{shortcode-d072409ee58038369a2704d5dd0781da8a2f85fe}

Whether you know him as Evan from the musical “Dear Evan Hansen” or its more controversial 2021 film adaptation, as Payton from Ryan Murphy’s “The Politician,” or as Benji from “Pitch Perfect,” Ben Platt’s angelic voice and charisma are always present no matter what character he takes on. On the fourth stop of his Reverie tour at Boston’s Agganis arena on Sept. 29, Ben Platt had to tackle a new character, perhaps the hardest one yet: himself. With a background in musical theatre and a gigantic part of his fanbase who discovered him while he was still doing eight shows a week, Platt has made his mark on theater kids everywhere, but is he trying to expand his audience and step away from that sound?

The concert began with openers Aly & AJ, a sister duo who, although underwhelming with their acoustic guitars in front of an audience who had mostly yet to arrive, proved mighty. As they worked their way through an impressive eight-song setlist, they weren’t afraid to encourage the audience to stand, take their flashlights out, and sing-along. By the end of their set, the audience was captivated and turned electric when they played one of their oldest, but recently Tik Tok-famous, hits, “Potential Breakup Song.” Their excitement and confidence built up the perfect amount of momentum to introduce Ben Platt and set the tone for the rest of the night.

{shortcode-50f28cbe8c152abf53dcf1d7e3747524cef7de9a}

In the moments before Platt’s entrance, the audience was entertained with songs probably found on the top millennial hits of the 2010’s. As his signal that the concert was starting and maybe even his motivation song, Beyonce’s “Cuff It,” blasted as a blackout ensued and a light show started. Throughout the concert Platt’s artistic touch could not only be seen through his music, but also through the light hues and colors he chose to tell his story, which matches perfectly with one of his motifs that his “journey’s still a fairytale.”

He started the set off with the first song on his new album ‘“Reverie,” “King of the World Pt 1.” His melodic backup singers, all dressed in white, heavily loomed over the song, and it was interesting that throughout the concert he continuously shifted the focus to them, allowing {hem to share the spotlight and enjoy the crowd’s love.

As a result of Platt working in an environment where swings and people who specialize in behind the scenes magic are an integral part of his shows, it is no surprise that Platt took several opportunities to highlight his singers, band, and production team and all of their contributions. He even brought Aly and AJ back onstage to sing a song with him and emphasize to the crowd that they were more than just the opening band.

Although it is possible that Platt wants a sound that sets him apart from the Broadway world, his attention and detail that he puts into his lyrics and sound create the exact same effects that a musical would. Each album he tells is not just a story, but it has musical motifs, conflicts, and a plot that even ends with a musical happy ending or good note. His concert even felt as though it was separated into acts with an intermission from his music where he actually paid homage to musical theatre and sung a song from Sara Bareilles’s “Waitress.”

{image id=1358485 align=center size=large caption=true}

Unlike other artists who are focused on costume changes and dynamic sets, Platt sought to create a comforting, pressure free experience as he improvised his eccentric dance moves in a baggy pink-shirt ensemble. This was also apparent when he took a break from singing to express his sentiments, joys, and anxiety of performing again for the first time in three years as a result of the pandemic. He then addressed all of the college students in the crowd, and took a moment to sing an unreleased song that shared his feelings about growing up and figuring out life as a young person, a tone that can be found in a lot of his work including his role as Payton Hobart in Ryan Murphy’s “The Politician.” He played a piano solo while singing the song, creating a personal and bittersweet tone.

It is clear that whether or not Platt views his time in musical theatre as a part of his past, his new sound and style will always have a little bit of musical theatre in it. Platt’s work shows his path as an artist and creator is ever changing, as he is also figuring himself out, as we all are. Platt reminds the crowd that through this constant questioning and internal battles, happiness is one step closer if you “love what you do.”