Dear Evan Hansen Previews

[neonlightsxo]

BroadwayNYC2 said: "Very excited for this to begin. Wish it was still at the Belasco, though. "

 

Wait, why do you wish that? The move to the Music Box was certainly a move for the better.

[BroadwayNYC2]

Wait, why do you wish that? The move to the Music Box was certainly a move for the better.

 

Agreed it's a better business choice, I'm just not a fan of the Music Box. I much prefer the atmosphere of the Belasco and feel like it fits the show better 

[Keiichi2]

First performance is well underway, and I'm really excited.  Hoping for some Intermission reports.

[steven22]

Just walked out of the theater. Loved it. Saw it twice at second stage. Not many changes since. 

[ethan231h]

is the song list the same? According to twitter, it looked to be a really fun night, bummed i couldn't be there tonight, can Saturday night come any sooner!?!?!?

[Alex M]

ethan231h said: "is the song list the same? According to twitter, it looked to be a really fun night, bummed i couldn't be there tonight, can Saturday night come any sooner!?!?!?"

I agree!!

[steven22]

Same songs all around. Switched up some lyrics and maybe the order of one or two. The only song that needs work is the intro to Does Anybody Have a Map?

[ethan231h]

steven22 said: "Same songs all around. Switched up some lyrics and maybe the order of one or two. The only song that needs work is the intro to Does Anybody Have a Map?

 

"

Do you happen to remember that order change?

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

So, no changes to the all-too pat ending, huh?

[Dancingthrulife2]

They added in the ending that Evan found the list of Connor's 10 favorite books in his 8th grade collage, and he was reading them to get to know Connor as a real person.

[slumdogdelaware]

Just got home! Wow, what an amazing night. This is my first experience with DEH, and I have to say, it went above and beyond what I was expecting. By the second act there was just sniffling all around me (some were my own, naturally). 

I expected to cry, but what I didn't expect were the gaspy sobs that came out of me during "You Will Be Found" & "So Big/So Small". I feel like I'm gonna need a few days to digest this. 

I'm already looking forward to seeing it again. Also, in terms of the theatre, I thought the Music Box was incredibly intimate and just perfect for this show. I sat in the center mezzanine, row J, and still felt pretty close. Next time I'm gonna splurge on orchestra though. 

Merch report: I got the baseball tee, and they also have a regular t-shirt, and I believe I saw a sweatshirt. They have a mug & magnets as well. 

[talinatter]

Im not gonna go much into it now bc sleep/school but major changes
- more harmonies and they're so good and tight and add so much vocal layer
- More projections! Stage is bigger so they have the ability to create even more social media and screens and the set is so very cool
- Lyric change in opening 
- Requiem has these insane harmonies and key change 
- You will be found has this new projection thing that sent shivers and moved me unlike anything ever and I mean that
- It says in the playbill there was a YOU will be found reprise but there wasn't?
- Michael park is SO GOOD! Character is way more relatable 
- The ending is a bit different; same idea but more details 
- They add more about Zoe and Evans relationship in context to the fact that it is Connor's sister and best friend and how that causes suspicion and stuff 
That's all off the top of my head! Feel free to ask any other questions! The show was remarkable of course, and the cast and crew all came out and they have first preview free hats (after I bought one at the table ugh...) but other than that, the show was just incredible and I have nothing else to say

 

[slumdogdelaware]

Thank you for mentioning the fact there was no "You Will be Found" reprise. I was waiting for it!!

[Dancingthrulife2]

talinatter said: "Im not gonna go much into it now bc sleep/school but major changes
- more harmonies and they're so good and tight and add so much vocal layer
- More projections! Stage is bigger so they have the ability to create even more social media and screens and the set is so very cool
- Lyric change in opening 
- Requiem has these insane harmonies and key change 
- You will be found has this new projection thing that sent shivers and moved me unlike anything ever and I mean that
- It says in the playbill there was a YOU will be found reprise but there wasn't?
- Michael park is SO GOOD! Character is way more relatable 
- The ending is a bit different; same idea but more details 
- They add more about Zoe and Evans relationship in context to the fact that it is Connor's sister and best friend and how that causes suspicion and stuff 
That's all off the top of my head! Feel free to ask any other questions! The show was remarkable of course, and the cast and crew all came out and they have first preview free hats (after I bought one at the table ugh...) but other than that, the show was just incredible and I have nothing else to say

"

The reprise of You Will Be Found is in the much longer version of the exploding comments after the release of "Connor's suicide note." The "reprise" is the chorus (Jared, Alana and probably one more person) repeating the line "you are not alone."

[nightnic001]

Could you list the understudies/standbys?

[slumdogdelaware]

Here's an album of pics of the playbill: http://imgur.com/a/aQiJ7 including cast, song list, etc.

[LesWickedly]

Did anyone happen to sit in the front rows, specifically of the left orchestra? How was the view?

[Dancingthrulife2]

The stage is super high, actually way higher than your head. However, there's a ramp so I guess that helps. I sat in the fourth row dead center and it felt pretty much like the second row at Second Stage. I'm going back again on Thursday and will report back more.

[LizzieCurry]

nightnic001 said: "Could you list the understudies/standbys?"

Michael Lee Brown, Garrett Long, Olivia Puckett, Colton Ryan, and Asa Somers

http://thestagereview.net/2016/11/14/pasek-pauls-dear-evan-hansen-opens-tonight-broadway/

[HSky]

I was front row center orchestra. The stage is high (around head level), so if you don't like craning your neck, I'd recommend maybe 4 or 5 rows back. A couple in right orchestra front row were reseated in the second row and liked it much better. I've seen the show several times so I knew what to expect (in terms of not missing anything) and enjoy seeing the emotions up close,  so I didn't mind. If it is your first time and you want the stage picture,  they wouldn't be the best choice. 

The cast board is: http://imgur.com/ckzXezV, I missed listing Colton Ryan in an earlier post. 

From what I recall, merch had windowcards, tote bags, black hats, rubber wristbands, blue sharpies, a henley type long sleeve shirt, one or two short sleeve shirts, a zip up hoodie, scarf, 4 pack of buttons, mugs, water bottles, and magnets (same design as 2ST but with Music Box printed at the bottom). 

A few quick additions were ambient notification sounds playing on a loop prior to the show followed by projections and sounds indicating the no cell phone/no photography warning just before it started, which is much appreciated for the larger Broadway house since the start is a bit abrupt. The projection work continues to be refined, too. I noticed the prominent background text during "Sincerely, Me" no longer was the song title,  but instead the portion about friendship. The fan video during "You Will Be Found" has a slightly different presentation now. I did still see my clip, which made me smile. 

The design is more or less what was at 2ST with the rear projections suggesting more of the setting,  but the milk crate has been replaced by a small chest of drawers and it slides onstage rather than rising. 

I'll have to post more later since my phone battery is running low.

[gleek4114]

Apparently there was a special first preview hat? We're these for sale or given away? If anyone has an extra, pm me! 

[HSky]

They were handing out the light blue hats commemorating the first preview as you exited the theater. They have the show name on front, a #Fansen pin on one side, First Preview · Broadway on the back, and 11-14-16 on the other side. Unfortunately, I don't have a spare or I'd offer it.

[bdboston]

HSky-- what letter row were you in? I can't tell what the first row is at the Music Box for this show. We have tix in rows B and C, center. Thanks!

[kreichelt]

Dancingthrulife2 said: "The stage is super high, actually way higher than your head. However, there's a ramp so I guess that helps. I sat in the fourth row dead center and it felt pretty much like the second row at Second Stage. I'm going back again on Thursday and will report back more."

These are exactly the seats I have.  Were they too close...?

 

[HSky]

I wasn't sure if there would be AA for rush or lottery when I bought my ticket, but it doesn't exist for DEH and Row A is indeed the first row, which is where I was. Since the band is on an elevated platform stage right, there is no orchestra pit and Row A is right up against the stage.

If you've seen the show before, even from the front row, it's still a much closer experience because Arena had a wide pathway in front, and 2ST has the aisle and stadium seating. The Music Box just has a comfortable amount of legroom and then the stage is right there. For those who want some distance for perspective looking at the whole stage, you'd probably be best looking at seats at least 5 or so rows back. 

[haterobics]

The only seats available for my last planned NYC jaunt this year, I can only get extreme side orchestra in like H or so. Should that be an issue, ya think? Either side better?

Alternatively, I can just flip it to a good seat in the spring 2017.