Wolf Trap, the nation’s only National Park dedicated strictly to the performing arts, opened its doors to famed singer and Broadway performer Ben Platt on Sunday, June 23rd, 2024. A brutally hot day in Virginia, Wolf Trap’s team of staff and volunteers greeted concert-goers with hand fans and cold packs as thousands of fans poured into the outdoor venue ready to hear their favorite artist despite the heat. 

Ben Platt, most well-known for his theatrical accolades including his award-winning performance as the titular role in Dear Evan Hansen, star in the Pitch Perfect franchise, and actor and screenwriter of 2023 movie Theater Camp, among other things, released his newest studio album, Honeymind earlier this year. Beyond acting, Platt has been releasing his own music since 2019 with his debut album “Sing to me Instead.”

Opening the show was country singer and songwriter, Brandy Clark, known in the theatre community for her work writing the book and lyrics of the 2023 Broadway musical, Shucked. Clark is a Grammy and CMA award-winning musician having worked with artists including Brandi Carlile and Kacey Musgraves, among others. Clark put on a brief but compelling set, with a mix of her country classics alongside a few ‘Shucked’ moments for all the thespians out there. She took he crowd on a journey with poise and grace, having ultimate command of the stage despite her minimal setup and simple staging. Her vocal quality and instrumentation shone through the open pavilion and warmed the crowd up perfectly for Platt’s set to follow… not that that place needed to get any warmer. 

This tour, aptly named ‘The Honeymind Tour,’ celebrates the release of the album, featuring multiple songs off of the album and highlighting moments from Ben’s life and journey as a performer. Woven throughout the evening were also several iconic covers including James Taylor’s “Your Smiling Face,” Joni Mitchell’s “River” and, as an homage to all the theatre kids in the audience, “Maybe This Time” from Kander and Ebb’s “Cabaret.” And, at one point, Platt even led the crowd in a spectacular rendition of “Happy Birthday to You” honoring Beanie Feldstein, whose birthday was the next day. 

With infectious queer energy, Platt sung the house down (as promised) distracting everyone from the heat for even a moment and creating a space where everyone could feel at home. For many fans, hearing Ben’s unique vocal style live was a special experience and for all in attendance it was an incredible experience to see a Broadway performer in a context where their talents and mastery of their craft can shine through their person, rather than a character. After a nearly hour-and-a-half long set, Ben bid adieu to the crowd and to Wolf Trap, excited for the rest of tour ahead. The tour runs through the end of July so make sure to catch a tour stop in a city near you before you miss the chance!