At the November 18 evening performance of the Tony-winning Dear Evan Hansen, the cast worn by Tony winner Ben Platt, who played his final performance the following day, was auctioned to the highest bidder following the show.
Co-stars Will Roland and Kristolyn Lloyd led the auction, which brought in $35,000 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, spokespersons for BC/EFA and the musical confirmed. It was the final auction of Platt's run.
Broadway Cares is one of the nation’s leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. By drawing upon the talents, resources, and generosity of the American theatre community, since 1988 Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has raised more than $285 million for essential services for people with HIV/AIDS and other critical illnesses in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C. Click here for more information about the organization.
Platt, who won the 2017 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, played his final performance at the Music Box Theatre November 19 at 3 PM. The actor had been with the musical throughout its journey from Washington, D.C.'s Arena Stage to Off-Broadway's Second Stage and, subsequently, Broadway.
Platt—who earned raves for his emotional performance as Evan Hansen, the sensitive high school student caught at the center of a story that spirals out of control—also received The Drama League's Distinguished Performance Award, which is awarded to one artist a year and can only be won once in a lifetime. Platt is the youngest actor to have ever won the award.
Dear Evan Hansen will first welcome The Real O’Neals' Noah Galvin in the title role beginning November 21, followed by Hello, Dolly! star Taylor Trensch, who will take over beginning mid-January 2018.
Read More: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BROADWAY’S NEW EVAN HANSENS