Music Performance Center: More Than Just a Show
2026-10-22 After months of rehearsals, the premiere finally arrived: Together, the Music Performace Center and students brought the Broadway hit “Dear Evan Hansen” to the stage of the Central Building. The musical centers on mental health among young people and the desire to finally be accepted. The performance ended with a standing ovation—and the feeling that the musical’s message is taken seriously at Leuphana, not just on stage.
“Dear Evan Hansen, today is going to be a great day, and I’ll tell you why.” That’s how the Broadway hit begins. A high school student writes letters to himself. It’s his therapist’s idea. When his classmate Connor takes his own life, everyone suddenly believes the letters are from him.
For Evan, a dream comes true: the outsider is suddenly seen by everyone as extraordinary. To hold on to that feeling, the lonely Evan gets more and more entangled in lies. This, or something similar, is how the play will be summarized in many reviews. But on this evening, the focus isn’t on Broadway glamour: Since the start of the summer semester, the student cast has been rehearsing, giving up their free Sundays and ensuring that neighbors can slowly start whistling the melodies from “Dear Evan Hansen.” They’ve poured their hearts and souls into the musical rehearsals. It’s not just about hitting the right notes, but also about grappling intensely with mental health issues and even suicide.
Everyone takes the stage with great passion. It’s hard to single out individual performances. Pia Malin Buschmann and Julian Schumann are compelling as Connor’s bereaved parents, combining vocal power with vulnerability to convey the helplessness of adults. Tom Reckmann (Jared Kleinman) delivers a spot-on performance, drawing laughter with his wit and charm. The other supporting roles are also cast with strong vocal talent: Jasmina Will with her powerful pop soprano, Joanna Knecht with her sensitive acting, and Martje Lina Henkies, who, at just 23 years old, convincingly embodies Evan’s overwhelmed mother.
Mathis Schräder (Evan Hansen) is particularly moving in the quieter moments, while Justus Konrad Harms (Connor Murphy) impresses with powerful vocal passages and stage presence. Together, they make it palpable just how difficult it can be to be accepted by others and to accept oneself. Mental health is more than just a buzzword this evening. Nearly 15 support organizations for people with mental health concerns—or simply the desire to be heard—are introducing themselves in the lobby: among them, the “Stövchen” meeting place; DROBS, the Center for Addiction and Addiction Prevention; Paritätischer Lüneburg, and the Student Services’ Psychosocial Counseling Service: “‘Dear Evan Hansen’ raises awareness about the importance of mental health among young people and students. That’s important and right,” says Karina Bostelmann from the counseling center on Munstermannskamp.
The exhibition was organized by Annika Weiß, director of the Vorderhaus and a student of cultural studies. Even behind the scenes, it’s clear just how much time and dedication the students put into the evening.
The live orchestra, under the overall direction of University Music Director Rebecca Lang, sounds so professional that audience members can easily forget: The music for the rhythmically demanding musical “Dear Evan Hansen” is performed by law students alongside aspiring environmental scientists and future teachers.
The ensemble numbers, in particular, are especially moving. On stage, they achieve exactly what the musical’s characters long for so deeply: community and a sense of belonging.
And dear Evan Hansen, that’s exactly why it was such a wonderful evening.
