Rehearsals are underway for Maybe Happy Ending, set to begin performances at the Belasco Theatre October 16 with Darren Criss and Helen J Shen starring. Step inside the rehearsal room for the new musical in the gallery below.
Criss and Shen will star in the musical's Broadway debut as Oliver and Claire, respectively, sharing the stage with Dez Duron, Marcus Choi, Steven Huynh, Hannah Kevitt, Daniel May, and Christopher James Tamayo.
The musical was previously forced to postpone its Broadway start due to supply chain issues related to the show's scenic design, which reportedly uses specialty projection technology. Opening night will now be November 12.
Darren Criss
Will Aronson
Michael Arden
Hue Park
Company of Maybe Happy Ending
Dez Duron, Helen J Shen, and Darren Criss
Dez Duron
Helen J Shen
Darren Criss
Helen J Shen and Darren Criss
Helen J Shen and Darren Criss
Marcus Choi
Marcus Choi and Darren Criss
Darren Criss and Helen J Shen
Set in South Korea, the musical follows a Helperbot 3 that has been deemed obsolete. When his Helperbot neighbor drops by to borrow a charger, a bond is formed, the beginning of a surprising and romantic adventure. The original work features music by Will Aronson and lyrics by Hue Park, and both have collaborated on the book.
Park is a former K-Pop lyricist, working with Music Cube as a college student. Later attending New York University, Park met Aronson, and a musical theatre collaboration was born. Working mostly in Korea, the pair has previously written musicals Bungee Jump (based on the Korean film) and Il Tenore, and will premiere Ghost Bakery at Seoul's Doosan Arts Center later this year.
Aronson and Park have written both English- and Korean-language versions of Maybe Happy Ending, with the latter having premiered in 2016 in Seoul. The English version won the 2017 Richard Rodgers Production Award, playing Atlanta's Alliance Theatre in 2020.
Maybe Happy Ending will feature scenic and additional video design by Dane Laffrey, costume design by Clint Ramos, lighting design by Ben Stanton, sound design by Peter Hylenski, video design by George Reeve, music supervision by Deborah Abramson, and music direction by John Yun. Justin Scribner will serve as production stage manager. Casting is by Telsey & Co's Craig Burns.
Jeffrey Richards and Hunter Arnold are leading the producing team alongside Criss, Pamela and Stephen Della Pietra, Rebecca Gold, Spencer Ross, Adam Zotovich, Kayla Greenspan, M/B/P Productions, Fahs Productions, Ken Greiner, Ruth Hendel, Willette and Manny Klausner, Cody Lassen, Mix and Match Productions, The Nederlander Organization, Jacob Stuckelman & John Albert Harris. Allan Williams is serving as executive producer.
Visit MaybeHappyEnding.com.
Helen J Shen and Darren Criss
Hannah Kevitt and Steven Huynh
Michael Arden
Dez Duron
Helen J Shen
Dez Duron, Steven Huynh, Michael Arden, Christopher James Tamayo, Marcus Choi, Helen J Shen, Will Aronson, Darren Criss, Hue Park, Hannah Kevitt, and Daniel May
Dez Duron, Helen J Shen, Michael Arden, Marcus Choi, Will Aronson, and Hue Park
Dez Duron, Helen J Shen, Darren Criss, and Marcus Choi
Dez Duron, Helen J Shen, Darren Criss, and Marcus Choi
Dez Duron
Helen J Shen and Darren Criss
Darren Criss
Darren Criss
Helen J Shen
Michael Arden
Daniel May
Hue Park and Will Aronson
Marcus Choi
Hannah Kevitt
Steven Huynh
Christopher James Tamayo
