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More like break an arm.
How a crack creative team’s big gamble launched a Broadway hit.
Mark Peterson for EW
Like so many great notions, this one began over food.
She was right: The duo just took home a Golden Globe for their work onLa La Land.
When they realized that I was a producer, they freaked out.
@pasekandpaul
(Apparently they didnt freak outthatmuch: To this day, she has never received the demo.)
Thats when Pasek and Paul first shared their idea for what would becomeDear Evan Hansen.
But it took nearly eight years to get there.
Matthew Murphy
(Full disclosure: This writer is a friend of Paseks.)
But on the inside I was thinking, What?!
How am I going to make this happen?'
Paul was thrilled by her leap of faith: It was a risky move on her part.
You cant just sit around and write a passion piece!
I mean, you might, but its hard to…survive.
The whole thing was really intense and feverish.
Pasek and Paul sang the songs, and Mindich herself read the part of Evans mother.
(Its never been played so poorly, she jokes.)
There was fantastic juxtaposition and tension in the material.
With Greif on board, the show started to seem like a real possibility.
There were times when we felt we were wandering in the wilderness, remembers Paul.
Now it was time to find a cast.
Now 23, Platt jumped at the chance to have first crack at a character.
To be originating a role is a lifelong dream, he says.
This is something I needed to invest my time in, and Im very glad that I did.
