Those who see the musical “Dear Evan Hansen” will have a brand-new experience at the Fulton Theatre.
That’s because it’ll be the first production held in the recently remodeled Castagna Hall, on the second floor of the Fulton Theatre.
It’s a 130-seat theater that’s meant to be a “step larger than what’s upstairs at the Tell Studio Theatre, and two steps smaller than what’s on the main stage,” says Marc Robin, executive artistic director at the Fulton Theatre. The main-stage theater can seat 650 people, and the Tell Studio Theatre can seat 99 people.
“Dear Evan Hansen” premieres Friday and continues through May 17. For Robin, this was the perfect production to premiere in this theater.
It follows the story of 17-year-old Evan Hansen, who experiences severe social anxiety and depression. After Connor, Evan’s acquaintance, dies by suicide, Evan unexpectedly gets a surge of popularity in school, as people think Connor and Evan shared a deeper friendship.
“‘Dear Evan Hansen’ is an incredible piece of theater with a message and a story and a subject matter that I want people to feel, not witness,” Robin says.
The Fulton’s lead for “Dear Evan Hansen,” Michael Fabisch, has performed as Evan on the show’s latest Broadway tour, as well as in a few regional theater productions.
During the tour, Fabisch says he’s performed in venues that had anywhere from 650 to 6,000 seats. He’s excited about the emotional intimacy with the audience that comes with a smaller venue.
“I didn’t want to take this show that’s meant to be small and make it this big, bombastic thing,” Fabisch says. “I can just try to live in the moment and react.”
If You Go
What: “Dear Evan Hansen.”
Where: The Fulton Theatre, 12 N. Prince St., Lancaster.
When: The show premieres Friday at 7:30 p.m., and continues at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, and 7:30 p.m. Fridays through May 17.
Cost: $57-$77, depending on date.
More info: thefulton.org/shows/dear-evan-hansen.
New performance space
Castagna Hall was recently remodeled to have upgraded lighting and seating, as well as a built-out stage that appears equipped for concerts.
The hall technically was opened in 2021, when the theater expanded the Ed and Jannie Arnold Center for the Performing Arts, which houses the Fulton Theatre and its other assets. This is the first time Castagna Hall has been used as a performance space for a theater production.
“It was designed to be this sort of New York, sort of 42nd Street studio-style rehearsal space (that’s) also an event/functioning space and wedding venue … But ultimately another performance space,” Robin says.
Despite it being a smaller stage than the main stage, there will still be eight musicians performing the score alongside the actors.
But, the musicians won’t be sharing the stage with the actors, nor is there a pit in Castagna Hall.
Musicians will play in the Tell Studio Theatre during the show, and sound and video of the musicians performing will be shown in the background while the actors perform.
“The piece has to have its full orchestration, because the music is just as much a part of the emotional fabric of the play as the actors are and their voices are,” Robin says.
Fabisch agrees with Robin’s sentiment, and says that regardless of if someone wants to listen to the songs’ messages, or if they want to enjoy a really good pop song, this musical gives the opportunity for both experiences.
“They’re incredibly written pop songs,” Fabisch says. “Like yes, they’re musical theater songs, but they also have pop sensibilities.”
‘Everything will turn out OK’
For Fabisch, Evan Hansen is a relatable character. Fabisch says he was diagnosed with depression and anxiety when he was 13. Being that mental health is at the forefront of “Dear Evan Hansen,” Fabisch says that it’s meaningful to portray a character who has gone through similar struggles in school.
The Fulton Theatre has started conversations about teen mental health and teen suicide at high schools, such as J.P. McCaskey High School, prior to the production starting.
Robin says he was constantly thinking about what conversations a nonprofit is responsible for starting because of its programming.
The theater has also partnered with Ponessa Behavioral Health, a mental health entity that offers services for those in Lancaster, Chester, Cumberland, Perry, Dauphin, Lebanon and York counties. Actors in the production who are having a hard time with the material are welcome to visit Ponessa for mental health services.
The partnership also allows for the actors to have training on what mental health issues look like, so they can portray the material accurately. In addition, the theater has partnered with organizations such as The Steinman Foundation, Mental Health America of Lancaster, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, the Lancaster County Community Foundation and more.
The theater wants to be responsible with its messaging, Robin says.
“We are inviting you to feel what they feel,” Robin says. “If you’re in a tinier or more intimate space, you can’t get away from it.”
But, despite the heavy subject matter, the show leaves the audience with a positive message.
“At the end, I get to let it all go and tell the audience that everything is going to be OK,” Fabisch says. “Like, no matter how much (we) mess up, everything will turn out OK.”
GET HELP
If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs immediate help, contact the following organizations:
— National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
— Those who are deaf or hard of hearing can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline via TTY at 800-799-4889.
— Lancaster Crisis Intervention: 717-394-2631.
— LGBTQ+- specific resources: thetrevorproject.org/get-help.
— Veterans who are in crisis can call the toll-free Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and then pressing 1, by texting to 838255, or chatting online (lanc.news/help4vets). This service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All calls are confidential.
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