‘Not viable’: Major musical cancels Adelaide and Canberra seasons

The Australian season of award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen will be cut short, with the Canberra and Adelaide legs of the tour cancelled. Ticket-holders for the Canberra season were advised of the cancellation via email late last week, and a short statement has been added to the musical’s website.

Dear Evan Hansen had its Australian debut in October 2024 in Sydney and is currently being staged at Arts Centre Melbourne, with the season set to conclude on February 16. The Canberra season was due to start on February 27 and the Adelaide season from April 3.

The Canberra and Adelaide legs of the Dear Evan Hansen tour have been cancelled. Credit: Daniel Boud

Commenters expressed their disappointment on social media. “I literally had flights to Canberra from Perth to go see it,” wrote one TikTok user. “I missed [it] in Syd and was going to drive to Canberra,” wrote another.

Telling the story of the titular Evan Hansen, a teenager whose life quickly spirals out of control after embellishing details of a friendship with a recently deceased classmate, the musical explores grief, mental health and love in a complex coming-of-age story.

Premiering on Broadway in 2016, Dear Evan Hansen quickly garnered critical acclaim and was nominated for nine Tony Awards, winning six, including best musical, best book and best score.

The Australian season is a co-production from Michael Cassel Group and Sydney Theatre Company, and has been well received – with the cast in particular receiving praise. The Age theatre critic Cameron Woodhead described the production as “elegant and moving”.

“We are incredibly proud of the Australian production of Dear Evan Hansen,” a spokesperson from Michael Cassel Group said in a statement.

“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.

“Cancelling a season is always a difficult decision, taken only as a last resort after thorough consideration and deep regret.”

All ticket holders for Canberra and Adelaide will be fully refunded.

Dear Evan Hansen is at Arts Centre Melbourne until February 16.