Profile for MimiChika

mitchern said: "A friend who worked on the Superstar concerts at the Hollywood Bowl said that Lord ALW and others were talking backstage about wanting to bring it to Radio City for a few nights this fall or Spring if scheduled aligned."

This is fan fiction. There’s no plans for JCS. Sorry.

JSquared2 said: "Looks like Karen Olivo (who goes by KO now!) will be directing a concert of IN THE HEIGHTS at the O'Neill Center! I guessshe got bored making pottery in Wisconsin and is testing the waters to make her triumphant (3rd or 4th?) return to Broadway!

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/KO-to-Direct-Robin-de-Jess-Katerina-McCrimmon-and-More-in-IN-THE-HEIGHTS-Benefit-Concert-20250805

"
going back to the main topic: 

Uninspired casting and meh. Wish they had an exciting cast ala Hollywood Bowl. This is just meh

 

Helen you are eating your words. Period 

 

https://www.teenvogue.com/story/helen-shen-maybe-happy-ending-tonys-2025-interview?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwL5J1hleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABp-1mcDsLR9K3rirux5rnUweU5TlSeayHMuAjDSSdKpNO3ZkQfgwu5KAwyL4Z_aem_ShOv_aXutN0OPnj-xUsP2Q

TV: So according to Playbill, Darren's the first Asian actor to win Best Leading Actor in a Musical. I wanted to talk to you about Asian representation on Broadway — there’s yourself, Darren, the entire show of Maybe Happy Ending is a breakthrough in so many ways. So talk to me about getting to be that beacon for other young Asian kids now at this moment.

HS: Firstly, Lea Salonga [introduced us] before our performance. She has been such a huge champion of our show. She's come to see it a couple of times and has just always been such a loud advocate for us. But she was my beacon growing up, and I attest a lot of my thoughts that this was ever a possibility [for me], to her career.

We've had Asian families at the stage door say, “I bring my kids to Broadway shows all the time and I never thought in my lifetime that I would see a show like this where these characters are portrayed by Asian actors, and the story feels very inherently Asian.” It feels like baked in the bones, and yet it's not about that, it's actually about the universality of humanity. And I feel really excited that it's reached kind of mainstream in this way. It's just not to say that let's tell Asian stories for Asian people. These stories matter because everyone can be seen in them.

It trickles down to, then, what people think is possible. I feel very emotional thinking about if 11-year-old Helen saw Maybe Happy Ending, listened to the cast recording, knew the journey of where it came from in Korea, that it's not just about trying to be a Western idea and trying to fit yourself into this mold…All you can do is keep being yourself, and that will click at some point. I feel it so profoundly.

Also in the microcosm way at the theater, we get to really celebrate what's fun about it and order dim sum and go out to the barbecue. There's little things like that when you're not the minority in a cast, you can kind of experience in a way that you didn't really experience before. And we have AAPI representation across the board — the stage managers and our designers, and everyone at the Belasco, even though it's a four person cast, it is filled to the brim with the most amazing women, the most amazing queer people. It's just the best building to go to work in. And I'm going back to work tomorrow. It feels like there's an ending of some sorts that feels like a conclusion or a culmination, a chapter ending [with the Tonys wins]. But actually, we go to work.

 

Direct quote from Michael Arden form Q&A he did on Reddit: 
https://www.reddit.com/r/Broadway/comments/1gva2c6/im_michael_arden_director_of_maybe_happy_ending/

Question:

As an AsAm actor, one of my favorite things about MHE was how entrenched it felt in Asian culture — particularly in the way it approaches its themes. What was the conversation/thought process like when considering producing the musical in the States v. Korea— were there things you felt needed to change to register? Things you were very  intent didn’t? Thank you!

reply:

Michael Arden: I wanted it to be as authentic as possible. I also think it's in the DNA of the story and writing. Not much needed to change really, and I think when it did feel foreign, we leaned into that. People want to travel the world through art.

BorisTomashevsky said: "^ You’re overthinking this.

So, by right, if the production’s recent statement is true and they wanted to always be a show where any race can play any role, then theyshould NOT have participated in those two occasions that they posted about?"

Original casting breakdown before Andrew got cast: 

https://ibb.co/WpD5Rb52



 

Rumored principal cast: 

taken from social media 
 

https://ibb.co/YTV26kxD

Show is extending to October, extension announcement coming next week.

The old “lee's art shop” on 57th is the venue for phantom of the opera, they bought the whole building. 

Word on the street is that Whoopi Goldberg is the next Hermes. Announcement soon. 

Robbie2 said: "Jarethan said: "BroadwayNoob2 said: "Why do you think she’s wrong for the role since she’s about to open in DC."

I’ll get criticized for this, but I didn’t think she looked right for the role. More importantly, as good as her voice was, I don’t think it was a good match for the songs. Then there is the totally intangible..she lacked charisma…at least as Evita. Re the poster who said the sets look cool or something like that…ya had to be there…they did nothing for the show and IMO neon rarely works…it looked like it was intended for a different show."

She doesn't look right for the role and my agent friend saw it and hated everything about it especially Shereen Pimentel. He said this production will not land on Broadway and not with her as she's all wrong for Eva! He also said no plans are set for Studio 54.https://www.shakespearetheatre.org/events/evita-23-24

"

Whatever your agent friend thinks of the show or not is irrelevant. You should see the show before you hate it. I saw the show in Cambridge and it’s fantastic.  Anyway the production at A.R.T and STC is being produced by No Guarantees. See you opening night on Broadway. 

AKarp2013 said: "I have a hunch the next Andrew Lloyd Webber show to open on Broadway will bePhantom of the Opera."

EVITA will open at Studio 54 Spring 2024 😎. They’ll announce it once they open the show again at Shakespeare Theater  Company, is the same production that opened at A.R.T

Rumor is Rachel Zegler is joining the cast. 

Voter said: "Compiling the house rumors... let's see who ends up closest to correct!



IMPERIAL - Chess

MUSIC BOX - PURLIE

AUGUST WILSON - Cabaret

ST JAMES - The Wiz?

JACOBS - The Notebook

SCHOENFELD -

STUDIO 54 -

BELASCO -

LONGACRE - if something was announced I missed it!

CIRCLE IN THE SQUARE -



Under Construction - PALACE, MAJESTIC"

Studio 54- EVITA

First b-roll. Shereen sounds so good. The production looks stunning. 
https://youtu.be/QtNAlOeDypg

kingjames2 said: "I would say a fall transfer isunlikely, given that the DC production would close in late October at the earliest."

Well, per Instagram, it has now been extended at A.R.T till July 30. The run in D.C according to their website is Sep 5 to Oct 8

Back to the topic. 
do we think a transfer in the fall? 
they are supposed to open in DC first week of September. 

inception said: "I am curious why Soleil Pfeiffer who played the NYCC shows isn't involved? She was just on the recent PBS special singing Evita, & was wonderful."

She’s not latinx. The entire cast at A.R.T is latinx.