Feature: Full Tour Cast of DEAR EVAN HANSEN Surprises Utah Theater Lovers After Group's Excursion to Las Vegas

When Megan Gutierrez arranged a Las Vegas excursion for Utah Theater Lovers to enjoy the tour of Dear Evan Hansen, she thought she scored a major coup by arranging a meet and greet with a single cast member.

But the group then received a major surprise after the show -- with a few more than one person on the Dear Evan Hansen playbill.

"We thought we were just going to meet with one cast member, but then the whole cast showed up at the theater afterward. It was amazing!" she said. "The post-show meeting was arranged by a friend of mine. She saw that we were going and knows someone in the cast. She reached out to him. "

Guiterrez masterminded the active and influential meetup group, which now boasts more than 1,000 across Utah -- and beyond, with an offshoot group call Theater Lovers Travel. The core group meets at least once a month for Salt Lake City-area show and a post-show discussion over dinner at a local restaurant. She and her assistant, Shannon Herrera, also arrange talkbacks, theater tours and other related activities.

"I have loved kicking off the last three years with a Theater Lovers Travel experience," wrote Corina Johnson on Facebook. "This January finds us in Las Vegas for the Broadway Touring Company production of Dear Evan Hansen. Of course, it was a complete trip -- with hotel, group dinner, transportation and lots of theater-loving friends. The experience wrapped up with a private talkback with the entire cast. Thanks to Megan Gutierrez for creating such an amazing group."

"When I first started Theater Lovers my goal was to find others to see shows with," Guiterrez explained. "Seven years we headed to Las Vegas with 30 fellow Theater Lovers! So excited to connect with new and old friends."

The theater enthusiast extraordinaire continued, "Most rewarding was connecting with fellow Theater Lovers. There's nothing like finding your tribe. From grabbing a quick lunch, to attending the Mob Museum, to engaging conversation over dinner with friends new and old, I loved it."