The previously announced Broadway bow for new musical Maybe Happy Ending by Will Aronson and Hue Park has been forced to postpone by about a month, with performances now slated to begin October 16 at the Belasco Theatre. The new opening night is November 12.
Producers are citing supply chain issues related to the show's scenic design as the reason for the delay. "Maybe Happy Ending 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," says Executive Producer Allan Williams in a statement. "That supply chain issue 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’."
Adds Neil A. Mazzella, Tech Supervisor and CEO of Hudson Scenic Studio, the firm that is making the show's set: "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."
As previously shared, the musical will be led by Darren Criss and Helen J Shen as Oliver and Claire, respectively, sharing the stage with The Voice star Dez Duron. Newly added to that roster is Marcus Choi, with further company members to be announced in the coming weeks.
Set in South Korea, the musical follows a Helperbot 3 that has been deemed obsolete. When his Helperbot neighbor drops by to borrow a charger, a bond is formed, the beginning of a surprising and romantic adventure. The original work features music by Aronson and lyrics by Park, and both have collaborated on the book.
Park is a former K-Pop lyricist, working with Music Cube as a college student. Later attending New York University, Park met Aronson, and a musical theatre collaboration was born. Working mostly in Korea, the pair has previously written musicals Bungee Jump (based on the Korean film) and Il Tenore, and will premiere Ghost Bakery at Seoul's Doosan Arts Center later this year.
Aronson and Park have written both English- and Korean-language versions of Maybe Happy Ending, with the latter having premiered in 2016 in Seoul. The English version won the 2017 Richard Rodgers Production Award, playing Atlanta's Alliance Theatre in 2020.
Maybe Happy Ending will feature scenic and additional video design by Dane Laffrey, costume design by Clint Ramos, lighting design by Ben Stanton, sound design by Peter Hylenski, video design by George Reeve, music supervision by Deborah Abramson, and music direction by John Yun. Justin Scribner will serve as production stage manager. Casting is by Telsey & Co's Craig Burns.
Jeffrey Richards and Hunter Arnold are leading the producing team alongside 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, and Jacob Stuckelman and John Albert Harris. Allan Williams is serving as executive producer.
Visit MaybeHappyEnding.com.
