There's about to be a new HelperBot model. Maybe Happy Ending has signed up Andrew Barth Feldman as its new star beginning September 2 at the Belasco Theatre. Feldman’s nine-week limited run through November 1 will see him succeeding Tony winner (and producer) Darren Criss as Oliver. Criss' final performance in Maybe Happy Ending will be August 31.
The casting will also see Feldman playing opposite his offstage girlfriend, Helen J Shen, who is continuing in her originating role as Claire.
“I am so in love with this show and with Helen J Shen,” says Feldman in a statement. “I’ve been a plus one on this Broadway journey from the beginning, and this brilliant team and beautiful company have already become such a big part of my life. That they trust me with this role, and are giving me the ridiculous gift of sharing it with Helen, is an honor beyond words.”
Maybe Happy Ending is a 2025 Tony Award winner for Best Musical. Feldman will join the otherwise complete continuing original cast, including Shen, Marcus Choi as James, and Dez Duron as Gil Brentley. Understudies Steven Huynh, Hannah Kevitt, Daniel May, Claire Kwon, and Christopher James Tamayo round out the company. Casting is by Telsey & Co's Craig Burns.
“The entire creative team is absolutely thrilled to welcome Andrew Barth Feldman to the cast of Maybe Happy Ending as the robot Oliver for this special limited engagement,” says Tony-winning writers Hue Park and Will Aronson, and Tony-winning director Michael Arden in a joint statement. “Andrew is a remarkable talent—emotionally honest, musically gifted, and full of heart—and we can’t wait for audiences to experience his fresh and moving take on this role. He joins the luminous Helen J Shen and the incredible company including Marcus Choi, and Dez Duron, who continue to bring this story to life with warmth, wonder, and humanity night after night. We fell in love with Andrew’s take on the role of Oliver when he appeared as the reader in Helen J Shen’s initial audition tape, so to have him join her onstage at the Belasco is indeed a special treat, and a pairing we feel certain audiences will love as much as we (and they) do. At its core, Maybe Happy Ending is a story about the longing for connection and the complexities of being human (and Helperbot, and Vegetable)—universal themes that transcend all backgrounds. We’re proud to continue embracing infinite and exciting possibilities in casting, and to showcase this role as one that welcomes different interpretations and lived experiences. We’re so excited for what Andrew will bring to this next chapter and can’t wait to see who will plug into Oliver’s charger next.”
The performance will be Feldman’s first time back on Broadway since starring in the title role of Dear Evan Hansen in 2019, a Broadway debut performance that came hot on the heels of his 2018 win at the Jimmy Awards, for his high school performance in Catch Me If You Can. The New York native has since enjoyed a film career, including starring opposite Jennifer Lawrence in No Hard Feelings, as well as performances in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, A Tourist’s Guide to Love, Saturday Night, and the voice of Dopey in Disney's live action Snow White. His most recent New York stage performance was in the Off-Broadway play We Had a World by Joshua Harmon this past spring.
Maybe Happy Ending continues its run at the Belasco Theatre. Opening night was November 12, 2024. The musical, featuring a Tony-winning book and score by Park and Will Aronson, is currently flying high as the most Tony-winning show of the season, with six wins. The show was also one of three productions to be the most-nominated of the season, with nods in 10 Tony categories. See the full list of 2025 Tony winners here.
READ: Maybe Happy Ending Writers Hue Park and Will Aronson on the Art of Writing in 2 Languages
Maybe Happy Ending follows Claire and Oliver, two HelperBots living in Seoul who have been deemed obsolete. The pair form an unlikely bond, setting off a surprising and romantic adventure.
Two-time Tony winner Arden directs, leading a creative team that also includes includes scenic and additional video designer Dane Laffrey, costume designer Clint Ramos, lighting designer Ben Stanton, sound designer Peter Hylenski, video designer George Reeve, music supervisor Deborah Abramson, and music director John Yun.
Visit MaybeHappyEnding.com.
Helen J Shen and Darren Criss in Maybe Happy Ending
Helen J Shen and Darren Criss in Maybe Happy Ending
Helen J Shen and Darren Criss in Maybe Happy Ending
Helen J Shen and Darren Criss in Maybe Happy Ending
Helen J Shen in Maybe Happy Ending
Darren Criss and Helen J Shen in Maybe Happy Ending
Helen J Shen and Darren Criss in Maybe Happy Ending
Helen J Shen and Darren Criss in Maybe Happy Ending
Helen J Shen and Darren Criss in Maybe Happy Ending
