Dear Evan Hansen is one of the most popular and acclaimed musicals currently playing on Broadway. The show opened at the Music Box Theatre in December 2016 and has captivated audiences ever since with its moving story and powerful music by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Many fans are wondering how long they’ll have the chance to see Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway before it closes.
The Original Broadway Production
The original Broadway production of Dear Evan Hansen is still running at the Music Box Theatre, where it first opened in December 2016 after a successful off-Broadway run. The show struck a chord with audiences and critics right away and went on to win six Tony Awards in 2017, including Best Musical.
As of October 2023, Dear Evan Hansen has been running on Broadway for nearly seven years, which is an impressive run for a new musical. Most Broadway shows run for a year or two at most. Only a handful of shows have run for over five years, so Dear Evan Hansen hitting the seven year mark puts it in rare company.
There are a few factors that have contributed to Dear Evan Hansen’s longevity on Broadway:
- Excellent reviews and word-of-mouth – Dear Evan Hansen received rave reviews from the start and has built up a passionate fan base.
- Critical acclaim – Winning six Tony Awards gave the show prestige and credibility that has helped drive ticket sales.
- Catchy score – The soundtrack to Dear Evan Hansen, featuring songs like “Waving Through a Window” and “You Will Be Found,” has been a huge hit.
- Powerful story – The subject matter resonates strongly with audiences, especially younger viewers.
As long as these elements continue working in Dear Evan Hansen’s favor, there’s no reason why the show couldn’t enjoy an even longer run on Broadway.
Will Dear Evan Hansen Recoup Its Initial Investment?
In addition to its artistic success, Dear Evan Hansen is on track to become one of the few Broadway musicals to fully recoup its initial investment. Recouping means that the show has made back all of the money that was spent developing, producing, and marketing it.
The capitalization for Dear Evan Hansen was $9.5 million, meaning the producers spent about $9.5 million to get the show up and running. Any money the show makes above operating expenses goes towards recouping this initial investment. Musicals need to run for years to recoup, which is why so few shows manage to do so.
Dear Evan Hansen recouped its $9.5 million capitalization in less than nine months, which is incredibly fast. For comparison, Hamilton which opened in 2015 and became a massive hit took around 13 months to recoup its $12.5 million capitalization.
The speed with which Dear Evan Hansen recouped demonstrates just how successful the show has been both critically and commercially. At this point, nearly all of the weekly grosses are pure profit for the producers.
Advance Ticket Sales
Looking at advance ticket sales can provide insight into how long a Broadway show might stay open. Shows that consistently sell a lot of tickets in advance are likely to have healthy runs.
Dear Evan Hansen continues to do robust advance ticket sales according to The Broadway League. The show regularly has over $1 million in advanced sales and consistently ranks among the top 5 Broadway shows in terms of average ticket price.
Strong advanced sales several months into the future suggest that Dear Evan Hansen will continue going strong for some time. As long as fans are snapping up tickets, there is no financial reason for the show to close.
How Does Dear Evan Hansen Compare to Other Long-Running Shows?
To get a sense of how long Dear Evan Hansen may run, we can compare it to other hit Broadway musicals that enjoyed multi-year runs:
Show | Run Length |
---|---|
Wicked | 17 years and counting (opened 2003) |
The Lion King | 24 years and counting (opened 1997) |
Chicago | 25 years (opened 1975, closed after 9 years, revived in 1996-still running) |
The Phantom of the Opera | 34 years and counting (opened 1988) |
Based on the trajectories of shows like Wicked and The Lion King, it’s not unreasonable to think Dear Evan Hansen could run for 10+ years. It has already settled in as an established long-running hit.
Chicago and The Phantom of the Opera show that musicals with enough staying power can run for decades. However, those two shows are outliers even among long-running Broadway productions.
While not impossible, it would be quite rare for Dear Evan Hansen to run for 20+ years like Chicago and Phantom. A 10-15 year run seems more plausible assuming ticket sales remain strong.
Are There Plans for a Dear Evan Hansen Movie?
One factor that could impact Dear Evan Hansen’s future on Broadway is whether a film adaptation comes to fruition. Hollywood buzz around a possible Dear Evan Hansen movie started not long after the musical opened.
In November 2018, it was reported that Universal Pictures acquired the film rights to Dear Evan Hansen in a deal worth $20 million. Universal also secured rights to the show’s songs and brought on producers Marc Platt and Adam Siegel to develop the project.
The Dear Evan Hansen movie adaptation has not been officially greenlit yet, but development is said to be moving forward. Stephen Chbosky is attached to direct, and Benj Pasek and Justin Paul will write new songs for the film.
If the Dear Evan Hansen movie gets made in the next few years, it could revive interest in the stage musical and potentially extend its Broadway run. We’ve seen this happen recently with In the Heights and West Side Story after their 2021 film versions.
On the other hand, a movie adaptation might also dampen interest in seeing the stage version and lead some fans to think they’ve already experienced Dear Evan Hansen. This could accelerate plans for a Broadway closing.
Overall though, a film would probably do more good than harm in promoting Dear Evan Hansen and introducing it to wider audiences.
Closing Date Not Yet Announced
As of October 2023, there has been no announcement of a closing date for the Broadway production of Dear Evan Hansen. The musical continues its open-ended run at the Music Box Theatre.
Broadway shows typically don’t announce closings too far in advance. Producers wait until 8-12 weeks prior to closing before making an announcement.
This allows them to maximize advance ticket sales before word gets out. It also gives fans time to book trips to see the show one last time before it closes.
Based on the lack of any closing notice, we can safely assume Dear Evan Hansen plans to continue well into 2023 and likely much longer. Producers likely won’t set a closing date until ticket sales show a sustained decline.
Future Touring Productions
Even when the Broadway production of Dear Evan Hansen does close, the show will live on through national tours and international productions.
A North American tour launched in October 2018 and is currently booked through at least Summer 2023. There are plans for a second touring company to launch in 2023 as well.
International productions of Dear Evan Hansen have opened in Toronto, London, Australia, Japan, Germany, and Spain. More overseas productions are in development too.
Between all the touring routes and licensed productions, fans will have plenty of opportunities to see Dear Evan Hansen even after it leaves Broadway.
Conclusion
In summary, Dear Evan Hansen appears well-positioned for an extended run on Broadway of at least 10 years, if not more. The show continues to draw in audiences with Ben Platt originating the title role, catchy musical numbers, and a story that resonates powerfully.
Advance ticket sales remain robust, keeping profits steady for the foreseeable future. Dear Evan Hansen has already joined the elite ranks of Broadway musicals that recouped their investment quickly.
Comparing it to other modern Broadway hits suggests Dear Evan Hansen could realistically run for a decade or longer based on longevity trends. A potential film adaptation in the works could also boost interest in the stage version.
There are no signs of Dear Evan Hansen closing on Broadway anytime soon. Producers have not announced plans to close the show. When the Broadway production does eventually end, touring and international versions of Dear Evan Hansen will live on.
For fans eager to see Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway, the takeaway is clear: don’t wait too long! Get tickets as soon as you can to catch the original cast and production. Dear Evan Hansen is a theatrical phenomenon that should be experienced live while it’s still open.