Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 5/14/24 at 11:10am

I’m always excited for a musical with new, original music!

[Kad]

Posted: 5/14/24 at 11:19am

Michael Arden is certainly busy this year! He's currently directing Titus Burgess' musical in Atlanta, then he hops immediately to Queen of Versailles in Boston, then straight into this, and then presumably back to Versailles on Broadway. And he still was able to direct the Met Gala performances featuring Ariana Grande!

Updated On: 5/14/24 at 11:19 AM

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 5/14/24 at 11:21am

Also, yes to more musical romcoms.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/14/24 at 11:25am

Really curious to see more of Arden's directing! 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 5/14/24 at 11:28am

Criss proved to be a draw in How to Succeed at the height of his "Glee" career, but his involvement in Hedwig didn't mean much to ticket buyers a few years later.

Can he sell a new musical? 

[Musigamist]

Posted: 5/14/24 at 11:28am

For anyone interested in the Atlanta run, the Alliance has quite a bit of content for the show on their Youtube channel. 

https://www.youtube.com/@AllianceTheatre/search?query=maybe%20happy%20ending

[TylerJia]

Posted: 5/14/24 at 11:31am

The design is STUNNING, I hope they don't change a thing

[JSquared2]

Posted: 5/14/24 at 11:36am

EDSOSLO858 said: "Criss proved to be a draw inHow to Succeedat the height of his "Glee" career, buthis involvement inHedwigdidn't mean much to ticketbuyers a few years later.

Can he sell a new musical?"

Can anyone?  To the casual ticket buyer, his name probably means more than Jeremy Jordan, Corey Cott, Grant Gustin, Reeve Carney and Derek Klena -- COMBINED!

 

[OhHiii]

Posted: 5/14/24 at 11:41am

Would seem that the Oracle’s sources are becoming more reliable these days…

[Falsettolands]

Posted: 5/14/24 at 11:43am

JSquared2 said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "Criss proved to be a draw inHow to Succeedat the height of his "Glee" career, buthis involvement inHedwigdidn't mean much to ticketbuyers a few years later.

Can he sell a new musical?"

Can anyone? To the casual ticket buyer, hisname probably means more than Jeremy Jordan, Corey Cott, Grant Gustin, Reeve Carneyand Derek Klena -- COMBINED!

"

Respectfully, I think Gustin is doing more for W4E's sales than we'd care to admit- but I agree with the sentiment.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/14/24 at 11:45am

TylerJia said: "The design is STUNNING, I hope they don't change a thing"

Wow yeah that was gorgeous to watch. 

[quizking101]

Posted: 5/14/24 at 11:47am

EDSOSLO858 said: "Criss proved to be a draw inHow to Succeedat the height of his "Glee" career, buthis involvement inHedwigdidn't mean much to ticketbuyers a few years later.

Can he sell a new musical?"

He was also the 5th of 6 Hedwigs and the show was a year into the run…

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/14/24 at 12:03pm

Darren Criss isn't Hugh Jackman or Josh Groban, but in a perilous time for new musicals he is at a minimum insurance so this doesn't end up with a run like DAYS OF WINE & ROSES or OHIO or KPOP.

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 5/14/24 at 12:14pm

OhHiii said: "Would seem that the Oracle’s sources are becoming more reliable these days…"

 

These days, Oracle's been right more often than they've been wrong.

[jagman106]

Posted: 5/14/24 at 12:17pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "Criss proved to be a draw inHow to Succeedat the height of his "Glee" career, buthis involvement inHedwigdidn't mean much to ticketbuyers a few years later.

Can he sell a new musical?"

I think he has enough of a following from his Glee days that will help sustain the show for at least several months, and that he will probably attract enough tourists to get a show through a summer or in this case, the holiday season. Although not a musical, I found his performance in American Buffalo to be underwhelming, but then he was appearing alongside Sam Rockwell and Laurence Fisbhurne. Similar to Jordan Fisher in Sweeney, Criss will attract an audience because of who he is and not because of the quality of his acting. . 

Updated On: 5/14/24 at 12:17 PM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/14/24 at 12:22pm

I think it'll be similar to W4E, in that it new musical + somewhat star casting + good reviews = people will buy tickets. 

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 5/14/24 at 12:27pm

FLOP

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/14/24 at 12:31pm

Alex Kulak2 said: "OhHiii said: "Would seem that the Oracle’s sources are becoming more reliable these days…"
These days, Oracle's been right more often than they've been wrong."
 

Don't give the Oracle too much credit, this has been an open secret in the theater world for months now.

[Jarethan]

Posted: 5/14/24 at 12:37pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Darren Criss isn't Hugh Jackman or Josh Groban, but in a perilous time for new musicals he is at a minimum insurance so this doesn't end up with a run like DAYS OF WINE & ROSES or OHIO or KPOP."

DOWAR had Kelli O and BDJ.  I am sure they sold a lot of the tickets that were sold.  John Q Public had no interest in seeing the show and WOM was terrible.  I know 6 people who saw it and all 6 were negative, with 3 of them hating it.  I doubt that Criss is any more insurance at this point that Kelli O and BDJ.

[joevitus]

Posted: 5/14/24 at 1:02pm

Broadway Flash said: "FLOP"

This makes me think Maybe Happy Ending will be the next Chicago. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 5/14/24 at 1:04pm

Broadway Flash said: "FLOP"

 

TROLL

[BETTY22]

Posted: 5/14/24 at 1:26pm

This sounds wonderful.

Thank god it's not another pop hit score....

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 5/14/24 at 1:30pm

joevitus said: "Broadway Flash said: "FLOP"

This makes me think Maybe Happy Ending will be the next Chicago."

Flash may be right for once. This just feels DOA on its originality and subject matter alone, and Criss isn't a big enough name to resuscitate it. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 5/14/24 at 1:31pm

joevitus said: "Broadway Flash said: "FLOP"

This makes me think Maybe Happy Ending will be the next Chicago."

This actually made me chuckle audibly.  Thanks for that.  

[steve.sometime]

Posted: 5/14/24 at 1:53pm

This feels very much like First Date.