Dear Evan Hansen announces cast for UK tour

It will be found at a theatre near you

Author: Rhys Freeman & Emily BurrettPublished 11th Jun 2024
Last updated 11th Jun 2024

Nottingham Playhouse have announced the full cast for the brand-new production of the Olivier, Tony and Grammy award-winning Best Musical Dear Evan Hansen.

Ryan Kopel (Newsies) will play the iconic role of Evan Hansen, alongside Lauren Conroy (Into The Woods) as Zoe Murphy and Alice Fearn (Wicked, Come From Away) as Evan’s mum, Heidi.

They will be joined by Helen Anker (Mamma Mia!) as Cynthia Murphy, Richard Hurst (The Lion King) as Larry Murphy, Killian Thomas Lefevre (Bat Out Of Hell) as Connor Murphy, Tom Dickerson (Heathers) as Jared Kleinman, Vivian Panka (9 to 5 the Musical) as Alana Beck and Sonny Monaghan (discovered via TikTok) as alternate Evan.

This is the first production of Dear Evan Hansen in the UK to perform the show with an ensemble. The ensemble are Lara Beth-Sas, Will Forgrave, Daniel Forrester, Jessica Lim, Sonny Monaghan and Shakira Simpson.

The casting team collaborated with TikTok during the audition process, inviting TikTok users who were interested in being cast in the production to upload a video of themselves singing any number from the show. The team then reviewed all submissions and invited those they felt could be a part of the cast to participate in the formal audition process. Over 2000 videos were submitted and of those, 36 TikTok users were invited to in-person auditions. Sonny Monaghan was cast in the ensemble, and as alternate Evan (performing the role twice a week, at every matinee performance), as a result of the TikTok collaboration.

Directed by Nottingham Playhouse’s Artistic Director Adam Penford, the show will open at the Nottingham Playhouse on 9th September 2024 before travelling across the UK in 2024 and 2025.

With a score by The Greatest Showman composers Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and a book by Steven Levenson, Dear Evan Hansen opened on Broadway in 2016 and transferred to the West End in 2019 picking up Tony, Olivier and Grammy awards on the way.

West End production of Dear Evan Hansen

Following its premiere in Nottingham, the new production of Dear Evan Hansen will head to Leicester, Brighton, Birmingham, Woking, Leeds, Liverpool, Sunderland, Oxford, Northampton, Southampton, Milton Keynes, Canterbury, Bristol, Manchester, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Belfast, Chester, Wimbledon, Wolverhampton, Sheffield Plymouth, Hull, Cardiff and Norwich.

You can also catch the cast at this years Magic at the Musicals!

Take a look at some of the musicals coming in 2024

Standing at the Sky's Edge

Where: Gillian Lynne Theatre, London When: Closes August 2024
Following their win at the 2023 Olivier Awards, Sheffield Theatre's production of Standing at the Sky's Edge will transfer to the West End in 2024. The musical tells three interweaving stories across time all set in the Park Hill estate in Sheffield alongside the music of Richard Hawley.

Hadestown

Where: Lyric Theatre, London. When: From 10th February 2024
After becoming a smash on Broadway, Hadestown is returning to London for its West End debut. The production was last seen on this side of the Atlantic back in 2018 when it ran at the National Theatre.

Cruel Intentions: The 90's Musical

Where: the Other Palace theatre. When: January 2024 till May 2024
Based on the film of the same name, the show started off in New York then transferred to the Edinburgh Fringe festival with a sold out run. Featuring all the best 90's music!

Everybody's Talking About Jamie

Where: Peacock Theatre. When: 5th February.
The smash hit musical is back in the West End. Based on a true story, Jamie New is sixteen and lives on a council estate in Sheffield. Jamie doesn't quite fit in. Jamie is terrified about the future. Jamie is going to be a sensation!

Clueless The Musical

Where: Churchill Theatre Bromley. When: 12th February.
90's Beverly Hill is coming to the UK! Based on the film with the same name. Directed by Sarna Lapine (Sunday in the Park with George), Clueless The Musical features music by the multi-platinum singer-songwriter KT Tunstall, and lyrics by Grammy winner and three-time Tony nominee Glenn Slater (Sister Act The Musical, Tangled).

Bonnie & Clyde

Where: UK and Ireland tour. When: From 22nd February 2024
Following two runs in London, Bonnie & Clyde are hitting the road in 2024 starting with the Curve Theatre in Leicester.

Starter For Ten

Where: Bristol Old Vic, Bristol. When: 29th February to 30th March 2024
Based on the David Nicholls' novel and the HBO/Playtone film adaptation, the musical Starter For Ten will be getting its world premiere in Bristol in 2024. This tale of love, class and growing up in the 1980s is set in Bristol against the backdrop of the legendary British quiz show University Challenge.

MJ The Musical

Where: Prince Edward Theatre, London. When: 6th March 2024
The jukebox musical inspired by the making of Michael Jackson's 1992 Dangerous World tour has been a smash on Broadway and will be crossing the pond in 2024. MJ The Musical will star Tony Award winner Myles Frost in the titular role, having originated it in New York.

Opening Night

Where: Gielgud Theatre. When: 6th March – 27th July.
Starring Sheridan Smith this is a new musical based on a theatre company who are preparing to stage a play on Broadway.

Sister Act

Where: Dominion Theatre. When: March 2024.
Another musical based on a film the smash-hit musical is back! Starring the Olivier award winner Beverley Knight, our very own Lemar, Alexandra Burke and Ruth Jones the all star cast will be bringing the gospel to the West End!

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Where: UK tour. When: From 30th April 2024
Based on the books by James Bond author Ian Fleming and its 1968 film adaptation a new production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang will be flying across the UK in 2024.

Kiss Me, Kate

Where: The Barbican. When: 4th June till 14th September 2024.
It's a sophisticated, ferociously funny, show within a show – which whisks you into a world of backstage chaos and romantic entanglements as a theatre company attempt to put on a production of Shakespeare's 'The Taming of the Shrew'. The battle of the sexes takes centre stage as former spouses feud, only to find the off-stage antics rival the drama on-stage. Throw in a number of cases of mistaken identity, confused love, gangsters and a spectacular tap routine and you get Kiss Me, Kate.

Burlesque The Musical

Where: Manchester Opera House. When: 13th June.
Burlesque the Musical has a book by Steven Antin, with additional material by Kate Wetherhead. The music and lyrics are by Christina Aguilera, Sia, Diane Warren, Todrick Hall & Jess Folley.

Next To Normal

Where: Wyndham's Theatre. When: 18th June.
The hit Donmar Wearhouse production of the Broadway musical gets a West End transfer. Directed by Michael Longhurst, this powerful rock musical takes audiences into the minds and hearts of each character, presenting their family's story with love, sympathy and heart.

Mean Girls

Where: Savoy Theatre. When: June 2024.
Based on the hit film and the musical is transferring from Broadway all the way to the West End! So get in looser! The musical will follow the film storyline closely with the

Starlight Express

Where: Troubadour Wembley park When: June 2024.
The iconic musical from Andrew Lloyd Webber is coming back to London! The roller-skating fast moving musical will be showing at the Wembley with an extended run due to high demand! The story follows a children's train set coming to life.

Hello Dolly!

Where: London Palladium. When: 6th July.
Winner of four Tony Awards and the critically acclaimed Broadway musical is back in the West End. Staring Olivier award and BAFTA Award winning Imelda Staunton. Say Hello Dolly!

Shrek The Musical

Where: Eventim Apollo. When: 19th July.
The musical is back in the West End. Based on the hit film series the musical features Antony Lawrence (The Lion King, Mary Poppins, Matilda the Musical) as Shrek, with Strictly Come Dancing star Joanne Clifton (The Addams Family) as Princess Fiona

A Chorus line

Where: Sadler's Wells Theatre. When: July 2024.
The smash hit Broadway production Known for its stellar choreography and snappy songs celebrating theatre and the stories behind it.

The Devil wears Prada The Musical

Where: Dominion Theatre. When: October 2024.
Yet another musical based on a film! Groundbreaking. Headed by Elton John the plot will follow closely to the film with this musical being in the works since 2017!

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Where: Ambassadors Theatre When: October 2024 The foot-stomping new musical, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button will transfer to the West End's Ambassadors Theatre from Thursday 10th October 2024. The production captured hearts last year with its sold-out Southwark Playhouse run - winning Best Musical Theatre Production at the 2024 Off West End Awards.

Only Fools and Horses The Musical

Where: Eventim Apollo. When: 17th December.
Lovely jubbly! The English classic has its own musical and its back! Based on the BBC comedy with the Trotters of Peckham are brought to life once again through an ingenious and hilarious original score.

Shucked

Where: London (Venue TBC) When: 2024
The new comedy musical about corn that's taking Broadway by storm is set to cross the Atlantic in 2024. While most details are yet to be announced, we know that producer Cameron Mackintosh is set to have Shucked open in one of his West End theatres in 2024.

Bronco Billy The Musical

Where: Charing Cross Theatre. When: Jan 2024.
Based on the hit film starring Clint Eastwood the musical follows a group of romantic fast-drawing, trick-riding, disco-dancing Wild West roustabouts and their travelling show, but things take an unexpected turn when Bronco Billy (leader of this rag-tag troupe) meets Antoinette Lilly, a determined Manhattan heiress on the run for her life. Starring Emily Benjamin who appeared as an alternate Sally Bowles in Cabaret.

Just For One Day

Where: The Old Vic. When: 26th January – 30th March.
Based on the worlds most famous concert Band Aid this musical tells the story of how this epic concert brought so many people together and how Rock 'n' Roll changed the world. Featuring songs from Queen, U2, The Who, Elton John and many more.

Calendar Girls

Where: The Lowry When: Tuesday 16th to Saturday 20th January.
Calendar Girls follows a group of extraordinary women in a small Yorkshire Women's Institute, prompted to create a nude calendar following the death of a much-loved husband, to raise funds for charity.

Read more:

Apple release first trailer for Hannah Waddingham's Christmas special

Imelda Staunton to headline Hello Dolly!

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