High School is a trying time for all of us – and there are a few different theatrical shows about it. Mean Girls, Spring Awakening, and now a Tony winner called Dear Evan Hansen. Dear Evan Hansen, though every bit as good as the other shows mentioned, isn’t quite as light-hearted. It stars a boy with a social anxiety disorder who lies about his friendship with a deceased boy in an effort to comfort his grieving family. His intentions, while pure, get him into a host of trouble when all he wanted was a friend.

What Happens Next?

From fabricating emails between the deceased boy and himself to becoming a staple at the grieving family’s home, Evan is in over his head. Then he finds himself even deeper after a video goes viral. During the show, he questions if his choice was worth it, what he’s going to do next, and if the consequences of admitting he lied are worse than the situation he’s in now. Whether you have social anxiety or not, the show does an excellent job of reminding the audience of just how hard high school was and how confusing it is when you want to help, but you have no idea what to do.

The Show’s Success

Conceived in 2015, the show won its first big-time award (a Tony!) in 2017. It won “Best New Musical,” and it’s induction into the Tony club garnered thousands of new fans. If you’re into dark comedies with a heavy dose of drama, aka dramedies, this is the show for you. It’s still in its early years, but it’s snowballing. Get your tickets soon to catch the original cast and be able to tell your friends, “I saw it when.”