MACOMB/MOLINE, ILLINOIS (October 22, 2026) — Western Illinois University Theatre and Dance will host Dear Evan Hansen, a theatre performance based on the book by Steven Levenson. The event will take place at 7:30PM, Thursday, October 29; Saturday, October 31; and at 2PM, Saturday, October 31, and Sunday, November 1, in Brown Hall, Hainline Theatre.
Dear Evan Hansen is a contemporary musical about a lonely teenager whose attempt to fit in spirals into a lie that brings him connection, compassion, and heartbreak. As the truth unravels, Evan must confront the consequences of his choices and learn what it means to be seen and belong.
“When we produce a show with themes like Dear Evan Hansen, we aren’t just exposing our students to the typical musical theatre fare where they learn lines, develop characters, embark on a journey that is not their own; they are doing, as Hamlet says, ‘To hold, as ‘twere, the mirror up to nature. . . ,’ They are holding a mirror up to their own quiet struggles, finding their way in the messy world of growing up and learning that it is okay to be seen, even if you are a hot mess. I hope that they understand that it’s okay not to be okay all the time. This is how we learn and grow.” [unattributed quote]
For more information on WIU’s Theatre and Dance Programs, visit wiu.edu/cofac/theatre.
For tickets, visit westernpresents.com.
