Ben Platt TONIGHT at the Hollywood Bowl — Page 3

Bettyboy72 said: "I find it interesting that he sang “Waving Through A Window” on the day DEH closed. He noted it would be the one and only time he’d sing it during a live show. So now he’s not performing any songs from the show that made him famous? Has he denounced the show now that he was ridiculed for the film?


I guess he’s a serious pop star now."

It could be an issue of royalties. Performers have to pay royalties on songs they perform live. (Paul McCartney talked about having to pay to perform songs that he wrote but no longer owns.). It's possible that the producers of DEH upped the asking price because didn't want Platt to perform the songs in concert while the show was still running on Broadway and during the show's national tour out of concern that Platt's tour could cut into ticket sales. ("Hear the original Evan Hansen sing the songs from DEAR EVAN HANSEN!"

Also, if Platt is hoping to establish himself as a recording artist and live performer, it makes sense that he would want to focus on new material to establish that he is Ben Platt and not "Evan Hansen". Otherwise, he would run the risk of turning into a nostalgia act, hitting the road every few years to trot out the DEH songs.

His family’s wealth allows him the privilege of refusing to perform those songs. It affords him choice that other performers don’t have. Pascal, Rapp, Menzel, and many others tried but learned that if they want bookings they have to associate with their iconic songs regardless of how they feel about it.


I recently saw Andrea McArdle live. She shared that she refused to sing songs from Annie for many years. She said Carol Channing dressed her down as being ungrateful. That performers kill to have songs associated with them. Since that time she has performed them because she realized the songs mean something to audiences and she is lucky for the association.

HogansHero said: "Bettyboy72 said: "His family’s wealth allows him the privilege of refusing to perform those songs. It affords him choice that other performers don’t have. Pascal, Rapp, Menzel, and many others tried but learned that if they want bookings they have to associate with their iconic songs regardless of how they feel about it."

Two points. First, your example does not support the "privilege" notion. As you say, all of them tried and then shifted later. (And they did that without "privilege." Second, none of them were attempting to function on the level that Ben is (i.e., arena shows as a full-on pop star) [and THAT is something (a fantasy?) that his family wealth does allow]. {"Bookings" are not what he's after and as I said before, what he is looking for is not strategically enhanced by single songs associated with his MT origins.}"

The fact that he can disregard work and do whatever he wants to support his trajectory without worrying about how it performs clearly shows his privilege. Anyone else who has a tour and a record perform poorly is DONE. He is very lucky he can be so cavalier about distancing himself from musical theatre. Many working actors would have to show up at Broadwaycon wearing the blue shirt for years to keep money coming in.


The Rent kids were hot for a minute but that privilege wore out very quickly. You’re only as big as your current success. They chose to lean back into RENT because they realized it was a cash cow and they like to eat and had families to support. They couldn’t just keep doing what they want regardless of outcome. Associating with previous success made other things financially viable. Ben doesn’t have to do that or even consider it.

selecting a set list has nothing to do with privilege.

Emma_Pillsbury said: "I don’t believe that Ben Platt is turning his back on musical theater as some of you claim just because he has chosen to do a tour that focuses on his pop music.

There is room for both."

If that is how what I wrote is being interpreted, that was not my intention. Ben may well return to musical theatre in due course. My point was that it is not irrational to eschew it while trying to build a pop persona. Pop careers don't always last that long, especially when they have the look and feel of what Ben Platt is doing right now. But the experiment in which he is currently engaged is not one that really relates to MT and the truth is, many would say it hurts. I know that ruffles the feathers of some who feel entitled to own him, but the primacy of musical theatre in their world is not widely experienced.

ETA: Someone just told me that the MSG is being papered. I just can't imagine that there is enough money in the world to compensate for the humiliation of this tour.

Updated On: 9/26/22 at 01:20 PM

Well he is doing Parade so he’s not turned his back on MT.


and if I had to guess. He’s surrounded himself with yes people who blow up his ego so I’m sure he’s not feeling the effects of half sold houses.

multimattvids said: "So many tickets disappeared off the seat map between yesterday and today for comps. I think there will be more free tickets compared to paid tickets in MSG tonight."

Do you happen to know which comp service(s) have this concert up? I want to know for er.... research purposes

Love him, hate him...you can't fault him for following his dream. I am not a huge fan of his pop stuff, but think he is a talented performer. I am curious to see how he does in Parade. The character is right up his EH anxiety aisle, I think it will be a big tell to his future in MT if he can pull it off. He may have been too old for the EH film, but it will be interesting to see how he does with a more mature role. I wish him the best, privileged or not.

I saw him in 2019 in Philly and adored that first album he put out . Didn't care much on this new one . Well he sang two showtunes and is doing Parade so he isn't distancing himself from theater. But yes, he's one of those nepos but has amazing talent . I've heard mixed things on people who've met him.

Also, people were suggesting he abandoned DEH songs after the film’s failure. He didn’t perform them in his last series of concerts before DEH was even filmed.

With everyone talking about how he should have sung DEH songs-honestly? I didn’t find it necessary and did not mind at all that he didn’t sing from it. He made the Garden feel like an intimate space and he was just so joyful. It was such a great experience between his music and Aly &AJ performing. And I love the song they sang together!

hearthemsing22 said: "With everyone talking about how he should have sung DEH songs-honestly? I didn’t find it necessary and did not mind at all that he didn’t sing from it. He made the Garden feel like an intimate space and he was just so joyful. It was such a great experience between his music and Aly &AJ performing. And I love the song they sang together!"

So much joy from that stage and we all had a great time. Amazing to see his progression.

SmokeyLady said: "I was there last night. It really was an empty house. But they did a nice job of upgrading people and making it feel full. The place was definitely comped ( Or papered) . He should have definitely played a smaller venue. Maybe The Greek theater. Or maybe pay his dues a little more and do a place like Troubadour or something like that. He is very talented and put on a good show. But the show felt inauthentic because it is crafted for a huge star. They even brought out fireworks at the end.. which I am sure did not come cheap. The Bowl usually only does it for their LAPhil events. The highlight of the evening was his covers of a song from Waitress and Wizard and I from Wicked. His original songs seemed fun and catchy. But no one knew them the way he presented them to be known. The ladies who opened for him were ok."

This is what I was referencing.