Have A Single Person To Whom We Can Actually Speak. We

begins not with music,but with noise. As the house lights fade, the audienceis immersed momentarily in the roar of the internet: acacophony of car insurance ads, cat videos, scatteredshards of emails and text messages and status updates.And then, all at once: silence. On stage, in the white glowof a laptop, a boy sits in his bedroom, alone.Like so many of us, Evan is a citizen of two differentworlds, two distinct realities separated by the thin veil of alaptop screen. On one side of the screen, the promise ofinstant connection. On the other, a lonely kid, staring at ablinking cursor, as desperate to be noticed as he is to stayhidden.Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, and I first began to createthe character of Evan over several months in 2011.For years, Benj and Justin had discussed the idea ofcreating a musical based on an episode from Benj’s highschool. In the aftermath of a classmate’s tragic death,Benj, a sophomore, had watched as fellow students whohad barely known him claimed to have been his friend,inventing connections between themselves and theirformer classmate, insistent on inserting themselves intothe tragedy.By 2011, nine years after the events at Benj’s highschool, this kind of appropriation of tragedy had onlybecome more commonplace, fueled in large part by therise of social media. In the wake of catastrophe – a naturaldisaster, a celebrity’s untimely death – a familiar ritual ofgrief would ensue, with millions flocking to Facebook andTwitter to turn a public tragedy into their story.The kneejerk response to this phenomenon, ofcourse, is to dismiss it entirely as the worst kind ofnarcissism, the selfie-ization of catastrophe. But Benj,Justin, and I wondered if there was perhaps somethingmore complicated at work here, something more human.As our discussions continued, we began to feel that thesemillions of people were not using social media merely as ameans of emotional exhibitionism; more than anything, theyseemed genuinely in search of others with whom to sharetheir grief, seeking a sort of virtual community.Out of these conversations, the world of Dear EvanHansen slowly began to take shape, a world fracturedand broken, in which people no longer remember how toconnect, where technology allows us to chat, any timeand any place, with our thousands of “friends” and yet nothave a single person to whom we can actually speak. Weenvisioned two families, each broken in its own way, andtwo sons, both of them lost, both of them desperate tobe found. And at the heart of our story, in a world starvingfor connection, we began to imagine a character utterlyincapable of connecting.Though many of the rudiments of the character werealready in place by the end of 2011, Evan didn’t fully cometo life for me until almost two years into the process, whenBenj and Justin emailed me a homemade demo of a songthey were tentatively calling “Waving Back At Me.”This was to become “Waving Through a Window,”Evan’s first sung moment in the musical, when we see,with incredible vividness, how the world looks through theeyes of Evan Hansen:“On the outside always lookin’ inWill I ever be more than I’ve always been?‘Cause I’m tap-tap-tappin’ on the glassWaving through a window ”With a kind of offhanded lyricism, Evan showsus the unique depths of his loneliness and invites us,uncomfortably, to think of our own – calling to mind ourincessant “tap-tap-tappin’” on our own devices; the appswe have been promised will connect us in ways we cannotimagine.The song – and Evan Hansen himself – are now, ofcourse, indelibly stamped by Ben Platt’s extraordinaryinterpretation. Ben does not so much perform the songas inhabit it. Slipping seamlessly between full voice andfalsetto, Ben’s Evan is never stable, always teetering onthe edge of catastrophe.Ultimately, Evan does manage to avoid catastrophe,but he does not do it alone. Evan’s story begins in front ofa screen, and much of it will unfold there – in emails andtext messages, on Facebook timelines and Twitter feeds– but it ends somewhere else entirely, with two people,together, face-to-face. In this moment, the screens goblank and the noise subsides. For the first time in our story,Evan sees himself and allows himself to be seen. This is, ofcourse, what it means to grow up.- Steven Levenson, Book Writer

CASTEVAN HANSEN BEN PLATTZOE MURPHY LAURA DREYFUSSHEIDI HANSEN RACHEL BAY JONESCYNTHIA MURPHY.JENNIFER LAURA THOMPSONCONNOR MURPHY MIKE FAISTLARRY MURPHY MICHAEL PARKJARED KLEINMAN WILL ROLANDALANA BECK KRISTOLYN LLOYDVIRTUAL COMMUNITY VOICES: BECCA AYERS,MARY BACON, GERARD CANONICO,JENN COLELLA, ADAM HALPIN, MYKAL KILGORE,STEPHEN KUNKEN, TAMIKA LAWRENCE,CARRIE MANOLAKOS, KEN MARKS,ASA SOMERS, JASON TAM, NATALIE WEISS,BRENDA WEHLE, TIM YOUNG, REMY ZAKENUNDERSTUDIES: MICHAEL LEE BROWN,GARRETT LONG, OLIVIA PUCKETT,COLTON RYAN, ASA SOMERSEXECUTIVE PRODUCER: ALEX LACAMOIREPRODUCED BY ALEX LACAMOIRE, JUSTIN PAUL, BENJ PASEKALBUM CO-PRODUCER: STACEY MINDICHALBUM PRODUCER FOR ATLANTIC RECORDS: PETE GANBARGA&R: PETE GANBARGA&R ADMINISTRATION: CRAIG ROSEN & ALISON MURPHYA&R COORDINATION: MICHAEL PARKERRECORDED BY DERIK LEEMIXED BY NEAL AVRONPRODUCTION MANAGER: JILL DELL’ABATEMARKETING FOR ATLANTIC RECORDS: DIANE VADNALRECORDED AT AVATAR STUDIOS, NEW YORK, NY,AND ATLANTIC STUDIOS, NEW YORK, NYMIXED AT THE CASITA, HOLLYWOOD, CAMIX ASSISTANT: SCOTT SKRZYNSKIASSISTANT ENGINEERS: NATE ODDEN, MATTHEW SOARES,RON ROBINSON, EBONIE SMITHMASTERED BY TOM COYNE AT STERLING SOUND, NEW YORK, NYMUSIC ASSISTANT: HALEY BENNETTASSISTANT TO THE SONGWRITERS: ARI CONTEORCHESTRATIONS: ALEX LACAMOIRE“WORDS FAIL” ORCHESTRATED BY ALEX LACAMOIRE& CHRISTOPHER JAHNKEVOCAL ARRANGEMENTS: JUSTIN PAULMUSIC COORDINATION: MICHAEL KELLER & MICHAEL AARONSABLETON PROGRAMMERS: ENRICO DE TRIZIO & SCOTT WASSERMANKEYBOARD PROGRAMMER: RANDY COHENASSOCIATE SYNTHESIZER PROGRAMMER: TAYLOR WILLIAMSASSISTANT SYNTHESIZER PROGRAMMER: JEREMY KINGBROADWAY SOUND DESIGN BY NEVIN STEINBERGCONDUCTOR/PIANO: BEN COHNGUITARS: JUSTIN GOLDNER, DILLON KONDORBASS: ROB JOSTDRUMS: JAMIE EBLENCONCERTMASTER: JUSTIN SMITHVIOLA: TODD LOWCELLO: ADELE STEINASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR: JON BALCOURTMUSIC COPYING: EMILY GRISHMAN MUSIC PREPARATIONKEYBOARD RENTAL: COHEN KEYBOARDSPERCUSSION RENTAL: ERIC POLANDPRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER: JUDY SCHOENFELDDESIGN BY ALEX R. KIRZHNERPHOTOGRAPHY BY MATTHEW MURPHYSPECIAL THANKS TO MICHAEL GREIF

1. ANYBODY HAVE A MAP?RACHEL BAY JONES & JENNIFER LAURA THOMPSON2. WAVING THROUGH A WINDOWBEN PLATT & ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST OF DEAR EVAN HANSEN3. FOR FOREVERBEN PLATT4. SINCERELY, MEMIKE FAIST, BEN PLATT & WILL ROLAND5. REQUIEMLAURA DREYFUSS, MICHAEL PARK & JENNIFER LAURA THOMPSON6. IF I COULD TELL HERBEN PLATT & LAURA DREYFUSS7. DISAPPEARMIKE FAIST, BEN PLATT, KRISTOLYN LLOYD, WILL ROLAND, JENNIFER LAURATHOMPSON & ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST OF DEAR EVAN HANSEN8. YOU WILL BE FOUNDBEN PLATT, KRISTOLYN LLOYD, WILL ROLAND,LAURA DREYFUSS & ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST OF DEAR EVAN HANSEN9. TO BREAK IN A GLOVEMICHAEL PARK & BEN PLATT10. ONLY USLAURA DREYFUSS & BEN PLATT11. GOOD FOR YOURACHEL BAY JONES, KRISTOLYN LLOYD, WILL ROLAND & BEN PLATT12. WORDS FAILBEN PLATT13. SO BIG/SO SMALLRACHEL BAY JONES14. FINALEBEN PLATT & ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST OF DEAR EVAN HANSENAll songs, music & lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.Copyright 2017 Pick in a Pinch Music (ASCAP) andbreathelike music (ASCAP). All rights admin. by KobaltSongs Music Publishing. All rights reserved.

1. ANYBODY HAVE A MAP?Rachel Bay Jones & Jennifer Laura ThompsonHEIDIHave you been writing those letters to yourself? “Dear Evan Hansen, This isgonna be a good day and here’s why.”EVANI started one.HEIDIThose letters are important, honey. They’re gonna help you build yourconfidence.EVANI guess HEIDICAN WE TRY TO HAVE AN OPTIMISTIC OUTLOOK?Huh?CAN WE BUCK UP JUST ENOUGHTO SEE THE WORLD WON’T FALL APART?MAYBE THIS YEAR WE DECIDEWE’RE NOT GIVING UP BEFORE WE’VE TRIEDTHIS YEAR, WE MAKE A NEW STARTHEIDIHey, I know: you can go around today and ask the other kids to sign yourcast. How about that?EVANPerfect.HEIDII’m proud of you already.EVANOh. Good.HEIDIANOTHER STELLAR CONVERSATION FOR THE SCRAPBOOKANOTHER STUMBLE AS I’M REACHING FORTHE RIGHT THING TO SAYWELL, I’M KINDA COMIN’ UP EMPTYCAN’T FIND MY WAY TO YOUDOES ANYBODY HAVE A MAP?ANYBODY MAYBE HAPPEN TO KNOW HOW THE HELL TO DO THIS?I DUNNO IF YOU CAN TELLBUT THIS IS ME JUST PRETENDING TO KNOWSO WHERE’S THE MAP?I NEED A CLUE‘CAUSE THE SCARY TRUTH ISI’M FLYIN’ BLINDAND I’M MAKING THIS UP AS I GOCYNTHIAIt’s your senior year, Connor. You are not missing the first day.CONNORI already said I’d go tomorrow.LARRYHe doesn’t listen. Look at him. He’s probably high.ZOEHe’s definitely high.CYNTHIAI don’t want you going to school high, Connor.CONNORPerfect. So then I won’t go. Thanks, Mom.CYNTHIAANOTHER MASTERFUL ATTEMPT ENDS WITH DISASTERLARRYInterstate’s already jammed.CYNTHIAPOUR ANOTHER CUP OF COFFEEAND WATCH IT ALL CRASH AND BURNZOEConnor finished the milk.CYNTHIAIT’S A PUZZLE, IT’S A MAZEI TRY TO STEER THROUGH IT A MILLION WAYSBUT EACH DAY’S ANOTHER WRONG TURN

BEFORE I LEAD WITH THE WORST OF MELARRYI better head out.ZOEIf Connor’s not ready, I’m leaving without him.GIVE THEM NO REASON TO STARENO SLIPPIN’ UP IF YOU SLIP AWAYSO I GOT NOTHIN’ TO SHARENO, I GOT NOTHIN’ TO SAYCYNTHIADOES ANYBODYHAVE A MAP?ANYBODY MAYBE HAPPENTO KNOW HOW THE HELLTO DO THIS?STEP OUT, STEP OUTTA THE SUNIF YOU KEEP GETTIN’ BURNEDSTEP OUT, STEP OUTTA THE SUNBECAUSE YOU’VE LEARNED, BECAUSE YOU’VE LEARNEDHEIDIANYBODY HAVE A MAPOR HAPPENTO KNOW HOW THE HELLTO DO THIS?BOTHI DON’T KNOW IF YOU CAN TELLBUT THIS IS ME JUST PRETENDING TO KNOWHEIDISO WHERE’S THE MAP?CYNTHIAI NEED A CLUEHEIDI/CYNTHIA‘CAUSE THE SCARY TRUTH ISCYNTHIAI’M FLYIN’ BLINDCYNTHIAI’M FLYIN’ BLINDI’M FLYIN’ BLINDAND I’M MAKING THIS UPAS I GOAS I GOHEIDII’M FLYIN’ BLINDHEIDII’M FLYIN’I’M FLYIN’ BLINDAND I’M MAKING THIS UPAS I GOAS I GO2. WAVING THROUGH A WINDOWBen Platt & Original Broadway Cast of Dear Evan HansenEVANI’VE LEARNED TO SLAM ON THE BRAKEBEFORE I EVEN TURN THE KEYBEFORE I MAKE THE MISTAKEON THE OUTSIDE ALWAYS LOOKIN’ INWILL I EVER BE MORE THAN I’VE ALWAYS BEEN?‘CAUSE I’M TAP-TAP-TAPPIN’ ON THE GLASSWAVING THROUGH A WINDOWI TRY TO SPEAK BUT NOBODY CAN HEARSO I WAIT AROUND FOR AN ANSWER TO APPEARWHILE I’M WATCH-WATCH-WATCHIN’ PEOPLE PASSWAVING THROUGH A WINDOWOHCAN ANYBODY SEE?IS ANYBODY WAVING BACK AT ME?WE START WITH STARS IN OUR EYESWE START BELIEVIN’ THAT WE BELONGBUT EV’RY SUN DOESN’T RISEAND NO ONE TELLS YOU WHERE YOU WENT WRONGSTEP OUT, STEP OUTTA THE SUNIF YOU KEEP GETTIN’ BURNEDSTEP OUT, STEP OUTTA THE SUNBECAUSE YOU’VE LEARNED, BECAUSE YOU’VE LEARNEDON THE OUTSIDE ALWAYS LOOKIN’ INWILL I EVER BE MORE THAN I’VE ALWAYS BEEN?‘CAUSE I’M TAP-TAP-TAPPIN’ ON THE GLASSWAVING THROUGH A WINDOWI TRY TO SPEAK BUT NOBODY CAN HEARSO I WAIT AROUND FOR AN ANSWER TO APPEARWHILE I’M WATCH-WATCH-WATCHIN’ PEOPLE PASSWAVING THROUGH A WINDOWOHCAN ANYBODY SEE?IS ANYBODY WAVING ?