Dear Evan Hansen vs Hamilton

[MoDance0934]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 9:50am

I heard on the radio yesterday that this show could probably be the next Hamilton? Thoughts? I haven't gotten the chance to see either yet, but people who've seen the show have told me that it's VERY good...

[AC126748]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 9:52am

As good as Dear Evan Hansen is, it's laughable to even suggest that it will approach the cultural behemoth Hamilton has become.

[indytallguy]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 9:54am

No. Not going to happen.

Hamilton is a once in a decade or two (or three or four) cultural zeitgeist moment.

[MoDance0934]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 9:55am

I agree with you. I just heard what the host said yesterday and I couldn't help but think if something that big could potentially beat down Hamilton. 

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 9:57am

Nah, not even close. Hamilton is a great show that also happened to hit at just the right cultural moment for it to become a sensation. Dear Evan Hansen doesn't really have that resonance. It could still do very well, of course, but I think it will succeed on a level closer to Next to Normal or Fun Home. 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 9:57am

I've seen both twice and while I enjoyed DEH more, it's not the juggernaut Hamilton is. Nor does it need to be.

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 10:04am

I'm hoping Dear Evan Hansen will have the same life and respect that Fun Home received last year. Not quite as large as Hamilton, but still noteworthy. 

 

The past couple of years really has been an excellent time for musical theater. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 10:08am

Dear Evan Hansen is more across the lines of next to normal and fun home where it's a phenomenon within the theatre world. Hamilton extends that phenomenon to all of America and entertainment.

[TerrenceIsTheMann]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 11:05am

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. THIS MADE MY DAY.

In all honesty,  shows like Waitress and Shuffle Along should have more cultural impact than DEH. Are you sure it wasn't a producer that said this?

[Kad]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 11:19am

Dear Evan Hansen is a very good new musical, but I don't think it touches the right cultural nerves to be the massive hit that Hamilton is. Despite its plot hinging (on a sliding scale of believability) on social media, it is still very much a by-the-books traditional musical.

I think the idea of "the next Hamilton" is a silly concept anyway. Hamilton isn't a yardstick to measure other shows by.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 11:23am

DEH could be the next Hamilton in the sense that it could be next year's Tony winner for new musical. But that's about it. The more plausible comparison might be 2ST's Next to Normal.

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 11:54am

I saw Evan Hansen this past Saturday night, and it's a terrific show.  But in terms of financial success, it will never compare to Hamilton, as others have said, which is a once in a decade or so story.  What I THINK the talk show host MAY have meant is that it might turn out to be comparable to Hamilton in terms of being a successful transfer from an off Broadway house to a Broadway theater.  So the track is the same.

I agree with those who compare it to Fun Home, which to me is a better comparison that N2N.

Suggestion: I followed my gut regarding Hamilton based on its reviews at the Public and what I read on the boards, and bought tickets to see it on Broadway as soon as tickets went on sale, and was I glad I did for obvious reasons.  Had no trouble getting four first row mezzanine seats to see it a few months after it opened for $179/per.  So, I wouldn't hesitate to buy tickets to see DEH early, before it opens and the reviews come out, which we already know will likely be raves.  I assume it will go into a small house, and demand will be high.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 12:00pm

HogansHero said: "DEH could be the next Hamilton in the sense that it could be next year's Tony winner for new musical. But that's about it. The more plausible comparison might be 2ST's Next to Normal.

 

"

 

Right on. Exactly. 

[aaaaaa15]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 12:00pm

Next to Normal is probably the benchmark for these small, emotional musicals. It had a very respectable run for a show that didn't win best musical. 

In terms of cultural impact, Hamilton can only be compared to a few musicals, all about 20 years apart from each other (A Chorus Line, Rent...). I don't think we'll see the next one for a long time.

Updated On: 5/25/16 at 12:00 PM

[sondheimite2]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 12:38pm

I agree with the other posts here that Dear Evan Hansen is more akin to Fun Home or Next to Normal. Those are great shows too.

One similarity between Dear Evan Hansen and Hamilton that the person who said it might have been pointing towards is that people who love Dear Evan Hansen love it fiercely. There are so many reasons for this. The score/songs/book, the performances (Ben Platt's in particular), the intimacy of this deeply personal material -- and the way these resonate with audiences -- create superfans of those who love the show. Also, people who see themselves reflected in the characters become deeply invested in the show as a result. When reading about Dear Evan Hansen on Twitter, there are so many tweets from people saying the show is still with them weeks or months later. (5.5 weeks for me, and I'm still obsessed.)  I've seen SO many tweets from people who have seen the show multiple times and who are telling everyone they know to see it. So it seems that those who respond to the show support it zealously, and I do think that is similar to how people feel about Hamilton.

Updated On: 5/25/16 at 12:38 PM

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 1:07pm

I choked on my coffee when I saw this.

Yeah, no. But Evan Hansen is great. I'm seeing a strong trajectory for it and feel safe saying it will be this decade's Next to Normal.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 1:15pm

sondheimite2 said: "One similarity between Dear Evan Hansen and Hamilton that the person who said it might have been pointing towards is that people who love Dear Evan Hansen love it fiercely. "

The people who love Amazing Grace love it fiercely too. 

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 1:17pm

BroadwayConcierge said: "I choked on my coffee when I saw this."

 

Oh, good Lord. Let's not get too carried away there. 

 

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 2:06pm

HogansHero said: "sondheimite2 said: "One similarity between Dear Evan Hansen and Hamilton that the person who said it might have been pointing towards is that people who love Dear Evan Hansen love it fiercely. "

The people who love Amazing Grace love it fiercely too. 

 

"

 

This.   But everyone's remarks here are spot on.  (And I loved the show.)

 

[bwaydreamer]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 2:13pm

Also, those DEH lyrics..... don't even come close to Hamilton in any way.  Best case scenario it runs like Next to Normal or a Fun Home with little impact outside the bway community. 

[BroadwayPeasent]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 3:27pm

I am just an Australian. I thought Hamilton was something that will run forever. Its just so innovative. I must say Lin could win the Tony for best actor. I also felt that the musical never was  boring or cliched except maybe the King . But even then his lines were very well written .  I just found it to be a musical about young people in a young nation that while flawed were trying to do something for the better of the whole. 

I have never seen direction like Hamilton's ever and it was so good

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 3:40pm

While I believe that DEH will be the big news next season, it's not a game changer as is Hamilton and as were Show Boat, Oklahoma!, Company and Rent.

[BroadwayPeasent]

Posted: 5/25/16 at 4:01pm

I just feel Hamilton came from god and its really the best thing since ever

[binau]

Posted: 5/26/16 at 3:32am

sondheimite2 said: "I agree with the other posts here that Dear Evan Hansen is more akin to Fun Home or Next to Normal. Those are great shows too.

One similarity between Dear Evan Hansen and Hamilton that the person who said it might have been pointing towards is that people who love Dear Evan Hansen love it fiercely. There are so many reasons for this. The score/songs/book, the performances (Ben Platt's in particular), the intimacy of this deeply personal material -- and the way these resonate with audiences -- create superfans of those who love the show. Also, people who see themselves reflected in the characters become deeply invested in the show as a result. When reading about Dear Evan Hansen on Twitter, there are so many tweets from people saying the show is still with them weeks or months later. (5.5 weeks for me, and I'm still obsessed.)  I've seen SO many tweets from people who have seen the show multiple times and who are telling everyone they know to see it. So it seems that those who respond to the show support it zealously, and I do think that is similar to how people feel about Hamilton.

 

"

I wonder if they are literally the same people as the n2n fans haha.

[ChildofEarth]

Posted: 5/26/16 at 7:20am

Hamiton won't be "over" in time for DEH to replace it.