CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Anthony Norman looks around the Nederlander Theatre and still can’t believe he’s performing on stage in his hometown.
“I’ll never forget when I saw Wicked here,” Norman said. “It was insane.”
The 30-year-old grew up in Chicago’s Belmont-Cragin neighborhood and went to Catholic school in River Grove. He said he was in high school when he auditioned for his first school play — because his sister was in it. Nearly 15 years later, Norman plays the lead in the Tony Award-winning Dear Evan Hansen, now showing at the Nederlander.
“It’s a really big honor, and it’s also a big responsibility to play this part,” he said. “But I’m happy and honored to speak for those who can’t speak for themselves.”
Norman said Dear Evan Hansen has struck a chord in today’s culture and remains as relevant as it was when it debuted in 2016.
“In the age of social media, we see everything that we’re not a part of,” he said. “We see everything that we’re missing, especially kids, like teenagers, that must be grueling for them — especially kids in high school who don’t feel like they fit in. I think it’s the most relevant it maybe has ever been.”
Norman began his career performing at the Paramount Theater and Drury Lane. He graduated from Millikin with a degree in musical theater, then went on to perform in The Prom on Broadway and toured with Newsies.
He said he’s thrilled to be performing for a hometown crowd once more and to be in Chicago for the holidays.
“It’s so overwhelming,” Norman said. “It’s so hard to take it all in, and in terms of friends and family who I know and love, it’s extremely comforting.”
Dear Evan Hansen will be in Chicago through Dec. 31.
Related
Related
Listen to WBBM Newsradio now on Audacy!