Connect With Dear Evan Hansen

With themes of abandonment, social anxiety and suicide, Dear Evan Hansen would seem an unlikely candidate to win six 2017 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. But it did. “What is so powerful about this story is that it connects with every generation,” says Jessica Phillips, who portrays Heidi Hansen in the hit musical’s tour visiting the Connor Palace June 11-30. “People in the audience are completely invested in these characters.” Dear Evan Hansen is both a cautionary tale and a tribute to the human spirit, examining how children connect with one another over social media in a way their parents often can’t relate to. “A lot of moms stop me at the stage door and find themselves in tears because they relate so intensely to the character I play,” says Phillips. 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org