Submitted Photo
Hatter David Jeffery, who plays as Connor Murphy in the production 'Dear Evan Hansen' performs with Jordan Fisher, who plays as Evan Hansen, in the Broadway production. Jeffery says his Feb. 11 debut went as well as he could have hoped.
mcranker@medicinehatnews.com@MHNmocranker
Hatter David Jeffery says performing on Broadway is better than he could have ever imagined.
The born-and-raised Hatter made his debut on the Music Box Theatre on Feb. 11 and will remember that moment for the rest of his life.
“It was a dream come true,” he said. “The show went really, really well – I couldn’t have asked for a better first show.
“Everything went really smoothly and the cast was really welcoming.
“The audience was really supportive and everything just went off without a hitch.”
Jeffery says there were no embarrassing moments in his first show.
“I didn’t fall down or knock anyone over,” he joked.
Jeffery says not everything has sunken in yet.
“This is something I have envisioned since I was a kid,” he said. “It’s just a surreal feeling for me.
“I’ve been in that theatre watching that show as a member of the audience – I’m in the show now.
“That whole show is something I’ll likely never forget.”
Jeffery announced late in December that he had earned the role of Connor Murphy in the musical ‘Dear Evan Hansen.’ He says he enjoys the character he plays.
“Connor Murphy wears nail polish and I don’t usually – I guess that has been the biggest transition for me,” he said. “I actually get a lot of compliments on the nail polish – that’s not really something I thought I’d ever say in my life.
“I get recognized more walking around and overall life is really good right now.”
While this will be Jeffery’s longest stay in the Big Apple, he has spent plenty of time in the city during his lifetime.
“This is probably my ninth or tenth time in the city but it feels very welcoming this time around,” he said. “I’m staying a little longer than I have in the past, but I know what it’s like here.
“There hasn’t been any surprises.”
Jeffery and the rest of the cast perform eight shows every week. He says he is trying to make the most of his spare time.
“Our cast is really like a big family here,” he said. “I talk with everyone on the cast about what they do with time off to really differentiate work and down time.
“My family and my girlfriend have made the transition to New York a lot easier – it’s just important to get out and go to places like Central Park.”
Jeffery says he hopes to see a few National Hockey League games while in New York City.
“As a Canadian, hockey games are a priority,” he said. “I want to experience more of the food, too.”
