Benj Pasek and Darren Criss sing Waving Through a Window

[@HyperLuigi37]

You’re telling me the writer for DEH knew Darren Criss in college Good lord

[@biancamilano]

Justin Paul, Benj Pasek, and Darren Criss were theatre students at the University of Michigan in the same class.

[@SlytherinBookworm]

biancamilano holy cow. AVPM and DEH only have one degree of separation. That is insane.

[@MaureenHermanns]

Oh wauw that means that he also could have been in starkid!!

[@rachelkindred4169]

why does darren know everybody

[@ethantroymascenon1969]

Pasek and Paul +Starkid???

[@maisiex9955]

Benj: I'm bringing out Darren Criss to make sure I don't mess this up DC: Messed up at the first line LOL these two are too adorable

[@stephaniel2850]

hehe, yeah, Darren was nervous too so he flubbed a couple lyrics xD (not that he's not prone to doing that in general- anyone who's ever seen him in concert knows he is lol, but in an actual theater production setting he always pulls through :P) Still freaking awesome and adorable though for sure!

[@bobo13193]

Darren messes up on lyrics that he wrote himself so it's not surprising if he messes up someone elses

[@therandompandaman4521]

@@bobo13193 If he messes up lyrics he writes himself, is it really messing up? Or is it simply an on the spot rewrite...

[@beah8316]

The Random Panda Man yes! I love this.

[@KattLover5412]

Darren forgets his own lyrics on stage sometimes and has to literally get the audience's help, its hilarious and adorable xD

[@evalynn1863]

Holy shit, there's that massive crush I've had on Darren Criss for the better part of a decade now... I was wondering where I had left it.

[@MusicLover676]

Hahaha oh my god, me too!

[@photogeekdancer10]

so true omg lol

[@lisamiep8825]

Same

[@sallybawls2197]

The real question is... How is it possible to stop crushing on him? Like.. How can that happen? Still haven't figured out. (don't intend to though)

[@89Ragnhild]

I've always said that I do not crush on celebrities and such, well then Darren entered my screen and that promptly changed...and it's still there 10+ years later :P

[@kokos3904]

HOW MUCH TALENT IS THERE IN THAT COLLEGE!?!? WTH? 😍🤩😍🤩🤩😍🤩😍🤩😍🤩😍🤩

[@yeshevishman]

I should have gone to U of M...

[@carolinemichalak7128]

the university of michigan >>>>

[@rbishop95]

University of Michigan has a very good theatre program

[@harmonybakkum2592]

so much. ashley park from mean girls also went.

[@comfitchaotic]

also Carlos valdes (Cisco Ramon/ Vibe) from flash!!!!

[@reuthershkovitz1031]

he's more harry potter now than what he was when he *actually was* harry potter

[@ryanfaure3120]

I NEED BENJ TO TAKE ON THE ROLE 😱

[@stephaniel2850]

Benj OR Darren would honestly be amazing! :) I mean they're both on the older side for it haha, but they look young for their ages and who cares about that anyway? xD Gimme either one of them as Evan and I'd be there in a heartbeat!

[@regina5135]

Agreed!!

[@dian1545]

just cast him as Evan already

[@abbycramer4449]

Which one

[@milliealmonte5758]

Darren Criss!!!!😊that would be so freaking awesome!!!!

[@dianechung9893]

hi we have the same name and i love tht for us

[@megankarow2328]

tbh?? i think he’d be a better connor than evan.

[@stevephanOfficial]

Yeah, he cant belt the “Waving”s. His lower baritenor would be great for Connor.

[@keikustar]

I have waited SO LONG to hear Darren sing this 😥👌😭😍😍😍

[@miatyae5447]

I KNOW!

[@coolguyhino92]

seeing him mess up, and giggle that he's nervous actually puts me a little at ease. Darren Criss messing up DEH, politely, and humbly, actually gives him a little more respect.

[@gabrielas.8306]

Look, Darren didn't know even his own songs (ekhm...AVPSY...ekhm) so I'm not surprised that he messed up this one. :D Still I love this. :D

[@samimackay7052]

Gabriela S. or be fair he didn’t write avpsy the songs were part of an audience competition ☺️ but yeah he always fucks up his own songs

[@ChargerBulldogs19]

Sami Mackay only one song- Get in my mouth- was a fan submission. The rest of them were Darren and the rest of the Starkid team.

[@KatSales]

I think he's admitted to forgetting some of his own songs sometimes, especially if he hasn't sung them in a while. I saw him a few years back and he had trouble with Getting Back to Hogwarts. Kinda cute, tbh lol

[@cassielyniw]

@@ChargerBulldogs19 darren actually didn't write any avpsy songs he was too busy being famous

[@Ihavealottosay1]

I think think for the first time darren Criss to cool to play this character

[@regina5135]

In love😍😍 Benj seriously just take the role already! You made this role for yourself honestly.

[@PhoenixInLove]

He sang it so perfectly!

[@luckyklutz26]

So what I'm hearing is that Pasek and Paul could have been in AVPM...

[@yayshowvids6427]

Lucy Lutz OPPORTUNITY LOST

[@harmonybakkum2592]

HOLY SHITTT

[@kieranpatch7571]

I love the spin Darren puts on this song! It sounds super cool

[@charchar1300]

Benj's voice is so good 😍

[@stephaniel2850]

akjdflask Darren sounds so freaking gorgeous on this song!!! * *___* * As does Benj- they sound so gorgeous *together* ! I'mma need a studio recording of this version, is what I'm saying! (also d'awww Darren you had no reason to be nervous, you did amazing :'D)

[@ashleydecelles957]

Darren Criss is one of my favorite people on this planet. He's just so perfect

[@stephenreznikoff3558]

Benj is such a babe 💗

[@archiefanatic101]

Benj sings better than I hoped 😎

[@joanyou6254]

In the beginning the first guy kinda sounds like ben platt

[@yayshowvids6427]

That’s Benj Pasek, the composer

[@emitbrowntheyshehe8429]

Book says "I had no talent in college" also sings this perfect.

[@sooupys]

Darren just has this cool, collected confidence that is NOTHING like Evan Hansen. He just doesn’t fit this role well.

[@salome5581]

Well he also doesn’t fit playing serial killer but he still got an ammy because he’s that good of an actor 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@sisidiam1096]

at this point they are just singing the song. He is not trying to play a role. In this specific video he is Darren Criss singing a song not Evan explaining his feelings

[@tiffanyhelenburg1160]

Well done gentlemen. That was awesome

[@yoongichi9557]

I love this and how it sounds for some reason

[@_ttml]

Spark joy exploded my body and I'm in heaven.

[@_____2219]

I love that when Darren dances he dances with his whole body. Like he can feel the whole song.

[@kickinbackwithKeira]

Anyone wonder if Glee was on when DEH started on Broadway of Blaine would’ve sang Waving Through a Window? I would’ve loved that!

[@maryannshurilla8284]

why does benj and ben fankhauser sound the same???

[@mbunnyj7051]

Guys, guys - just had this idea; DEH, with Ben Platt as Evan, and Darren Criss as his understudy.

[@evaperez5625]

Darren’s runs!!

[@pauliaprile5260]

Why isn’t Benj playing Evan...?

[@noragrace326]

Because Ben Platt is a beautiful being

[@saschahoupt6177]

@@noragrace326 Ehm... hate to break it to you but he left the show over a year ago.

[@selinapoochie]

@@saschahoupt6177 Platt will be in the movie!!!!

[@beckbavis4190]

,,, wait. does this mean Benj knew Darren during his Starkid days???

[@yayshowvids6427]

Rebecca B. Yes

[@yayshowvids6427]

Rebecca B. Pic images.app.goo.gl/dTbmdUGEQ6WZkVo57

[@harmonybakkum2592]

oh. my. god.

[@afterallthistimealways1783]

I love how the first two “waving through a window”’s are originally falsetto and the rest full voice, but here it’s the opposite. Great take on the original. Very different but I think if it was actually practiced it could be just as good.

[@jlaud29]

Usher never yelled at me! Or anybody in the first couple rows, I did see them coming too so I lost visuals for a second as well haha

[@adr869]

What's a usher ?

[@hannahbudgets101]

Audrey An usher is basically someone who works at a theatre/venue etc. who helps people find their seats and follow rules/policies. For example, at a cinema, the person who tears your ticket and directs you to the correct theatre is an usher.

[@juliathehueman]

Umich alum love to be extra together

[@katherinebuchholz7371]

Yes,yes,yes to this all!

[@chelsie388]

I want benj to step up and be evan already like-

[@ruzspruce9984]

If Ryan Murphy made a new episode of Glee and made Blaine sing this, I'LL BE THERE FIRST.

[@ivyclamons1956]

benj. please play evan. that’s all, thank you for your time.

[@hannadant138]

Darren as the new Evan 2k19....

[@anrina]

OooOoh Benj. Color me impressed.

[@gabriellemelecio9761]

I was your 1000th like 😉

[@lilym2816]

benj and justin paul came to my school today!!!!!

[@yayshowvids6427]

Lily M Amazing!

[@hanjiizone]

it's a yes from me

[@nghnnn2991]

Oof that harmony tho

[@angelabauza12]

ohmygooood!!!!

[@stephpiano2908]

AWWWWWWWWW

[@logangreen6107]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@ali13albrecht]

U of m alumni!!!

[@a.ccompton]

i'm just gonna say it - darren gives me brendon urie vibes

[@soniachapple3141]

Brendon is so much better at runs and ad libs … no comparison for me. Not to say Darren isn’t great but IMO Brendon is far better (range wise)

[@josepoelen6439]

♥

[@ccld4341]

José NO WAY, JOSE

[@annaelisabeth8662]

i feel like darren criss and ben platt would be good friends

[@bella664]

Step on me like you step on my feelings I'm bawling in the bathroom

[@dangitydangadang9417]

Darren looks like Garrett Watts WHy am I tHe oNlY One whO SeEs ThIs UghHh

[@jazztries4715]

I see it too

[@lemonsnap3337]

I love Darren but in this video it’s like he’s never used or seen a microphone in his life 😆

[@jennanderton4416]

He does seem uncomfortable

[@kylierodman7567]

@@jennanderton4416 And that is why he could act the part of Evan

[@IAN-zt3yt]

darren,, is doing , ,, sweater paws ,,

[@fishsmoothie7463]

Yes!

[@kaylahemmo4125]

this is so cute

[@yoongichi9557]

Zomg

[@myabedard9601]

Darren for Evan 2020

[@miatyae5447]

Yup!

[@nahuelma97]

I almost can't forgive the head voice "waving"s. Almost

[@jaqenhghar2446]

Darren Criss just can't hit the high notes though. Always resorts to the breathy falsetto. 😕

[@archiefanatic101]

Jaqen H'ghar sadly, I have to agree.

[@stephaniel2850]

His falsetto is really pretty though, so... I don't mind? haha. I've noticed that every once in a while he will go for some too-high falsetto note choices that just don't quite land right and then he usually readjusts shortly thereafter to bring it down an octave, but I don't hear that happening here... I just hear airier but still controlled and pretty falsetto on the "waving" parts!

[@HyperLuigi37]

I think Benj did the same lol, tbf they’re pretty damn high, I feel like Ben Platt is one of the few that can hit those notes

[@bennyhaibara7745]

Well, everyone has different a extention.

[@Ralalaize]

Jaqen H'ghar his falsetto is nice and well controlled though? You can’t really blame him for having a lower register??

[@michaelbell75]

Its not a pop song. Its an angst ridden song and they are singing it like a pop song. No.

[@yayshowvids6427]

It’s also a pop song, according to they who wrote it 😂

[@drlt9241]

Darren Criss needs voice lessons!

[@user-lm6xh6ki7y]

Love Darren, but his high notes are terrible