Newcomer Sam Tutty to lead full cast of Dear Evan Hansen in London

Newcomer Sam Tutty has been cast in the lead titular role of Dear Evan Hansen as the Broadway production prepares for its West End premiere next month, as full casting is announced.

Tutty, a recent graduate of Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London, will make his West End debut in the role of Evan Hansen. He recently appeared in the European premiere of Once On This Island as Southwark Playhouse with British Theatre Academy.

The role was originated on in the US by Ben Platt, who went on to win the Tony Award or best actor in a leading role in a musical in 2017. In a review for Time Out, Adam Feldman hailed his turn "one of the greatest leading male performances I've ever seen in a musical".

Lucy Anderson will play Zoe Murphy in the production, having recently graduated from Mountview Academy in the summer.

Rebecca McKinnis will play Evan's mum Heidi Hansen, having recently played Jamie's mum Margaret in Everybody's Talking About Jamie, with other credits including Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown at the Playhouse Theatre, and We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre.

Lauren Ward, who originated the role of Miss Honey in Matilda the Musical, will play Cynthia Murphy while Rupert Young (Twelfth Night, Young Vic) will play Larry Murphy and Doug Colling (making his professional stage debut) will play Connor.

Jack Loxton (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time) will play Jared Kleinman while Nicole Raquel Dennis, who was a member of the original London cast of Waitress, will play Alana Beck.

Marcus Harman will make his professional stage debut as alternate Evan Hansen.

The ensemble will feature David Breeds, Haydn Cox, Natalie Kassanga, Hannah Lindsey, Mark Peachey, Courtney Stapleton, Alex Thomas-Smith and James Winter.

Dear Evan Hansen will run at the Noel Coward Theatre from 29^th October, with an official opening night on 19^th November.

Dear Evan Hansen tickets are available now.

_{Photo: Matt Crockett}