CORAL GABLES, Fla. – August 5, 2025 – Broadway actor and theatre artist Stephen Christopher Anthony is coming home. An alumnus of the Actors’ Playhouse Conservatory, he got his start on stage at the Miracle Theatre at just 11 years old, starring as Mowgli in The Jungle Book. Now, after leading Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway and across North America, he returns to Actors’ Playhouse to direct the South Florida Regional Premiere of the Tony Award-winning musical that helped shape his professional journey.
Running February 11 – March 8, 2026, Dear Evan Hansen marks a major milestone in Anthony’s theatrical career, bringing him back to his hometown and the very theatre where his passion for the stage first took hold. A graduate of both Florida State University’s Music Theatre program and Miami’s New World School of the Arts, Anthony returns to the Miracle Theatre not only as a celebrated performer but as a director guiding one of the most impactful musicals of our time.
His connection to Dear Evan Hansen runs deep. He joined the Broadway company in 2018 as the understudy for Evan, later becoming the Evan alternate on the first national tour, and eventually taking over the role full-time. Over the course of the tour, he starred as Evan in 64 cities across North America before returning to the Music Box Theatre to headline the Broadway production.
Winner of six Tony Awards including Best Musical, Dear Evan Hansen is a deeply moving contemporary story about connection, identity and the power of being seen. With a Grammy Award-winning score by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and a Tony Award-winning book by Steven Levenson, the musical has captivated audiences around the world with its emotional honesty and unforgettable music.
Anthony’s additional performance credits include The Book of Mormon on Broadway and the first national tour of Catch Me If You Can as Frank Abagnale Jr. Regionally, he has appeared in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Barry Mann), Legally Blonde (Emmett), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Joseph), Jesus Christ Superstar (Jesus), Forever Plaid (Sparky), Hairspray (Link Larkin), and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Chip). As a creative artist, he has contributed to the development and direction of productions including Newsies, Waitress, Little Shop of Horrors, Matilda, Million Dollar Quartet, Mass Extinction Squad, and The Exhibitionist starring Jeff Hiller and Heidi Gardner. Recent Actors’ Playhouse credits include starring as Emmett in Legally Blonde and serving as associate director and musical director for Waitress.
“Having Stephen back at Actors’ Playhouse is a true full-circle moment,” said Artistic Director David Arisco. “He grew up on our stage, and from the very beginning, it was clear he had a rare combination of talent, heart and drive. Watching his journey from the Miracle Theatre to Broadway star has been an absolute joy. Now, to have him return to direct Dear Evan Hansen on the very stage where it all began is incredibly meaningful for all of us.”
Tickets for Dear Evan Hansen are on sale now, and can be purchased by calling (305) 444-9293 ext. 2, visiting www.ActorsPlayhouse.org, or at the Actors’ Playhouse Box Office (280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, FL 33134). Group discounts and season subscriptions are available for added savings and benefits.
Keep up with all updates on Dear Evan Hansen and join the conversation by following Actors’ Playhouse on Facebook @actorsplayhouse, Instagram @apmiracletheatre and YouTube @actorsplayhousecg.
Photo Credit: Stephen Christopher Anthony as Evan Hansen in the North American touring company of Dear Evan Hansen.Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman, MurphyMade.
News Release Contact: Brooke Noble bnoble@actorsplayhouse.org
