When Dear Evan Hansen opened at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre in February, audiences encountered a story centered on youth mental health, belonging and the impact of isolation. For select performances, faculty from the Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work helped extend that conversation beyond the stage.
On Feb. 15 and Feb. 18, Dr. Nicole Fava and Dr. Shedrick Boren from the School of Social Work led pre-show discussions designed to provide context, education and professional insight into the themes explored in the musical.
“Theatre creates space for empathy, but partnerships like this turn empathy into action,” said Barbara S. Stein, executive producing director of Actors’ Playhouse. “Working with FIU ensures that audiences experiencing Dear Evan Hansen also leave with credible information, professional insight, and pathways to real support.”
Social Work as mental health leadership
The collaboration underscored an important reality: social workers are among the largest providers of mental health services in the United States.
Fava, whose research focuses on adolescents and young adults impacted by trauma and adversity, directs a trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) program through FIU’s Center for Children and Families. The program provides free, evidence-based services to youth and families in Miami-Dade County.
“Stories like Dear Evan Hansen open the door to difficult but necessary conversations about mental health,” Fava said. “As social work faculty, our role is to help ground those conversations in research, clinical practice and real resources that support young people and families.”
Through research, clinical training and direct community services, FIU social work faculty work at the intersection of public health and mental health, translating scientific knowledge into practical support.
Learning beyond the classroom
For Boren, who teaches social policy at FIU, the partnership also reflected the profession’s commitment to advocacy and experiential learning. Social work students attended performances as part of their coursework, using the production to explore themes such as ethical decision-making, grief, communication and public responsibility.
“Creative expression has the power to move people emotionally before they process something intellectually,” Boren said. “When we bring students into spaces like this, we’re helping them understand how storytelling can shape public awareness and inspire responsible action – an essential skill for future social workers.”
Stein noted that the collaboration reflects the theatre’s broader mission. “Actors’ Playhouse is committed to producing work that resonates beyond the stage. This collaboration reflects our belief that theatre can serve as a catalyst for dialogue, learning, and social change,” she said.
Strengthening community conversations
Based in Miami, FIU’s Stempel College brings together public health and social work to address complex health challenges through research, education and community engagement. The collaboration with Actors’ Playhouse reflects that approach: meeting audiences where conversations are already happening and ensuring those conversations are informed by professional expertise.
As Dear Evan Hansen sparked reflection on stage, FIU faculty helped translate that reflection into understanding, reinforcing the vital role social workers play in advancing mental health in South Florida and beyond.