‘A last resort’: Broadway musical cans upcoming Adelaide season
The latest musical from the Australian producers of Hamilton, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has spiked its upcoming Adelaide and Canberra legs.
The Australian production of award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen has confirmed its upcoming Adelaide season will not go ahead, several months out from opening night.
Dear Evan Hansen was due to open at Her Majesty’s Theatre from April 3-13 as a co-production between Sydney Theatre Company and Michael Cassel Group, whose recent Australian productions include Hamilton, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Mary Poppins, and The Picture of Dorian Gray. Its Melbourne season is currently underway at the Playhouse Theatre, concluding on February 16.
In a statement provided to InReview, a spokesperson from Michael Cassel Group blamed disappointing ticket sales for the cancellation.
“Despite tremendous seasons in Melbourne and Sydney, we have not seen a similar level of enthusiasm from audiences in Canberra and Adelaide and therefore touring Dear Evan Hansen there was not viable,’ the spokesperson said.
“Cancelling a season is always a difficult decision, taken only as a last resort after thorough consideration and deep regret.”
The teen drama made its Broadway debut in 2016, winning six Tony Awards including Best Musical and a Best Actor nod for original star Ben Platt, who reprised the role for a 2021 film adaptation.
The Australian production premiered in Sydney last October starring Beau Woodbridge, son of tennis identity Todd Woodbridge, in the titular role.
Peter and the Starcatcher was also slated to tour Adelaide this month before its cancellation. Photo: Daniel Boud / Supplied
Dear Evan Hansen is the second touring production to spike its 2025 South Australian season, with the children’s play Peter and the Starcatcher’s cancelling its Adelaide run in November, three months before it was due to open at the Dunstan Playhouse.
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A puppet-driven prequel to J.M. Barrie’s Neverland saga starring comedians Colin Lane and Peter Helliar, the production was scheduled to run from January 9-25, but failed to hook audiences.
On Facebook, the production told followers that the cancellation was, “due to the current trading environment unfortunately. The sales just weren’t there to meet our costs – devastating”.
Ticket-holders for Dear Evan Hansen’s Adelaide and Canberra dates will be refunded.