As broadway is coming back, I had the fortunate opportunity to join The MOMS for the broadway revival of Dear Evan Hanson.
The story of high schooler Evan Hanson (Ben Levi Ross), who takes up writing fake emails allegedly by Connor, who recently committed suicide, was as emotionally powerful as it is timely. Thanks to Ross’s incredibly vulnerable performance, the show works as you can easily see how his anxiety would unintentionally lead him into this situation, struck by Connor’s grieving parents. Christiane Noll and Ivan Hernandez gave raw performances as Connor’s parents, as you feel their sorrow grieving over Connor’s death and questioning if they truly knew him. The show felt relevant with its themes of teen mental health and the anxiety of being disconnected in an ever-growing digital landscape.
The MOMs mainly connected with the show’s themes of generational disconnection. The generational divide became a hot topic of discussion after the show between The MOMS. The MOMS sat with the show’s cast and discussed how the performance caused them to reflect on their relationships with their kids. Christiane Noll and Jessica Phillips, who played Evan Hanson’s mother, talked about their roles caused them to reflect on their relationships with their kids. I’m sure The MOMs will bring their kids to future productions, and hopefully, the discourse between the generations will grow stronger
You can find more information about The MOMS here
