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Broadway’s wildly popular “Dear Evan Hansen” has arrived in San Francisco at last. Here’s everything you need to know before you go, from where to dine — hello, Tratto! — to how to score reserved parking near the Curran. And, of course, the answers to the biggest questions of all: Is the show any good? Can Ben Levi Ross replicate the wow factor Ben Platt — of “Pitch Perfect” fame — brought to the original role? And will whoever eventually replaces Ben Levi Ross have to be named Ben, too? (OK, probably not.)
Pre-show dining (and post-show drinks!)
Going to the theater isn’t just about what’s happening on stage. It’s a whole experience. There’s dinner before, and drinks or dessert afterward, so you can talk through all those plot twists and heart-breaking songs — and debate that whole Ben thing.
Here are five of our favorite restaurant options, all within walking distance of the Curran, ACT’s Geary, The Strand, the Golden Gate Theatre and the Orpheum. (Psst, the delicious, Italian fare of rustic-chic Tratto is just steps from the Curran. Make reservations, people! And don’t miss their orancello-spiked hot chocolate.)
The parking dilemma
BART is just a few blocks from the Curran, but if you’re driving — and fretting over where you’re going to park and whether you can take out a loan for the parking tab — fret not. Here’s how to score reserved and discount parking near the theater. Yes. You’re welcome.
Who is Evan Hansen?
With music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (“La La Land”), the musical tells the story of Evan Hansen, an awkward, friendless high school senior, whose therapist suggests he write letters to himself. When a classmate commits suicide, his family finds one of Evan’s letters — stolen — in his pocket. They think it’s a suicide note their son addressed to Evan and that the two were friends. Everything spirals out of control from there as Evan, theater critic Karen D’Souza says, is “catapulted to overnight stardom by a quirk of fate.”
The Broadway production of “Dear Evan Hansen” won half a dozen Tony Awards last year, including the award for best musical, best original score and best leading actor in a musical for its star, Ben Platt. Ben Levi Ross plays the titular Evan Hansen in the touring production, capturing his heartbreaking anxiety and awkwardness.
So is the show any good?
We’ll let our reviewer answer that: “In an era where Broadway is dominated by recycled cartoons and simians, (this production) feels downright fresh and ingenious. Certainly this tender-hearted show captures the slippery nature of truth in a world driven by likes and clicks.” Read the rest of the review here.
