This February, yet another smash hit musical will take the stage at Teatru Manoel with a performance that is sure to delight and entertain audiences of all backgrounds. Jointly produced by Teatru Manoel and FM Theatre Productions, "Dear Evan Hansen" will run over two weekends between the 7 and 16 February.

"The show is fast-paced, funny, relevant, thought-provoking and very moving," said Director Denise Mulholland. "It is a story about life and how we live it; a story about humans and humanity". On the rehearsal process so far and working with the cast, Mulholland said, "the themes of this show require the actors to explore a level of vulnerability, and thankfully, we have a group of people who support each other wholeheartedly. We started work before Christmas, focusing mostly on music and character-building. Now, we are full speed ahead with daily rehearsals adding detail and building stamina. There's a wonderful mix of experienced performers and some who are quite new to the Maltese stage. Together, they're creating something very exciting."

The story of "Dear Evan Hansen" focuses on themes such as isolation and the pressure to fit in, with Mulholland adding that "one of the main characters in the musical is social media, in all its forms. At times this many-headed monster is supportive and uplifting, but it can also be harsh and aggressive. Increasingly our whole world is online and the piece explores how impactful that virtual reality can be".
Matthew Cassar will be reflecting this in the show's set design, explaining that "by utilizing a backdrop of screens, we were able to achieve multiple functions - bringing the presence of social media to life while seamlessly transitioning between locations in a matter of moments". Cassar also felt that "it was crucial to honour the original design, offering long-time fans something familiar" while simultaneously incorporating his unique style to bring a fresh perspective to the production.
The musical opened on Broadway in December 2016 and quickly took the world by storm. It received critical acclaim, featuring well-loved tracks such as Waving Through a Window, Sincerely, Me, and You Will Be Found.

On working on the show, musical director Kris Spiteri said, "rehearsals for this show have been an intense and rewarding experience, as the show demands a great deal from everyone involved, including the musicians. Each performer faces significant vocal challenges that go beyond mere vocal acrobatics; the music, rooted in a pop/rock idiom," which he explained requires careful attention to detail and musicality. "I genuinely believe it's a masterpiece of its generation, both thematically and musically", continued Kris, "it captures a remarkable balance of simplicity and complexity. While I might have personal song preferences, the true magic happens when each one is placed within the narrative - their significance deepens in relation to the story. Moreover, we have the privilege of working with the exceptional arrangements by award-winning arranger Alex Lacamoire, whose work on other notable musicals like Hamilton and In the Heights has set a high bar".
In this production by FM Theatre Productions and Teatru Manoel, the titular role of Evan Hansen will be played alternately by Kyle Mangiani and Luigi Buhagiar, with Kristen Abela and Charlotte Formosa sharing the role of Zoe Murphy. Completing the stellar cast members are Dorothy Bezzina, Nadine Farrugia, Raphael Pace, Thomas Camilleri, Jamie Cardona, and Carla Fenech.
"Dear Evan Hansen" is directed by Denise Mulholland, with Kris Spiteri as the show's Musical Director, set design by Matthew Cassar and videography by Dylan Odom.
Performances of "Dear Evan Hansen" run from 7 to 9 February and the 13 to 16 February at 7:30pm, with an additional matinee taking place at 3pm on Sunday 16 February. Tickets are selling fast, and can be purchased via www.teatrumanoel.mt or by calling the Teatru Manoel Box Office at (+356) 21246389.