By Gina Marie Rodriguez, JerseyArts.com
originally published: 03/20/2025

The six-time Tony Award-winning show “Dear Evan Hansen” is bringing its North American Tour to the State Theatre in New Brunswick, NJ. The show boasts music and lyrics by EGOT winners - that’s an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and a Tony - Benjamin Pasek and Justin Paul. “Dear Evan Hansen” offers a score that will have you whistling the tunes on your way out of the theater.
The show tackles some sensitive topics in a way that audiences have been connecting with deeply since its Broadway premiere in 2016. The musical focuses on lonely high school student, Evan Hansen, who always feels like he’s on the outside looking in. Evan finally gets what so many of us are searching for—the chance to fit in. What follows is a poignant, funny, and powerful musical about how even though it can be hard, we can find each other—and ourselves—along the way.
Gina Rodriguez and cast members Bre Cade and Caitlin Sams engage in an introspective discussion about what has been a groundbreaking and deeply touching musical.
Please note a Trigger Warning for today’s chat. Both this episode and the show itself will touch on child loss and death by suicide. Please listen with care.

Performances of "Dear Evan Hansen" at the State Theatre take place March 28-30, 2025. Click here for more information or to purchase tickets. The State Theatre is located at 15 Livingston Avenue in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
About the author: Gina Marie Rodriguez is an award-winning screenwriter, director, and actress. Her foray into filmmaking began at a young age as a way to avoid public speaking in school. From there, it grew into a love of telling stories and creating new worlds. Gina Marie boasts a Bronze Remi win from Worldfest Houston, Best Female Filmmaker from the Cosmic Film Festival, and a Best Actress in a Comedy from the Hang Onto Your Shorts Film Festival alongside nominations from the Golden Door International Film Festival, Official Latino Film and Arts Festival and Los Angeles Cinefest among others.
Content provided by
Discover Jersey Arts, a project of the ArtPride New Jersey Foundation and New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
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