Anyone who knows anything about the current Broadway world is likely aware of the musical Dear Evan Hansen. A tearjerker from beginning to end, the show explores the world of Evan Hansen, an anxiety-ridden teenager who finds himself caught in what started as a well-intentioned lie that eventually ends up snowballing. With thematic elements of mental illness, suicide, and grief, Dear Evan Hansen uses carefully crafted songs to delve into a couple of extremely heavy topics that turn out to be shockingly relatable.
I saw Dear Evan Hansen twice, once in Austin, and once in San Antonio. As someone who had been listening to the soundtrack for two years before I ever got a chance to see the show, it FLOORED me. The soundtrack has gotten me through a lot of personal mental health struggles, and, as a person with a theatre background who seeks solace in singing and music in general, I was crying tears of laughter, sadness, and elation the entire time. To see a show that means so much to you brought to life onstage right before your eyes is a truly incredible feeling, one that I can't exactly use words to describe. The main standout performance for me in Austin was Sam Primack, a 19 year old actor who played Evan Hansen, and the main standout for me in San Antonio was the actor who played Connor, David Jeffery.
David Jeffery, a Canadian-born actor, has been involved with the production for a long time, starting off in the Toronto production, then moving onto a triple-cover role on the National Tour as Evan, Connor, and Jared, and eventually taking over the role of Connor Murphy full time on Broadway pre-COVID. I sat down with David (virtually, of course) and asked him a few questions about what it's like to tackle such a big role, and how the potentially mentally exhausting role of Connor affects his day-to-day life. Here's what he had to say:
Kate Covell: You cover Connor, Evan, and Jared in Dear Evan Hansen. Out of these characters, which one is your favorite to portray and why?
David Jeffery: I'm no longer a triple cover. I play Connor full time! Though I do continue to still understudy Evan. I am on as Connor 8 times a week! But I love all 3 of the parts I've played equally. Evan is the most like myself. Jared is the funny one. And Connor has the best costume haha.
KC: What's your favorite part of the musical to perform? It can be a scene, a song, just a funny line you have?
DJ: It entirely depends what character I am playing. But my favorite thing to act as any character... probably the entire last scene as Evan. The final monologue. I think it's so beautiful, and I get emotional every time I do it!
KC: Evan's anxiety and Connor's depression are big talking points in the musical. Does getting into character take a toll on your mental health, seeing as DEH is a pretty emotional show? Do you have things that you do to get into character? Alternatively, are there things you find yourself needing to do after the show to decompress?
DJ: I haven't really found the mental health aspect to be a big challenge for me. In regards to it affecting my life outside of the show, I love the show so much that I actively look forward to doing it! So, I think because I view it SO positively, it never really seeps into my real life. After the show I love to just come home, have a diet soda, watch some hockey and enjoy my evening!
KC: What do you think the musical's main message is regarding mental illness/mental health, if any?
DJ: For me, the big message of the show is communication! I think all the relationships between all of the characters could easily be strengthened if communication were better. Especially with regard to social media vs real life. Everyone is too concerned with their digital life, that oftentimes their real personal connections suffer.
KC: Do you believe that DEH has opened up conversations about mental health, and that's part of why it's so popular?
DJ: Yes, and I think all the characters are inherently relatable; that's why so many people are attached to the show and the message. They find little bits of themselves in the story, and feel represented!
KC: So, what can we take away from what Evan and/or Connor went through in the show?
DJ: I think just realizing that you never know what kind of burden someone is holding onto, what kind of emotional baggage someone is carrying... how bad of a day someone has had. And it's important to be kind and treat people with respect!
KC: Finally, what do you do to take care of your mental health if you find yourself having a bad day? What advice would you give to those who are struggling?
DJ: Whenever I'm having a bad day, I try and do things that make me feel calm and happy, such as having a diet soda and watching hockey! It makes me feel like I'm back home, and that's usually enough to clear my head and set me straight. Whatever that is for someone else... I'd say do it! Just regain that sense of normalcy!
