DEAR EVAN HANSEN, presented by Act Up Theatre & MSUM

Act Up Theatre, in partnership with Minnesota State Moorhead, will present the regional premiere of DEAR EVAN HANSEN — winner of a 2018 Grammy Award and six 2017 Tony Awards — May 26-30, 2026 at 7:30 pm at the Roland Dille Center for the Arts in Moorhead. DEAR EVAN HANSEN is considered a new American classic, and the show’s message “You Will Be Found” has resonated with audiences around the world.

DEAR EVAN HANSEN, to be directed by Craig A. Ellingson, explores the poignant experiences of teenage life in the digital age, highlighting the impact of isolation and the importance of asking for help while navigating the realities of living with mental health disorders. The musical’s titular character, Evan Hansen, fabricates a close friendship with a classmate who died by suicide through a viral lie. This ruse feeds his intense desire for human connection and popularity but ultimately results in a loss of his own integrity. DEAR EVAN HANSEN’s heartfelt messages are pertinent in our age of social media and electronic messages that leave far too many in a desert of isolation. NOTE: DEAR EVAN HANSEN contains significant mature themes and emotional triggers, including suicide, severe anxiety, self-harm, drug use, and family dysfunction. The production focuses on mental illness, loneliness, and grief, often featuring intense scenes of panic attacks and deception.