Adam Pascal Will Direct Massachusetts Production of Dear Evan Hansen

Harbour Lights Theatre is presenting the Tony-winning musical this summer.

March 30, 2026 By Andrew Gans

Rent Tony nominee Adam Pascal will direct the Tony-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen this summer in Hingham, Massachusetts. Harbour Lights Theatre is presenting the international hit, which will play the Carr Amphitheater August 6-9.

Harbour Lights Artistic Director Mickey White will star in the title role of the awkward high school student, whose single lie spirals out of control. Additional casting and creative team members will be announced at a later date.

Dear Evan Hansen features a score by the Tony- and Oscar-winning songwriting team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (Dogfight, A Christmas Story) and a book by Tony winner Steven Levenson (tick, tick...BOOM! movie). The original Broadway production was directed by Michael Greif, who directed Pascal in the seminal musical Rent. See photos from the original Dear Evan Hansen below.

See Ben Platt in Dear Evan Hansen

“It’s a pretty incredible full-circle moment to be directing Dear Evan Hansen after working with [original Dear Evan Hansen director] Michael Greif on Rent,” said Pascal in a statement. “Michael brought such authenticity and emotional truth to the work he directed, and I’m excited to carry that spirit into this production while adding my own perspective. I’m really looking forward to diving into this piece with the company—and the Cape isn’t a bad place to spend the summer either.”

VIDEO: Watch Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal Perform Songs From Rent, Spring Awakening, More

Pascal has also been seen on Broadway in Pretty Woman: The Musical, Disaster!, Something Rotten!, Memphis, Chicago, and Aida. He serves as Long Island University’s inaugural 2025-2026 Artist-in-Residence. Pascal has recently expanded his career into directing, focusing on regional theatre and the development of new works. He previously directed productions of Rent on Long Island and will direct the premiere of Feels Like the First Time—The Foreigner Musical at LIU Post in April.

“Having Adam Pascal direct Dear Evan Hansen is an extraordinary moment for Harbour Lights Theatre,” added White. “Adam helped define a generation of musical theatre through his work in Rent, and to have an artist of his caliber guiding this production reflects exactly what Harbour Lights strives to do—bring the spirit and excellence of Broadway to the South Shore while creating meaningful opportunities for both artists and audiences.”

Dear Evan Hansen began previews on Broadway at the Music Box November 14, 2016, prior to an official opening December 4. The production played a total of 21 previews and 1,672 regular performances before closing September 18, 2022. The musical was nominated for nine 2017 Tony Awards, winning six: Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Ben Platt), Best Featured Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Rachel Bay Jones), and Best Orchestrations.

Tickets start at $25 and are available at HarbourLightsTheatre.com