Dear Evan Hansen: Original Broadway Cast Recording

Last updated

Dear Evan Hansen: Original Broadway Cast Recording
DEH Broadway Cast Recording.jpg
Cast recording by
the original Broadway cast of Dear Evan Hansen
ReleasedJanuary 27, 2017 (2017-01-27)
RecordedDecember 9–15, 2016
Studio Avatar, New York City
Genre
Length56:35
Label Atlantic
Producer
Singles from Dear Evan Hansen: Original Broadway Cast Recording
  1. "Waving Through a Window"
    Released: November 16, 2016
  2. "Requiem"
    Released: January 19, 2017
  3. "You Will Be Found"
    Released: January 23, 2017

Dear Evan Hansen: Original Broadway Cast Recording is the cast album to the 2015 musical Dear Evan Hansen , with music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and a book by Steven Levenson. The recording stars Ben Platt, Rachel Bay Jones, Laura Dreyfuss, Jennifer Laura Thompson, Michael Park, Mike Faist, Will Roland and Kristolyn Lloyd. The album was produced by Alex Lacamoire, Pasek and Paul, and featuring musicians include Rob Jost, Adele Stein, Justin Smith, Ben Cohn, Jamie Eblen, Dillon Kondor, Justin Goldner, Christopher Jahnke and Todd Low. [1] The album was released by Atlantic Records on January 27, 2017, and featured at #8 on the Billboard 200, making the highest debut for a cast album after Camelot (1961). [2] It also topped the Internet Albums chart. It further received the Best Musical Theater Album award at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards. [3] [4]

Contents

Promotion and release

The original Broadway cast album was announced on November 16, 2016, [5] [6] with pre-orders for the album beginning from December 9, 2016. [7] The track "Waving Through a Window" was released as a special early download on the same date, for those who had pre-ordered the album. [7] Additionally, the tracks "Requiem" and "You Will Be Found" were released as bonus pre-order singles on January 19 and 23, 2017. [8] [9] Atlantic Records released the soundtrack through digital formats on January 27, [10] [11] followed by a CD release on February 17. [12] An exclusive vinyl album of the cast recording launched on July 21. [13] [14]

A deluxe album was announced on September 26, 2018, [15] which contained all the songs from the Broadway cast recording, in addition to cut songs and covers. Three days prior, on September 23, Billboard exclusively released the track "Part of Me" as a single, performed by the cast from the U.S. Tour. [16] The album was scheduled for release on October 19, but eventually released on November 2. [17] The cut songs were performed by Taylor Trensch, Mallory Bechtel and Alex Boniello, who replaced the principal characters during the Broadway schedule. A cover version of "Waving Through a Window" was performed by Katy Perry to promote the show's national tour in North America, [18] with her version being included in the deluxe edition.

Commercial response

The album debuted at number eight on Billboard 200, registering the highest debut for a cast album after 1961's Camelot, which debuted at the fourth position. [19] It also had surpassed 2015's Hamilton to top the Billboard 200 charts. [20] In addition, the album was featured at number one in Top Broadway Albums and at number two in Top Pop Albums. [21] After its win at the 71st Tony Awards, the album again peaked at number five in Billboard 200. [22] In the first week, the album sold over 29,000 copies, with 25,000 coming from traditional sales. [2] Over 123,000 copies were sold in the year of its release, and an additional 305,000 copies in 2018, to become one of the best-selling albums of the year. [23] The album was certified Gold by RIAA on March 6, 2019. [24] [25] As of March 2021, the album sold over 640,000 copies.

Critical reception

In her review for The Northern Light , Abby Seeber wrote, "The music is incredibly universal and will no doubt stand the test of time". [26] Gramophone's Edward Seckerson wrote, "what really sets Pasek and Paul’s work apart is the emotional resonance of their melodies. The pop-rock nowness is painted in a contemporary funkiness, keyboards and guitars, acoustic and electric, dominating – but the soul of these songs is personal and timeless." [27]

A critic for The Diamondback wrote that "Dear Evan Hansen vocalizes another timeless struggle: a dorky teenager both desperate and terrified of fitting in. This time social media plays a central role, one that heightens and elevates the stakes. The original cast album, sounds like inside of a teenager’s mind: frantic, immediate, life-or-death, now-or-never. Songs build and explode and then fall to a hush in the same way a teenagers panic, jump to conclusions and incorrectly assume their complete isolation." [28]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.

Dear Evan Hansen: Original Broadway Cast Recording
No.TitlePerformer(s)Length
1."Anybody Have a Map?"
2:26
2."Waving Through a Window" Ben Platt 3:56
3."For Forever"Platt5:01
4."Sincerely, Me"
3:42
5."Requiem"
4:19
6."If I Could Tell Her"
  • Platt
  • Dreyfuss
4:08
7."Disappear"
  • Platt
  • Faist
  • Kristolyn Lloyd
  • Roland
  • Thompson
4:35
8."You Will Be Found"
  • Platt
  • Kristolyn Lloyd
  • Roland
  • Dreyfuss
6:00
9."To Break In A Glove"
  • Park
  • Platt
3:50
10."Only Us"
  • Platt
  • Dreyfuss
3:47
11."Good For You"
  • Jones
  • Lloyd
  • Roland
  • Platt
3:50
12."Words Fail"Platt5:51
13."So Big / So Small"Jones4:12
14."Finale"Platt1:35
Dear Evan Hansen: Original Broadway Cast Recording (Deluxe edition)
No.TitlePerformer(s)Length
1."Anybody Have a Map?"
2:26
2."Waving Through a Window" Ben Platt 3:56
3."For Forever"Platt5:01
4."Sincerely, Me"
3:42
5."Requiem"
4:19
6."If I Could Tell Her"
  • Platt
  • Dreyfuss
4:08
7."Disappear"
  • Platt
  • Faist
  • Kristolyn Lloyd
  • Roland
  • Thompson
4:35
8."You Will Be Found"
  • Platt
  • Kristolyn Lloyd
  • Roland
  • Dreyfuss
6:00
9."To Break In A Glove"
  • Park
  • Platt
3:50
10."Only Us"
  • Platt
  • Dreyfuss
3:47
11."Good For You"
  • Jones
  • Lloyd
  • Roland
  • Platt
3:50
12."Words Fail"Platt5:51
13."So Big / So Small"Jones4:12
14."Finale"Platt1:35
15."Obvious" (Bonus track) Taylor Trensch 4:14
16."Hiding In Your Hands" (Bonus track) Mallory Bechtel 4:07
17."Part Of Me" (Bonus track)
  • August 2018 Broadway Cast
  • Original U.S. Tour Cast
5:06
18."In The Bedroom Down The Hall" (Demo)
  • Jones
  • Thompson
5:19
19."Disappear" (Acoustic)
2:32
20."Waving Through A Window" (Katy Perry version)Perry3:55
Total length:81:40

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [43] Gold400,000‡
United States (RIAA) [44] Gold500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Song certifications

List of songs, with selected chart positions and available certifications
TitleCertifications
"Waving Through a Window"
"Sincerely, Me"
  • RIAA: Platinum [45]
"You Will Be Found"

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pasek and Paul</span> American songwriting duo

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, known together as Pasek and Paul, are an American songwriting duo and composing team for musical theater, films and television.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Paul</span> American composer and lyricist

Justin Paul is an American composer and lyricist best known for writing songs for films such as La La Land (2016) and The Greatest Showman (2017), and the stage musical Dear Evan Hansen, all of which he co-wrote with his songwriting partner, Benj Pasek. With Pasek, Paul became the 20th/21st person to win the EGOT, an acronym for the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benj Pasek</span> American composer and lyricist

Benj Pasek is an American composer and lyricist best known for writing songs for films such as La La Land (2016) and The Greatest Showman (2017), and the Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen, all of which he co-wrote with his songwriting partner, Justin Paul. With Paul, Pasek became the 20th/21st person to win the EGOT, an acronym for the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards.

Taylor Hunt Trensch is an American stage and film actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Platt</span> American actor and singer (born 1993)

Benjamin Schiff Platt is an American actor and singer. The son of film and theater producer Marc Platt and philanthropist Julie Platt, he began his acting career in musical theater as a child and appeared in productions of The Sound of Music (2006) and The Book of Mormon (2012–2015), rising to prominence for originating the title role in the Broadway coming-of-age musical Dear Evan Hansen (2015–2017). His performance in the latter earned him multiple accolades, including the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, a Daytime Emmy, and a Grammy Award. Platt reprised the role of Evan Hansen in the 2021 film adaptation of the musical, produced by his father. He then played Leo Frank in the 2022 New York City Center Gala production of Parade, which transferred to Broadway in 2023 and earned him another Tony nomination and another Grammy nomination.

<i>Dear Evan Hansen</i> 2015 American musical

Dear Evan Hansen is a stage musical with music and lyrics by Pasek and Paul, and a book by Steven Levenson. The musical follows Evan Hansen, a high school senior with social anxiety, "who invents an important role for himself in a tragedy that he did not earn".

<i>The Hamilton Mixtape</i> 2016 mixtape album from the musical Hamilton

The Hamilton Mixtape is a 2016 mixtape album featuring assorted songs from the 2015 Broadway musical Hamilton performed by various artists, including Kelly Clarkson, Wiz Khalifa, Nas, Alicia Keys, John Legend, Dessa, Miguel, Chance the Rapper, Nate Ruess, K’naan, Aloe Blacc, and the Roots. It was widely well received by critics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rachel Bay Jones</span> American actress and singer

Rachel Bay Jones is an American actress and singer. She has played the roles of Catherine in the 2013 Broadway revival of Pippin and Evan Hansen's mother, Heidi Hansen, in Dear Evan Hansen. The latter earned her an Emmy Award, a Grammy Award, and the 2017 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. She emerged as one of few artists to have received three of the four major American entertainment awards.

<i>Dear Evan Hansen</i> (soundtrack) 2021 soundtrack album by Dear Evan Hansen cast

Dear Evan Hansen: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack album to the 2021 film of the same name, released on September 24, 2021, by Interscope Records. Based on the eponymous stage musical by Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the film is directed by Stephen Chbosky, with Levenson writing the screenplay and stars Ben Platt in the title role, reprising his role from the stage performance.

William Frederick Roland is an American actor and singer, best known for originating the role of Jared Kleinman in the Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen, for which he received a Grammy and Daytime Emmy Award. On film, he is known for his role in the drama film One Penny. Most recently, he played the lead role of Jeremy Heere in the musical Be More Chill both off-Broadway and on Broadway.

<i>The Greatest Showman</i> (soundtrack) 2017 soundtrack album

The Greatest Showman: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack is the soundtrack album to the film The Greatest Showman. It was released in full on December 8, 2017, by Atlantic Records. The album contains all of the film's musical numbers, but none of the film's underscore. The first pre-order release was on October 26, 2017, with two promotional singles: "The Greatest Show" and "This Is Me". A third, "Rewrite the Stars", followed on November 17, 2017. "This Is Me" was released on December 8, 2017, as the album's official lead single. In Australia, "Rewrite the Stars" was released to radio on July 20, 2018.

"Waving Through a Window" is the second song from Act 1 of the 2015 musical Dear Evan Hansen, which premiered on Broadway in 2016. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul wrote both the music and lyrics for the song, which serves as the main protagonist Evan Hansen's "I Want" song. It has since become the signature tune of the character, one of the musical's most famous songs and an anthem for those who have felt depressed and alone and show a desire for connection.

"You Will Be Found" is the Act 1 finale of the 2015 musical Dear Evan Hansen, which premiered on Broadway in 2016. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul wrote both the music and lyrics to the song.

Scott Wasserman is an American musician, composer, orchestrator, musical director, and electronic music programmer who has worked on many shows both on and off Broadway. He originated the technical role of Ableton Programmer for Hamilton, and has reprised that role for Dear Evan Hansen and Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Goldner</span> Musical artist

Justin Goldner is an American music producer, songwriter, arranger and session musician based in New York City, originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

<i>Aladdin</i> (2019 soundtrack) 2019 soundtrack album by various artists

Aladdin (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is a soundtrack for the film of the same name, released by Walt Disney Records on May 17, 2019. The soundtrack features a cover of "A Whole New World" by Zayn Malik and Zhavia Ward, songs from the original film, a new song written by the original film's composer, Alan Menken, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and a score composed by Menken. The soundtrack was released on May 17, 2019.

"Sincerely, Me" is a song from Act 1 of the 2015 musical Dear Evan Hansen, which premiered on Broadway in 2016. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul wrote both the music and lyrics to the song, whose title takes its name from the phrase with which the musical's main protagonist, Evan Hansen, ends his daily letters to himself.

"Only Us" is a song from Act 2 of the 2015 musical Dear Evan Hansen, which premiered on Broadway in 2016. Benj Pasek and Justin Paul wrote both the music and lyrics to the song.

<i>Spirited</i> (soundtrack) 2022 soundtrack albums

Two soundtrack albums were released for the 2022 Christmas-themed musical comedy film Spirited: an original soundtrack and an original score. Republic Records released both the albums on November 18, 2022, the same day as the film’s release on Apple TV+. The soundtrack features original songs from the film written by the songwriting duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and performed by the ensemble cast members: Will Ferrell, Ryan Reynolds, Octavia Spencer, Sunita Mani, Tracy Morgan and Patrick Page. The second album features the motion picture score composed by Dominic Lewis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evan Hansen</span> Character from the 2015 musical Dear Evan Hansen

Evan Hansen is the titular character and main protagonist of the Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen by Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. A bullied 17-year-old high schooler with social anxiety and depression, who lives with his single mother Heidi Hansen after she divorced from his father Mark Hansen ten years before, he attempts to find the acceptance and love he has been lacking in his life. On his journey to be found, he discovers the consequences of risking it all for the chance to be heard.

References

  1. ↑ "Dear Evan Hansen [Original Broadway Cast Recording] - Benj Pasek, Justin Paul". AllMusic . Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  2. 1 2 February 20, Jessica Derschowitz; EST, 2017 at 10:21 AM. "'Dear Evan Hansen' Lands in Top 10 For Billboard Album Chart Debut". EW.com. Retrieved June 6, 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ↑ "60th Annual GRAMMY Awards". GRAMMY.com. November 28, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Grammys 2018: Complete list of nominees". Los Angeles Times. November 28, 2017. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  5. ↑ "Dear Evan Hansen Announces Release Date for Broadway Cast Album". TheaterMania. November 16, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Dear Evan Hansen To Release Cast Recording". Pop-Culturalist.com. November 16, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  7. 1 2 "Dear Evan Hansen Announces Cast Recording". Playbill. November 16, 2016. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Stream Dear Evan Hansen's "Requiem" Ahead of Album Release". Playbill. January 26, 2017. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Must Listen: Check Out a Track From the Dear Evan Hansen Cast Album". Playbill. January 30, 2017. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
  10. ↑ Dear Evan Hansen (Original Broadway Cast Recording) by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, Ben Platt, Laura Dreyfuss & Will Roland, January 27, 2017, retrieved June 6, 2022
  11. ↑ Cote, David (February 2, 2017). "Dear Evan Hansen Broadway cast recording drops Friday, listening party at midnight". Time Out New York. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  12. ↑ Various Artists; Jennifer Laura Thompson; Rachel Bay Jones; Laura Dreyfuss; Michael Park; Ben Platt (2017), Dear Evan Hansen , retrieved June 6, 2022
  13. ↑ "Various Artists - Dear Evan Hansen (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Blue 2 LP) (Vinyl)". www.target.com. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Cast Album of 2017 Tony-Winning Best Musical Dear Evan Hansen to Be Released on Vinyl". Broadway.com. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Dear Evan Hansen Deluxe Album, Including Cut Songs, Will Be Released in October". Playbill. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  16. ↑ Milzoff, Rebecca (September 24, 2018). "Get a First Listen Of Cut Song 'Part Of Me' From 'Dear Evan Hansen': Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  17. ↑ "Dear Evan Hansen Deluxe Album, Including Cut Songs and Katy Perry's 'Waving Through a Window,' to release on November 2". Playbill. October 24, 2018. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  18. ↑ Kaufman, Gil (November 1, 2018). "Katy Perry Re-Recorded 'Dear Evan Hansen' Song 'Waving Through a Window' to Help Launch Show's National Tour: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  19. ↑ Caulfield, Keith (February 17, 2017). "Billboard 200 Chart Moves: 'Dear Evan Hansen' & 'Hamilton' Give Broadway Two Albums in Top 20 for First Time in More Than 50 Years". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  20. 1 2 Billboard, Keith Caulfield (February 17, 2017). "With 'Dear Evan Hansen,' Broadway Charts Two Albums in Top 20 for First Time in Decades". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  21. ↑ McHenry, Jackson (February 13, 2017). "This Cast Recording Just Debuted Higher on the Charts Than Hamilton". Vulture. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  22. ↑ Evans, Suzy (June 12, 2017). "'Dear Evan Hansen' and 'Hello Dolly' Win Big at the 2017 Tony Awards". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Dear Evan Hansen (Original Broadway Cast Recording)". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  24. ↑ "American album certifications – Various Artists – Dear Evan Hansen (Original Broadway Cast Recording)". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  25. ↑ Milligan, Kaitlin. "DEAR EVAN HANSEN Original Cast Recording Receives RIAA Gold Certification". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  26. ↑ Seeber, Abby. "Dear Evan Hansen Soundtrack Review". The Northern Light. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  27. ↑ "Dear Evan Hansen". Gramophone. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  28. ↑ "Review: The 'Dear Evan Hansen' soundtrack powerfully vocalizes teen struggles". The Diamondback. January 31, 2017. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  29. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Musical – Dear Evan Hansen - Original Broadway Cast Recording". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  30. ↑ "Canadian Albums Chart". Billboard . September 15, 2018. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  31. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company . Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  32. ↑ "Official Soundtrack Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company . Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  33. ↑ "Soundtrack Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard . Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  34. ↑ "Soundtrack Chart History (Pop Albums)". Billboard . Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  35. ↑ "Soundtrack Chart History (Broadway Albums)". Billboard . Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  36. ↑ "Internet Albums". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  37. ↑ "Cast Albums Year-End Chart 2017". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  38. ↑ "Cast Albums Year-End Chart 2018". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  39. ↑ "Pop Album Year-End Chart 2018". Billboard . Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  40. ↑ "Cast Albums Year-End Chart 2019". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  41. ↑ "Cast Albums Year-End Chart 2020". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  42. ↑ "Cast Albums Year-End Chart 2021". Billboard. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  43. ↑ "British single certifications – Original Broadway Cast – Dear Evan Hansen". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  44. ↑ "American album certifications – Various Artists – Dear Evan Hansen (Original Broadway Cast Recording)". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  45. 1 2 3 "American single certifications – Original Broadway Cast of Hamilton". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved June 12, 2022.
  46. ↑ "British single certifications – Platt/Dear Evan Hansen Cast". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved June 12, 2022.Select singles in the Format field. Type Platt/Dear Evan Hansen Cast in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.