The upcoming Broadway production of the musical Maybe Happy Ending starring Darren Criss and Helen J Shen will be delayed by nearly a month due to what producers say are supply chain issues related to the custom-made scenic design.
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Originally announced to begin previews at the Belasco Theatre in September ahead of an October opening, the musical will now start performances on Wednesday, October 16 with opening night set for Tuesday, November 12. (A red-carpet company celebration will be held on Monday, November 11 ahead of the official press opening.)
Executive producer Allan Williams said that the musical “uses specially made video projections, which are a critically important part of its scenic design and unfortunately, there has been a delay in production for these custom theatrical goods from the factory which specializes in these models.” The supply chain issue, he continued, “has caused the show’s postponement by a few weeks so that we can ensure the show maintains its unique and technologically advanced rendering to tell this story and the world of HelperBots ‘Oliver’ and ‘Claire’.”
Neil A. Mazzella, Tech Supervisor and CEO, Hudson Scenic, said in a statement, “Many industries over the past few years have been experiencing major delays in manufacturing due to material shortages, labor shortages, shipment delays and the theatre industry has also been hit. The creative team for this show has designed a distinctive set and while the factory delay has been frustrating news to get, we are ensuring that the set gets built and delivered safely to the Belasco Theatre so that audiences get to see this show as it has so masterfully been intended to be presented.”
Directed by Michael Arden ( Parade ) and featuring music by Will Aronson, lyrics by Hue Park and book by both Aronson and Park, Maybe Happy Ending is described as a offbeat musical set in a one-room apartment on the outskirts of Seoul, where “HelperBot” Oliver (Criss) lives a happily quiet life listening to jazz records and caring for his favorite plant.
The synopsis continues, “But what else is there to do when you’re a HelperBot 3, a robot that has long been retired and considered obsolete? When his fellow HelperBot neighbor Claire (Shen) asks to borrow his charger, what starts as an awkward encounter leads to a unique friendship, a surprising adventure, and maybe even…love?”
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In addition to the previously announced Criss, Shen and Dez Duron, the cast will include the newly announced Marcus Choi (Wicked). Understudies will be announced at a later date.
Having led the visual development of the piece since 2018, Dane Laffrey ( A Christmas Carol, Once on This Island ) designed the set and additional video, while costume design is by Clint Ramos ( KPOP, Eclipsed ), lighting design is by Ben Stanton ( A Christmas Carol, Fun Home ), sound design by Peter Hylenski ( Moulin Rouge!, Beetlejuice ), and video design by George Reeve (S tephen Sondheim’s Old Friends , UK). Deborah Abramson ( The Gardens of Anuncia ) is the music supervisor and John Yun is the music director.
Maybe Happy Ending was written in both Korean and English-language versions. The Korean-language version opened in December of 2016 at DaeMyung Culture Factory in Seoul and subsequently won six Korean Musical Awards including Best Musical. The English-language version was awarded the 2017 Richard Rodgers Production Award and had its U.S. premiere at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta in the 2019-2020 season under the direction of Michael Arden.
Maybe Happy Ending is produced by Jeffrey Richards, Hunter Arnold, Darren Criss, 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 serves as Executive Producer.
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