DEH?#6
Posted: 6/28/16 at 11:01am

Tough call, tbh. Personally, I'm all for making things valuable and I'm pretty sure I'd go with DEH. (I know the MS teacher in my district is planning to go to DEH, and she saw it at 2nd Stage with my HS group.)

If it helps, I'd rate DEH PG13, but only barely passing the PG rating.

If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

Liza's Headband

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Anastasia or DEH?#7
Posted: 6/28/16 at 11:04am

They couldn't be two more different shows. It really has to be between these? There's no way of seeing both?

wonderfulwizard11

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Anastasia or DEH?#8
Posted: 6/28/16 at 11:04am

Dear Evan Hansen isn't inappropriate due to sex or violence, but it does feature some fairly intense talk of anxiety, self-harm, and suicide.

I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.

DramaTeach

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Anastasia or DEH?#9
Posted: 6/28/16 at 11:10am

Liza's Headband said: "They couldn't be two more different shows. It really has to be between these? There's no way of seeing both?"

The school only lets us go to one show. They don't want too much time out of the classroom with all the focus on state tests these days. I'll definitely be seeing both but can only take my kids to one. Feel like DEH is more relatable and relevant in 2016, but Anastasia is more fun and appropriate.

godlessondheimite

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Anastasia or DEH?#10
Posted: 6/28/16 at 11:10am

It's like choosing between Aladdin and Fun Home. Dear Evan Hansen is intense. If they're very serious about theater, by all means, DEH. But just be warned, there's anxiety, depression, suicide, and Platt's performance is raw af.

Anastasia is definitely more of a school field trip show.

Updated On: 6/28/16 at 11:10 AM

aaaaaa15

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Anastasia or DEH?#11
Posted: 6/28/16 at 11:19am

Except from reports, Anastasia is a better show than Aladdin. It's a tough one OP, I think it's got to be a personal choice rather than one you can take from advice alone.

godlessondheimite

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Anastasia or DEH?#12
Posted: 6/28/16 at 11:21am

aaaaaa15 said: "Except from reports, Anastasia is a better show than Aladdin. It's a tough one OP, I think it's got to be a personal choice rather than one you can take from advice alone. "

I should have been clearer, I didn't mean the comparison in terms of quality.

aaaaaa15

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Anastasia or DEH?#13
Posted: 6/28/16 at 11:23am

I understand, I just wanted to clarify that to OP because Aladdin vs. Fun Home would be an easier choice I think as one is far superior in quality.

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Anastasia or DEH?#14
Posted: 6/28/16 at 11:29am

aaaaaa15 said: "I understand, I just wanted to clarify that to OP because Aladdin vs. Fun Home would be an easier choice I think as one is far superior in quality. "

There's very few shows I would choose over Fun Home, but toting a class of teenagers would affect my decision. Likewise with Dear Evan Hansen.

Updated On: 6/28/16 at 11:29 AM

buhbuhbilly

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Anastasia or DEH?#15
Posted: 6/28/16 at 11:52am

well.. first of all, when are you coming? Anastasia isn't opening until mid-late April of 2017.

DramaTeach

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Anastasia or DEH?#16
Posted: 6/28/16 at 11:57am

We're going the first week in April to a Wed. matinee. DEH will be open and Anastasia will be in previews.

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Anastasia or DEH?#17
Posted: 6/28/16 at 12:02pm

Not a guarantee DEH will still be open. Most likely it will, but no guarantee. It begins previews in Nov.

Liza's Headband

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Anastasia or DEH?#18
Posted: 6/28/16 at 12:11pm

Daddy Warbucks said: "Not a guarantee DEH will still be open. Most likely it will, but no guarantee. It begins previews in Nov.

"

I assure you it will be open. Feel free to put money on that.

DramaTeach

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Anastasia or DEH?#19
Posted: 6/28/16 at 12:12pm

Daddy Warbucks said: "Not a guarantee DEH will still be open. Most likely it will, but no guarantee. It begins previews in Nov. "

True, but with all the positive buzz on here, I'm assuming it will still be open. Everyone is talking about Ben Platt's chances at a Tony nomination, so I'd assume they'd want to keep it open (and of course, just hoping that the show will find an audience), so voters will keep him in mind. I guess it's true though that another positive for Anastasia is that it will most definitely be there in April.

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Anastasia or DEH?#20
Posted: 6/28/16 at 12:16pm

Daddy Warbucks said: "Not a guarantee DEH will still be open. Most likely it will, but no guarantee. It begins previews in Nov.

"

No way in hell is DEH closing before April.

Liza's Headband

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Anastasia or DEH?#21
Posted: 6/28/16 at 12:19pm

DEH will most definitely be there in April. Happy to provide you with a 100% guarantee, if that makes you feel any better.

I know you mentioned age but what are the grade levels? Provided they are cultured, theatrically inclined and have some kind of appreciation for the arts, then you should absolutely take them to DEAR EVAN HANSEN. There will probably be a couple of cringe-worthy moments for the chaperones in attendance but the masturbation jokes/references, for example, go by so quickly that you'll soon forget about it.

Make no mistake: it's intense and it's heavy and it's deep. It's also a fantastic show, though. You will not regret your decision.

DramaTeach

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Anastasia or DEH?#22
Posted: 6/28/16 at 12:23pm

Liza's Headband said: "DEH will most definitely be there in April. Happy to provide you with a 100% guarantee, if that makes you feel any better.

I know you mentioned age but what are the grade levels? Provided they are cultured, theatrically inclined and have some kind of appreciation for the arts, then you should absolutely take them to DEAR EVAN HANSEN. There will probably be a couple of cringe-worthy moments for the chaperones in attendance but the masturbation jokes/references, for example, go by so quickly that you'll soon forget about it.

Make no mistake: it's intense and it's heavy and it's deep. It's also a fantastic show, though. You will not regret your decision. "

Thanks for the very passionate response. My students are mostly 8th graders with some 7th graders sprinkled in there too. Sounds like DEH will be a meaningful experience for them, so I'm leaning toward it.