Dear Evan Hansen 2021

Here’s a rephrased version of the given section:

Seventeen-year-old Evan Hansen (played by) wrestles with crippling social anxiety and depression, struggling to find purpose in his life. His therapist, Dr. Sherman, prescribes him a coping mechanism - writing letters to himself, detailing why each new day will be a good one. When Evan’s mother, Heidi, suggests that he ask people to sign his cast after falling from a tree and breaking his arm, she hopes it might lead to meaningful connections. At school, Evan pours out his thoughts in a letter, wondering if anyone would notice if he vanished into thin air (“Waving Through a Window”).

Evan’s classmate, Connor Murphy (played by), becomes enraged upon reading the letter, fuelled by Evan’s mention of Zoe, who Connor believes Evan has feelings for. Believing that Evan wrote the letter to provoke him, Connor storms out with it, taking the words and leaving behind only hurt and confusion. Three days later, Evan is summoned to the principal’s office, where he learns that Connor has passed away. Despite Evan’s attempts to set the record straight, his classmates misinterpret the letter as a suicide note addressed to Evan, with the cast bearing Connor’s name solidifying their misconception.

As the news of Connor’s passing spreads, Evan finds himself invited to the Murphy household for dinner, where he is pressed by Cynthia and Larry to share stories about their son. Under pressure, Evan fabricates a narrative about breaking his arm while exploring an orchard with Connor, which the Murphys had visited (“For Forever”). He enlists the help of Jared, a family friend, in crafting backdated emails between him and Connor to corroborate his tale (“Sincerely, Me”). Zoe grapples with the mystery surrounding Connor’s suicide note, wondering why her name was included due to past experiences (“Requiem”). Evan, still unable to reveal the truth, pours out his feelings about Zoe, pretending that they came from Connor himself (“If I Could Tell Her”).

Alana Beck, a classmate who shares Evan’s social struggles, proposes “The Connor Project,” a student group dedicated to keeping Connor’s memory alive. The project culminates in an assembly, where Evan delivers a heartfelt speech about his loneliness and connection with Connor, retelling the orchard story. A video of the speech goes viral, with Evan’s words becoming a beacon of hope for those dealing with mental illness (“You Will Be Found”). Zoe is moved by the positive response and thanks Evan for helping her family heal.

As Evan and Alana’s crowdfunding campaign for The Connor Project gains momentum, their focus on reopening the orchard begins to take precedence over other aspects of their lives. Evan’s relationships with his mother and his therapy sessions start to suffer as he becomes increasingly consumed by his new friendships with the Murphys. One night, Zoe confesses her feelings to Evan, and they embark on a romantic journey (“Only Us”). Meanwhile, Heidi’s unexpected visit to the Murphys’ home for dinner sets off a chain of events that will have far-reaching consequences.

As tensions rise, Evan finds himself torn between his loyalty to Alana and his growing connection with Connor. In an emotional email, Evan shares his therapy letter with Alana, revealing that it was actually Connor’s suicide note. The devastating truth sparks a firestorm online, with critics questioning why Connor would confide in Evan but not his own family. The backlash forces Alana to delete the letter, but not before it has already spread like wildfire across the internet.

As the truth begins to unravel, Evan is left reeling from the consequences of his actions. His heart heavy with grief, he confesses to his mother that his fall from the tree was a cry for help, a suicide attempt that went unnoticed by those closest to him. Heidi’s apology and heartfelt words about the scars left by absent fathers only serve to deepen Evan’s emotional pain.

In a bold move, Evan decides to take responsibility for his actions and uploads a video confessing the truth to the world. As he stands alone, surrounded by reminders of Connor’s favorite books, he begins to heal by reaching out to those who truly knew him. A moving video of Connor performing in rehab serves as a poignant reminder of his friend’s humanity.

Evan finally finds closure when Zoe returns to the reopened orchard, a symbol of Connor’s love and passion. As they reconcile, Evan writes himself a letter, vowing to never again hide or lie. With a newfound sense of purpose, he encourages himself to move forward, embracing the lessons learned from his friend’s tragic story (“A Little Closer (Reprise)”)