Broadway’s current hit musical opened last fall, and from day one has been extremely popular. Dear Evan Hansen hit the ground running, and has been given the highest praises by critics and celebrities alike.

Dear Evan Hansen even has local connections: the score was co-written by a Lower Merion native, Benj Pasek (who also wrote several of the songs for “La La Land”). Here’s an inside peek at what it’s like to be in “the room where it happened”.

The stage is set quite simply, with just a bed and night table downstage, and other small set pieces that roll out with each scene. However, the directors employ a unique staging choice: pictures and videos showing Facebook and other social media posts, constantly changing, are projected onto multiple screens across the stage. The stage is bathed in hues of blue light, setting a serene and mellow mood.

The show starts suddenly, with the lights flickering off, and when they return, “Evan Hansen” is seated on his bed. The story focuses on Evan, a high school senior who has social anxiety and no friends. Evan writes motivational letters to himself, as prescribed by his psychiatrist: “today is going to be a good day, and here’s why….”

Unfortunately, one of his letters falls into the hands of Connor, another loner. After a tragedy occurs, Evan gets caught in an accidental lie and his life changes completely. Suddenly, he’s known throughout the school, and eventually, all over social media. The musical shows how one “small” lie can spiral out of control, and the change it renders in the community.

Evan Hansen currently is played by actor Ben Platt, who previously appeared in “Pitch Perfect” (I and II). Throughout the performance, Platt is deep in character, and every part of his body portrays the awkward boy who slowly grows up.

For most of the show, Evan is somewhat hunched over, with his feet tapping every so often and pointing slightly inward. His hands shake and his voice quivers, all of which reveals Evan’s constant nervousness. The New York Times described Platt’s performance as “a master class in the physicalizing of adolescent discomfort.” As Evan’s character grows throughout the play, the audience sees his posture slowly straighten and his slight stutter lessen noticeably.

This show was predicted to be a hit from the start, and has lived up to that forecast. Many celebrities have seen it, and even come back twice: Harry Styles, Beyonce, the Bidens, Morgan Freeman, John Stamos, Kate Hudson, Whoopi Goldberg, Jimmy Fallon, Zac Efron, etc. It was nominated for nine Tony awards, winning six, including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Actor in a Musical (Ben Platt).

If you don’t get a chance to see the show, definitely listen to the soundtrack. The music is beautiful and storyline relatable to high schoolers everywhere.