＊Introduction to "Dear Evan Hansen"＊

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♡Hello!♡

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Intro

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How ya all doing? I hope you're all doing great. Today's blog is going to be about one of my favorite musicals. I've gotten through a lot of tough times listening to this soundtrack, and related a lot to the book.

When reading the book I even discovered that one of the characters was bi. Hopefully my sharing of this musical will bring more people to find something to lean on.

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Table Of Contents

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►Intro

►What is it?

►Characters

►Plot

►Songs

►Personal Connection

►Sources

►Conclusion

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What is it?

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Dear Evan Hansen is both a Broadway musical, and book. Although the book is also amazing, many people are unaware there even is a book. Most people recognize Dear Evan Hansen as a musical.

I first discovered the musical. It contains fourteen songs and is broken into two acts. This musical is commonly classified as a drama.

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The music and lyrics of the musical are by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Dear Evan Hansen was awarded best musical of 2017 at the Tony awards. The musical has also received and been nominated for multiple other awards. In 2017 it also received the best book of a musical award for Steven Levenson's writing.

Ben Platt, Mike Faist, and Rachel Bay Jones also received awards for their performances in the musical.

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Characters

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Evan Hansen

Evan is the main character. He has both anxiety and depression. In the beginning he is seen as a total social outcast. After finding himself in a sticky situation, he discovers a way to make a positive out of the mess he is in. But has he gone too far? Was it a mistake?

Conner Murphy

Conner is the character that dies by suicide at the very beginning of the musical. We learn more about his struggles with depression through the course of the musical.

Zoe Murphy

Zoe is the older sister of Conner. She is trying to process the loss of her brother, and understand his situation.

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Heidi Hansen

Heidi is the single mother of Evan. She works hard to provide for her and her son.

Larry Murphy

Larry is the father of Conner and Zoe, and husband to Cynthia.

Cynthia Murphy

Mother of Conner and Zoe, as well as wife of Larry Murphy.

Jared Kleinman

Jared is a family friend of Evan. Jared is skilled at computer tech.

Alana Beck

Alana is a friend and fellow outcast to Evan. She is determined in everything she does, and has a positive attitude and good work ethics.

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Plot

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Short Spoiler-free Preview

Evan and Conner and both social outcasts in their high school, which takes a toll on their mental health. To brighten Evan's outlook on the day, his therapist has suggested writing letters starting with "Dear Evan Hansen, today is going to be a good day ans here's why..." In a series of events, one of Evan's letters is found in Conner's pocket, and is mistaken for a suicide note.

Evan soon finds himself in a difficult situation. Telling the truth seems impossible after burrying himself in lies. But what if there was a lesson Evan could teach from all of this?

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(spoiler containing)

Plot

"Dear Evan Hansen, today is going to be a good day, and here's why..." Who knew one letter could do so much? Evan Hansen is a social outcast suffering from anxiety and depression. When trying to write an assigned letter from his therapist giving a positive outlook on the day, he pins his hopes on his crush: Zoe Murphy.

While printing out his letter at school, a fellow social outcast, Conner Murphy, finds himself talking with Evan. Noticing Evan's cast is unsigned, he writes his name in large print so it looks as if they both have a friend. However, Conner gets ahold of Evan's letters. While reading it, Conner discovers Evan's crush on his sister. Conner storms out, taking the letter with him.

The next day at school, Evan is called to the office. He finds himself in a room with Larry and Cynthia Murphy, Conner and Zoe's parents. They inform him Conner has committed suicide, and a letter address "Dear Evan Hansen," was found in his pocket. Evan is struck with a fear, and can't bring himself to say he wrote the letter. Instead, he says he was a friend of Conner's.

Unfortunately, the heart-broken Murphy's are searching for anything that may tell them who their son really was. With anxiety controlling his ever disision, he begins to make up stories, and a personality for Conner.

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To explain the letter, Evan says that Conner and him sent emails back and forth. In order to try to put the Murphy's at ease, he agrees to share a couple of the emails with them. Evan then begs a childhood family friend, Jared, to help him create fake emails.

Through the process of getting to know the Murphy's, Evan becomes closer with the girl of his dreams, and the idea of a perfect family. Soon Evan has what he's dreamed of: Zoe Murphy as a girlfriend.

But the lies are bigger than just the Murphy household. Soon after Conner's death, people had seemingly started to forget him at all. Seeing Conner become nothing more than a memory destroys Evan, and he works with Alana to create the Conner Project.

The goal of this project is to keep Conner alive through memory, and show others they matter and won't be forgoten.

Evan gives a speech in front of the school, with the message that there will always be people there for you, and you are important. His speech goes viral, and the Conner Project blows up in popularity.

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For a while life seems to good to be true for Evan. Larry and Cynthia see him as family, and Zoe is happily in a relationship with him. Meanwhile, Heidi, Evan's mother, is struggling with her son seeming to love his new family more. She feels left alone and used. Jared is also beginning to get fed up with Evan.

Eventually, the lie crumbles. The Murphy's discover the truth about the fake friendship between Evan and their son. After letting anxiety take over and spiral out of control, the truth is finally revealed. Evan looses his relationships with all of the Murphy's.

Although his life seems like a mess, Evan begins to heal. He has grown past a suicide attempt that broke his arm, past the spiraling lies, and past the harsh disappointment in himself and from the Murphy's.

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Songs

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"Anybody Have a Map"

"Waving Through a Window"

"For Forever"

"Sincerely, Me"

"Requiem"

"If I Could Tell Her"

"Dissapear"

"You will be found"

"To Break in a Glove"

"Only Us"

Good for You"

"Words Fail"

"So Big/So Small"

"Finale"

Link to the music:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLydqpaFV4P3a4wcft9WQPdjS5X4GEGujG

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Personal Connection

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This musical has eased my depression at so may times. I will feel alone and unwanted, but listening to "you will be found" instantly makes me feel 100% better.

The musical reminds me I don't have to be famous, or change the world to be important and loved. Everybody's life has worth.

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In some of the hardest times in my life writing a letter saying why that day was going to be a good day probably saved me. It forced me to look at the day in an optimistic way just long enough to see that there is so much opportunity in today.

I want you all to know that if you only look around, you will be found.

You are you, and that is enough.

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Sources

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►https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/dear-evan-hansen-508238

►https://stageagent.com/shows/musical/7745/dear-evan-hansen

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Conclusion

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Hopefully you learned a thing or two about Dear Evan Hansen today. I very seriously recommend it. The soundtrack and book have helped me through so many hardships, and I love it to death. I love you all and thanks for reading. ♡

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