WAUWATOSA, Wis. — Wauwatosa West High School’s theater program will be the first in the country to perform Dear Evan Hansen — but getting to this point wasn’t easy. After historic floods hit their theater in August, the students and staff faced months of cleanup, renovation and determination before the curtain could rise again.

Wauwatosa West students rise above setback to premiere Dear Evan Hansen

The floods had filled the orchestra pit with water, coated the stage in mud stains and destroyed the carpet throughout the house floor. The school’s theater program was suddenly facing a massive renovation right as the new school year began.

Evan Hryniewicki, who plays the lead role of Evan Hansen, shared how much the theater means to him.

“I mean, this is like my home away from home,” Hryni

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