By Ariel Mary Ann
Content Warning: This production contains themes of suicide, grief, and mental health challenges.
The Carnegie Theatre in Covington, Kentucky kicked off its summer season with the regional premiere of Dear Evan Hansen. Featuring a book by Steven Levenson with music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the Tony Award-winning musical originally opened on Broadway in December 2016. Nearly a decade later, the show remains as relevant as ever.
Dear Evan Hansen follows teenager Evan Hansen (Tommy Sanders), who struggles with intense anxiety and social isolation. When a letter he wrote to himself falls into the hands of classmate Connor Murphy (Sean Young), a misunderstanding sets off a chain of events that changes both of their families. As Evan becomes increasingly entangled in the consequences of that misunderstanding, he finds himself navigating grief, connection, and the desire to belong.
The musical explores complex themes of loneliness, loss, and mental health. Director Joe Bertucci places Evan’s anxiety front and center through thoughtful staging and character interactions. Bertucci’s use of physical distance between actors effectively illustrates the emotional barriers that separate them. This also highlights the show’s central message about the need for human connection.
Emotional Performances
Sanders as Evan gives a heartbreaking performance. He acts with specificity and makes calculated choices. As Sanders belts out “Waving Through a Window,” you can feel the emotional heaviness that consumes Evan’s world. This is one of the production’s strongest moments.
Sean Young brings an unsettling presence to Connor Murphy, while Adrian Graff as Jared Kleinman offers quippy remarks and comedic relief. Denise Devlin and Eric Byrd give moving performances as Cynthia and Larry Murphy, portraying parents struggling to make sense of an unimaginable loss. Hannah Grace Ervin brings depth to Zoe Murphy, and Jordyn Amani Jones makes a strong impression as Alana Beck.
Creative Team
Choreographer Kim Popa’s movement work and Jeff Shearer’s costuming help define the characters, supporting the storytelling in this production.
The score pulls on your heart from “Waving Through a Window” to “Words Fail.” It captures the emotional turmoil of being a young person in the 21st century. Nearly ten years after its Broadway debut, Dear Evan Hansen remains a relevant show for young theatre goers across the country. Under the music direction of Jacob Priddy, the cast delivers these songs with sincerity and emotional weight.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a musical with moving music and a compelling story, go see Dear Evan Hansen, at The Carnegie through June 28th, 2026. Tickets can found HERE.
Ariel Mary Ann is a local theatre artist, actor, and playwright. Since high school, she has immersed herself in Cincinnati’s theatre community through performance, playwriting, and arts leadership, including work with CCM’s Transmigration Festival, Know Theatre, the League of Cincinnati Theatres, and Ghostlight Stage Company.
A Black, queer, trans theatre artist, Ariel is committed to amplifying voices often pushed to society’s margins. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s Women and Gender Studies program, she brings a lifelong passion for performance, storytelling, and community building to her work.
