Dear Evan Hansen is a terrible movie, but it was first an award-winning Broadway musical. The titular Evan Hansen suffers from social anxiety and is encouraged to write letters to himself as reminders of everything good that happened that day. It’s a heartwarming story of finding oneself and coming to terms with mental illness. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Dear Evan Hansen is partnering with Blueberry Entertainment and Roblox to bring Evan’s distinctive blue-striped polo shirt to Roblox’s metaverse. Starting May 13, Roblox players will be able to purchase Evan’s blue polo and wear it in-game. All proceeds from the sale of each digital shirt will be donated to Child Mind Institute, a US-based non-profit dedicated to assisting children affected by mental health disorders.And that’s not all. Dear Evan Hansen is also partnering with Bored Ape Yacht Club to mint two Bored Ape NFTs dressed in the same blue-striped polo shirt. Bored Ape #5430 and #5838 will go up for sale soon with a portion of the sale price heading to Child Mind Institute.
"Everyone at Dear Evan Hansen is very proud that Evan’s blue-striped polo has become a recognizable symbol of the search for connection," said Dear Evan Hansen producer Stacey Mindich in a press release. "For several years, we have sold a replica of the onstage polo, with a percentage of profits going to our mental health not-for-profit partners. Now, we are excited to offer this polo to multiple metaverse communities, as the first Broadway show to partner with a digital fashion company, bringing live theater to a whole new audience, while also continuing our focus on philanthropy and mental health wellness."
Roblox and Bored Ape Yacht Club are interesting partners for children’s mental health. Roblox has been accused of exploiting young developers and failing to protect children from online predators on its platform. Bored Ape Yacht Club, meanwhile, is built on a technology that’s rapidly cooking the planet, which is an issue that is generating a lot of anxiety for children these days.