Tyler McCall stars in La Mirada's new Dear Evan Hansen

The musical 'Dear Evan Hansen' opened at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts on a recent date, and it will run through Nov. 22. The production stars New York actor Tyler Donovan McCall in the title role. The show is directed and choreographed by Stephen C. Anthony.

The musical premiered on Broadway 11 years ago. Since then, it has toured nationally and returned to the stage in various formats. The original productions used electronic displays to show rapid-fire internet page views. This local production updates that element with a sizable LED backing screen.

Projection Designer David Murakami created the new visual imagery. The screen displays key words from the protagonist's journal in large block type. It also shows online comments and Instagram feeds that swell and shrink. Abstract geometric patterns change color and shape to mirror the themes of loneliness and anxiety.

The story follows Evan, a 17-year-old high school student who feels like an outsider. He lives with his single mother and struggles with anxiety. When a girl's family is hit by a sudden death, Evan becomes involved in their grief. A misunderstanding leads to a social media storm that affects the entire cast.

McCall's performance is cited as a key strength of the show. He is described as thin and lanky with an angular face. His physical appearance supports the role of a gawkily confident teenager. McCall also provides the tenor vocals for the score by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. He performs the songs 'Waving Through a Window,' 'For Forever,' and 'Words Fail.'

The 12-person cast includes Nic Hermick as Connor and Analisa Idalia as Alana. Gabriel Vernon Nunag plays Jared, a role he performed on a national tour. Josh Adamson and Jill Van Velzer play the grieving parents. Adamson sings the duet 'To Break in a Glove' with McCall. Van Velzer portrays a distant wife and mother who eventually shows her pain.

Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays, 8 p.m. on Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. on Saturdays, and 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets cost between $15.95 and $132. The venue is located at 14900 La Mirada Blvd. in La Mirada. Box office numbers are 714-994-6310 and 562-944-9801.