The first English-language production of the hit Korean musical by Park Chun-hue and Will Aronson touches hearts in New York theater scene
“Maybe Happy Ending,” a Broadway adaptation of the beloved South Korean musical, has earned 10 nominations at the 78th annual Tony Awards, including best musical, best direction of a musical for Michael Arden, and best actor in a musical for Darren Criss.
This achievement places it alongside "Buena Vista Social Club" and "Death Becomes Her" as one of the most-nominated shows of the year. The winners will be announced at the ceremony on June 8.
Set in a near-futuristic Seoul, "Maybe Happy Ending" tells the quietly moving story of Oliver and Claire — two outdated HelperBot androids who forge an unexpected emotional connection after being discarded by their human owners. Criss stars as Oliver, with Broadway newcomer Helen J Shen portraying Claire.
The musical was originally written in Korean by playwright and lyricist Park Chun-hue, also known as Hue Park, with music by Will Aronson — longtime collaborators on bilingual productions.
Park and Aronson are nominated together for three Tony Awards — best musical, best original score and best book of a musical — while Aronson also picked up a fourth nomination for best orchestrations, making him this year’s most-nominated individual at the Tonys.
The duo’s recent project, "Il Tenore," which premiered in Seoul in 2023, also won top honors including the grand prize and composition award at a major Korean musical awards ceremony.
First developed with support from Korea’s Wooran Foundation in 2014, "Maybe Happy Ending" premiered in Seoul in 2016 following a series of readings and tryouts. It became a beloved hit over five seasons in 300-to-400-seat theaters.
The English-language adaptation was first workshopped in New York in 2016.
On Broadway, director Michael Arden and orchestrator Kim Scharnberg have brought the show to a wider international audience without sacrificing the work’s emotional subtlety.
Since opening at Broadway’s Belasco Theatre in November 2024, "Maybe Happy Ending" has become a commercial and critical success. During the final week of December, it grossed over $1 million in ticket sales, with a seat occupancy rate of 99.52%, according to BroadwayWorld.com. Its strong performance led to an extension through Jan. 17, 2026. As of late April, the show has surpassed 200 performances and grossed over $20.89 million.
In addition to its Tony nominations, “Maybe Happy Ending” has been nominated for four Drama League Awards, including outstanding production of a musical, outstanding direction, and distinguished performance.
Marking the 10th anniversary of its creation, the original Korean-language version of "Maybe Happy Ending" will return to the stage in Seoul this October.
gypark@heraldcorp.com
