Principal Casting for Muny Premiere of

‘Dear Evan Hansen’ July 28-Aug. 3

Michael Fabisch, Jackie Burns, Maggie Lakis, Rob McClure, Afra Sophia Tully, Joshua Bess, Bryan Munar and Savy Jackson will star in Dear Evan Hansen when the acclaimed musical makes its Muny and Midwest regional premiere this summer in Forest Park.

Dear Evan Hansen — the profoundly moving coming-of-age story about the fragility of life and the need for human connection — runs July 28-Aug. 3 and is presented by Nestlé Purina PetCare Co.

\   The production is led by Rob Ruggiero (director), Beth Crandall (choreographer) and Roberto Sinha (music director/conductor). The design team includes Michael Schweikardt (scenic designer); Joseph Shrope (costume designer); Rob Denton (lighting designer); John Shivers and David Patridge (sound designers); Kevan Loney (video designer); J. Jared Janas (wig designer); The Telsey Office, Rashad Naylor, CSA (casting); and Gabi Stapula (associate choreographer).

“The power of Evan’s story is sure to be revealed by this extraordinary cast,” said Muny Artistic Director & Executive Producer Mike Isaacson. “I’m so happy that this company features the return of many Muny family members, plus some truly exciting Muny debuts.”

MICHAEL FABISCH (Evan Hansen) makes his Muny debut. A proud graduate of the University of Michigan’s musical theatre program, he made his post-collegiate debut as Evan in the national tour of Dear Evan Hansen.

JACKIE BURNS (Heidi Hansen) is Broadway’s longest-running Elphaba in Wicked. Most recently, she originated the role of Tess in the world premiere new musical Burlesque in the UK, as well as the lead role of Jenny in the new musical Hard Road to Heaven at Bucks County Playhouse. She was in the original Broadway company of If/Then and led the US national tour. Select NY credits include starring as “Celine Dion” in the smash off-Broadway hit Titanique, the Tony Award-winning revival of Hair (original Broadway company) and Rock of Ages (original off-Broadway company)..

MAGGIE LAKIS (Cynthia Murphy) Previous Muny shows include Jerome Robbins’ Broadway and Into the Woods. Recently, she finished the first national tour of the Broadway musical Mrs. Doubtfire as Miranda Hillard. Off-Broadway credits include Jim Henson’s Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas and John Doyle’s reimagined Allegro at Classic Stage Company. She was Bea in the first national tour of Something Rotten and has appeared in over 1,200 performances of the Tony Award-winning musical Avenue Q in the first national tour as well as the off-Broadway production at New World Stages. She’s performed regionally all over the country but makes her home in Philadelphia with her on- and offstage husband, Rob McClure.

ROB McCLURE (Larry Murphy) returns for his ninth Muny show. Broadway: Mrs. Doubtfire (Tony, Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle nominations), Chaplin (Tony, Drama League, Astaire and Outer Critics Circle nominations and won Theatre World and Clive Barnes awards), Beetlejuice, Something Rotten, Noises Off, Honeymoon in Vegas, I’m Not Rappaport and Avenue Q, as well as Where’s Charley? and Irma La Douce at Encores! Off-Broadway: Little Shop of Horrors. Regional: The Kennedy Center, Paper Mill Playhouse, The Old Globe, The Arden, Cleveland Playhouse, American Repertory Theatre, Walnut Street, Delaware Theatre Co., Flat Rock Playhouse,

The Muny artistic staff includes Artistic Director & Executive Producer Mike Isaacson, Associate Artistic Director Michael Baxter, Director of Production Tracy Utzmyers and Music Supervisor Michael Horsley.

Evan Hansen, a teenager with a severe anxiety disorder, has always felt invisible. But when a sudden death shocks the community and thrusts him into the center of a rapidly evolving controversy, he is given the opportunity of a lifetime: the chance to be somebody else. Dear Evan Hansen — winner of the Tony and Olivier awards for best musical — has a book by Steven Levenson and music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.

Performances of Dear Evan Hansen begin at 8:15 p.m. nightly, July 28-Aug. 3. Season 107 at The Muny also includes Bring It On: The Musical (June 16-22), Come From Away (June 26-July 2), Disney’s Frozen (July 6-14), Evita (July 18-24), La Cage aux Folles (Aug. 8-14) and Jersey Boys (Aug. 18-24).

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