Maybe Happy Ending seems like it could be good

Broadway is flooded with new shows at the moment, and yet fall is filling in quickly with more shows. Maybe Happy Ending, a new musical opening on Broadway was announced the other day. Do I care? I did some research!

Maybe Happy Ending, a musical about “two life-like helper-bots, Oliver and Claire, who discover each other in Seoul in the late 21st century and develop a connection that challenges what they believe is possible for themselves, relationships, and love” will star Helen J Shen and Darren Criss. Darren Criss is best known for starring on the show Glee, but he has also been in quite a few Broadway productions. Most notably, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Little Shop of Horrors and Hedwig and the Angry Inch. I think this will be the first time he has originated a role on Broadway.

Helen J Shen has less credits to her name, but she seems fun.

Uniquely, Maybe Happy Ending originated in South Korea as 어쩌면 해피엔딩. The song lyrics are written by Hue Park, and the music is by Will Aronson. Will Aronson is apparently a big deal in Korea. In 2013, The New York times called his work Korea’s most popular original music.

The music I’ve heard so far sounds great, even though this earlier version is in Korean.

All of this is fine, but the real selling point for me is the director of this Broadway run, Michael Arden. Michael Arden always brings a super unique aesthetic to his shows. His shows are always special. If you’re not obsessed, you should be. His last show was Parade (starring Ben Platt), which looked perfect. Arden also directed a production of Merrily We Roll Along in Beverly Hills in 2016. Easily one of my favorite productions ever.