Mothering role too good to ignore for Verity Hunt-Ballard

Sometimes a role comes along that’s so compelling that you simply can’t knock it back. which is why mother of two Verity Hunt-Ballard is so excited about Dear Evan Hansen.

Verity Hunt-Ballard at Cabarita Beach. Because she lives in the Northern Rivers, going on tour just isn’t conducive with her being a parent, but there are times when productions come along she simply can’t refuse. Picture: Luke Marsden

Verity Hunt-Ballard knows the pressures, chaos and joy of being a mother, particularly as a theatrical artist who said “no” to work for years just to be at home for her two young daughters.

But then there are times when productions come along with stories so poignant, and messages so important, that you simply can’t refuse them.

That was the case for northern NSW-based Hunt-Ballard, who will play the lead role in the Australian premiere of Broadway hit Dear Evan Hansen when it opens at the Sydney Theatre Company in October.

The 42-year-old award-winning performer will play Evan’s mother, Heidi Hansen, and says the production, surrounding issues of mental health, is not to be missed.

“It was a reason that I wanted to put my hat in the ring to play the role of Heidi Hansen because, at this point in my life, mothering has very much taken the forefront priority, which is absolutely my choice,” she says after Insider’s photo shoot, on her way to one of her daughter’s drama recital.

Mother of two Verity Hunt-Ballard will play Evan’s mother, Heidi Hansen, in Dear Evan Hansen. Picture: Luke Marsden

“So, musicals have come into my life and I often say ‘no’ because we live in the Northern Rivers, and going on tour and things just isn’t conducive with being a parent for me.

“But every now and then, really important, really relevant stories like this come along, that is so contemporary, and just feels like it tells the story of so many people around me – parents, and perhaps people that have had an experience like Evan Hansen, perhaps an adult that is experiencing anxiety. So many people.

Verity Hunt-Ballard, husband Scott Johnson and daughters Gypsy and Emmy-Lou at the Mary Poppins opening night at Sydney Lyric Theatre in 2022. Picture: Justin Lloyd

“But my mothering, and my situation at the moment, drew me to this role, and feeling like, hopefully, I can bring something to it from experience.”

Hunt-Ballard is married to actor Scott Johnson, and the “anti-stage parents” to daughters aged eight and 11 say life is a juggle.

“We know that when these opportunities come, we have to make it work, so when Scott goes away, I don’t take work, and then when I go away, he doesn’t,” Hunt-Ballard says.

“I did take a big chunk of time when the girls were really little where I didn’t work, and that was a really conscious choice, and I’m really glad that I did that.”

Dear Evan Hansen was labelled a “breathtaking knockout of a musical” by The New York Times, winning six Tony awards in 2017, including Best Book, by writer Steven Levenson.

It is the raw, moving and inspiring story of a socially anxious high-schooler who is suddenly thrust into the spotlight when he inadvertently invents an important role for himself at the centre of a tragedy.

Verity Hunt-Ballard first won local hearts as the world’s favourite nanny in the original Australian production of Mary Poppins.

Hunt-Ballard, who first won local hearts as the world’s favourite nanny in the original Australian production of Mary Poppins, says the current generation of parents is facing a completely different landscape to those before us.

And, she adds, it’s a really different landscape for our kids, too.

“We have to parent differently,” she says.

“And I think the story tells that of two families that are desperately doing their best, which is what we all are doing.”

The passionate storyteller says that as a hopeful young actor, it was applause, praise and camaraderie that she loved about the stage.

Today, she’s dug deep to realise what the attraction is – shows with meaning.

“I’ve certainly had times now where I haven’t been performing and have had to come back to performing and really ask myself why I do it,” she says.

“And it’s really because I feel like it’s my way of serving or contributing – to reflect people’s stories back to them.

“So, if you can sit in the audience in a show like this, and relate to one little thing about one of the characters or learn something or feel less alone … so much about the story is about that.

“I just feel really privileged to have a crack at it.”

An instant hit on Broadway for its deeply personal and profoundly contemporary take on life and the way we live it, Dear Evan Hansen will celebrate its Australian premiere in October, playing seasons in Melbourne from December, Canberra from February and Adelaide from April.

Also in the cast is Natalie O’Donnell, who starred as Donna in Mamma Mia! before joining the Australian company of Come From Away, as well as Martin Crewes and newcomer Georgia Laga’aia, the daughter of actor Jay Laga’aia.

The performer taking on the role of Evan Hansen will be announced in August.

The show marks the second time the Sydney Theatre Company and the Michael Cassel Group have partnered to present world-class theatre.

In 2022, they presented the phenomenally successful Melbourne transfer of The Picture of Dorian Gray which went on to premiere in London’s West End, starring Succession’s Sarah Snook.

Dear Evan Hansen opens at Roslyn Packer Theatre on October 12. Tickets for the Melbourne, Adelaide and Canberra seasons will go on sale later this year, tickets are on sale now for the Sydney season at dearevanhansenmusical.com.au