With a new leading man taking over Broadway‘s Maybe Happy Ending, the South Korean musical’s creators are responding to discourse around the casting of Andrew Barth Feldman.
After Darren Criss, who is of Asian descent, originated the role of Oliver on Broadway following the show’s Asian-led run in Seoul, writers Hue Park and Will Aronson responded to recent backlash over the casting of Feldman, who is white.
“Our dream at the outset was that our allegorical robot show could one day miraculously become part of the American musical theater canon – a modern Fantasticks, able to be comfortably performed by anyone, anywhere – yet distinctly set in Korea,” they explained in a statement on Instagram. “This went against prevailing wisdom that we needed to set our show in America.”
After the musical’s 2016 premiere in Korea and 2024 Broadway premiere, the pair added in part, “We’re extremely saddened that the show, a decade-long labor of love for us, could ever become a source of confusion, anger or pain.”
Park and Aronson concluded that they “will continue our conversations as Maybe Happy Ending continues its journey onstage.”
Actress Helen J. Shen, who has not yet been confirmed to continue her run as Claire when Feldman takes over for Criss on Sept. 2, also shared a statement.
“I acknowledge that we can’t control how the show is received and the impact that it has had,” she wrote on Instagram. “The vacuum of A/PI stories that don’t center around pain or tropes wanted to be filled by our show from our community. I have and continue to be extremely proud to look the way I do and to co-lead this Broadway show. I know the hurt that people feel because growing up, I would have found a beacon of hope in seeing our show on tv on the Tony Awards. A part of me is mourning that along with the community.”
Shen added, “This has been an immensely challenging moment within my home with Andrew, and in this building filled with A/PI folks to say the least. I don’t know what’s forward, but to have this opportunity to play opposite my favorite actor in the world for 9 weeks, who happens to be PERFECT for the role is a huge moment of joy for me. Every perspective on this situation contains truth.”
Maybe Happy Ending follows Oliver and Claire, two life-like robots who develop a commection in late 21st century Seoul. After its Broadway debut, the show won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for Criss.
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