Korean Musical 'Maybe Happy Ending' Nominated for 10 Tony Awards
On May 28, outside the Belasco Theatre on Broadway in New York, a long line of eager attendees formed despite the rain, all waiting to see the musical 'Maybe Happy Ending' (어쩌면 해피엔딩). Melissa Johnson joined the queue, asking, "Is this the line for 'Maybe Happy Ending'?" This homegrown Korean musical, co-created by lyricist and playwright Park Chun-hyu (박천휴) and American composer Will Aronson, premiered in 2016 in Seoul's Daehakro and is now making waves on Broadway. The show is nominated for ten categories at the 78th Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Actor, which will take place on June 8 at Radio City Music Hall.
The Belasco Theatre, which seats 1,100, has been sold out consistently, especially since the Tony nominations were announced earlier last month. Audience member Melissa Stone expressed her excitement, stating, "I’ve known about this musical for a while, but now I finally get to see it. I felt a rush to see it before it gets even more popular if it wins a Tony."
'Maybe Happy Ending' features only three characters, making it a modest production that seems unlikely for Broadway, yet it has captivated audiences. The unique storyline revolves around a pair of outdated robots who, facing obsolescence, discover love in their final moments. This innovative narrative, combined with stellar performances and music, has garnered praise from both audiences and critics alike, especially as it resonates with contemporary themes of artificial intelligence.
While the dialogue is primarily in English, there are moments that reflect its Korean roots, such as subtitles indicating "Seoul, Korea" and the male lead Oliver referring to his potted plants in Korean. As the story progresses, the characters even find themselves in Jeju Island, where the famous fireflies make an appearance.
The audience demographic was diverse, with high school students filling the third-floor seats. When Darren Criss, nominated for Best Actor, took the stage, the cheers were reminiscent of a K-pop concert. The moment when Oliver and female lead Claire share their first kiss elicited an enthusiastic response, with one student later remarking, "I thought my heart would stop."
Darren Criss has announced that he will extend his run as Oliver until August 31, expressing his deep affection for the show and the character. He stated, "I fell in love with 'Maybe Happy Ending' and the robots in it. I’m thrilled to shout 'We’re going to Jeju!' eight times a week during this magical time."
As the Tony Awards approach, all eyes are on how this Daehakro musical will perform. In the fiercely competitive category for Best New Musical, 'Maybe Happy Ending' is up against popular adaptations like 'The Woman Who Died' and 'Buena Vista Social Club.' Critics have noted that while adaptations often dominate, many are giving high marks for originality to 'Maybe Happy Ending.' New York Times critic Jesse Green highlighted 'The Woman Who Died' as a strong contender but noted, "I usually vote for shows that push Broadway forward rather than conform to it. If it were up to me, I would award 'Maybe Happy Ending.'"
