Photo by Matthew Murphy
Stephen Christopher Anthony as Evan Hansen in the North American touring company of "Dear Evan Hansen."
Bass Performance Hall is kicking off 2022 with a bang — or rather, a chorus of resounding voices singing "you are not alone" again and again.
That's the message of "Dear Evan Hansen," Bass Hall's first Broadway musical of the new year, which opens Tuesday. It's a modern-day story that follows Evan, a high school student who, amid dealing with social anxiety, spins a web of lies that make him unexpectedly famous on the internet.
The show rides into Fort Worth with a lot of hype, from winning the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2017 to becoming a feature film this year starring the original Evan Hansen, Ben Platt.
For the touring production, Fort Worthians will get to see actor Stephen Christopher Anthony don the iconic pale blue polo shirt and arm cast. Ahead of his Bass Hall performance, Anthony talked with Fort Worth Magazine about the musical's mental health message, his own experiences with therapy, and why he hasn't seen the "Dear Evan Hansen" movie just yet.
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
FWM: A lot of locals who've had tickets to "Dear Evan Hansen" had to wait over a year to see this show. As an actor, what was 2020 like for you, and how did you get through it?
SCA: It was a little heartbreaking. I was playing Evan Hansen on tour. It was the best job I've ever had. It meant so much to me.
As a performer, I've always drawn my sense of worth and value, in a small way, from my job. 2020 forced me to let go of that and learn how to take care of myself and find worth, joy, and comfort in my life without that sense of accomplishment. I think it has made me come back stronger. I turned it into a moment of growth.
That being said, to be back on stage and sharing this incredible piece with people has meant the world to me. I have been an emotional mess every single night.
FWM: Why is the story of "Dear Evan Hansen" so relevant right now?
SCA: One of the biggest messages of our show is "you're not alone." Whatever it is you're going through, even if you're at your lowest point, there is somebody who will understand and can help.
There are words that I get to say in this play that are so beautiful and timely. "Everybody should matter" ... "Everybody is important" ... "Even when you're broken on the ground, someone will come running." Every time I say that, I, Stephen, get choked up on stage because those words mean so much to me.
FWM: How do you relate to Evan personally?
SCA: I definitely suffered from social anxiety as a kid. I felt like a little weirdo. I was a theater kid before I found the theater. Once I found my love for the theater, I found my family.
I first reached out to begin working with a therapist probably about eight years ago, and it's the best decision I ever made. I feel healthier, happier, and stronger than I've ever been ... There's a lot that I feel for Evan that I can relate to.
FWM: Have you seen the "Dear Evan Hansen" movie yet?
SCA: You know, I haven't. I made the decision not to watch it for right now because it's something that I have to live inside of in first person.
I'm an avid reader, so when the book came out [a novel version of "Dear Evan Hansen" was released in 2018], I was so excited, and I read the first couple chapters while I was on tour. I found that when I went into the show that night, those first few opening scenes I read in the book, I was thinking about in the third person objectively, as a story outside myself.
When the movie came out, I said, "You know what? I need to continue to live in this until I'm done playing the role," and then I'll go watch it. But I can't wait to watch it.
FWM: What else should Fort Worthians expect from the show?
SCA: I think what we don't talk about enough is you're going to have a great time. We talk about it in terms of being a mental health show that deals with depression, but it's also really suspenseful and funny. I think people are surprised to find how funny the script is. You're going to laugh a lot, have a great time, and walk away having really great conversations.
"Dear Evan Hansen" runs Tuesday through Sunday. Ticket information is available here.
