Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway- Page 6
Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway
Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway#125
Posted: 8/23/24 at 12:21am
"I think people think this is going to be a small, cute little show about robots in the future... This is a balls-to-the-wall spectacle in the way that in the 80s, we had Miss Saigon and The Phantom of the Opera-- these huge, theatrical spectacles that like, when you went to the theatre it was like, 'Whoa, how did they do that?,,, I think there will be something like a chandelier that will be the new version of, 'Oh my God, that's the big thing to see on Broadway."
Alright, now I'm interested,
Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway#126
Posted: 8/23/24 at 3:26am
So the claim this was not going to start performances ended up not being true? I guess we need to wait for that performance but still.
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/30/08
Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway#127
Posted: 8/23/24 at 3:40am
Alex Kulak2 said: ""I think people think this is going to be a small, cute little show about robots in the future... This is a balls-to-the-wall spectacle in the way that in the 80s, we had Miss Saigon and The Phantom of the Opera-- these huge, theatrical spectacles that like, when you went to the theatre it was like, 'Whoa, how did they do that?,,,I think there will be something like a chandelier that will be the new version of, 'Oh my God, that's the big thing to see on Broadway."
Alright, now I'm interested."
Personally, this comment from Criss has made me less interested, ha. Based on the Korean cast recordings, I had been hoping to (vicariously) fall in love with a new cute, small-scale show *shrug* But hey, you can't please everyone. Anyway, if this comment is true, perhaps that's why all that money was needed for this production...
(Anyway, if anyone is interested, the current Korean production recently released a music video for the song 'The Way That It Has To Be': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-AL56ohPaA)
Edit: I also just happened across some demo song recordings from the show on Will Aronson's website, some of which are in English: https://www.willaronson.com/maybe-happy-ending-music
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway#128
Posted: 8/23/24 at 9:01am
Honestly it's been awhile since we've had a big, new original musical, so that makes me excited.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway#129
Posted: 8/23/24 at 9:50am
binau said: "So the claim this was not going to start performances ended up not being true? I guess we need to wait for that performance but still."
The belief seems to be that a money angel swooped in making it possible.
I can't quite put my finger on it, but I am just not excited by this.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/30/17
Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway#130
Posted: 8/23/24 at 10:10am
RippedMan said: "Honestly it's been awhile since we've had a big, new original musical, so that makes me excited."
It's only new to the U.S. Not to be fooled, the Alliance direction & design is an enhanced version of what Arden and designers got from the Japanese & Asian companies. They've just taken those ideas/visuals - including the turntable, added money, and now call their own.
Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway#131
Posted: 8/23/24 at 10:13am
binau said: "So the claim this was not going to start performances ended up not being true? I guess we need to wait for that performance but still."
Things can change quickly in this period. It seems reasonable enough to assume there were problems raising money and that may have caused pessimism or panic. But until something is firmly canceled, then it’s all just hearsay. And it remains uncommon for productions this far along to be outright canceled.
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway#132
Posted: 8/23/24 at 10:15am
CoffeeBreak said: "RippedMan said: "Honestly it's been awhile since we've had a big, new original musical, so that makes me excited."
It's only new to the U.S. Not to be fooled, the Alliance direction and design is an enhanced version of what Arden and designers saw inthe Asian production, addedmoney, and now call their own."
From the preview videos it looks really pretty and interesting so hats off to whomever.
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/30/08
Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway#133
Posted: 9/9/24 at 4:59am
Five songs released:
https://soundcloud.com/maybehappyending/sets/musical-preview
Stand-by Joined: 9/25/22
Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway#134
Posted: 9/9/24 at 8:54am
These songs are really quite wonderful. I had no expectations for this, at all... now I'm suddenly... excited?
Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway#135
Posted: 9/9/24 at 9:51am
These tracks are great. I get Sondheim vibes from the melodic choices, but there's a unique modern feel too.
There's nothing wrong with a pop sound necessarily, if that's where a composer shines, but once in a while, you get a Dave Malloy or a Shaina Taub, who bring a sound that doesn't fit a mold. That's the music I'm most interested to hear, and that's what this show sounds like.
Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway#136
Posted: 9/9/24 at 1:33pm
Steven Huynh and Christopher James Tamayo will stand by for Criss, and Hannah Kevitt will stand by for Shen. Daniel May also joins as a standby.
Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway#137
Posted: 9/9/24 at 2:11pm
I agree these songs are very Sondheim-like in musical style. Nice to hear an original score rather than another song catalogue score. Hope the show does well.
Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway#138
Posted: 9/9/24 at 3:30pm
CoffeeBreak said: "RippedMan said: "Honestly it's been awhile since we've had a big, new original musical, so that makes me excited."
It's only new to the U.S. Not to be fooled, the Alliance direction &design is an enhanced version of what Arden and designers got from the Japanese & Asian companies. They've just taken those ideas/visuals - including the turntable, addedmoney, and now call their own."
The videos of the Korean production seem charming and I understand the sensibility. None of the English language videos have that quality. I'm not sure if it's the direction or acting or if something got lost in translation.
I kind of wish we got the Korean production with supertitles even though logically I know that would sell even worse (at least in a Broadway house).
Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway#139
Posted: 9/9/24 at 6:58pm
They need to desperately do a cheap previews ticketing scene. They need help at the box office bad.
Featured Actor Joined: 6/24/08
Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway#140
Posted: 9/9/24 at 7:37pm
Unless this has changed tremendously from its Atlanta run, it's not a "balls-to-the-wall" spectacle at all. It was a rather simple story about robots who break the rules and ....fall in love. It's charming but I was very surprised to see that this was getting to Broadway, frankly. It was cute but quickly forgettable. I'm not sure how well this will do.
Alex Kulak2 said: ""I think people think this is going to be a small, cute little show about robots in the future... This is a balls-to-the-wall spectacle in the way that in the 80s, we had Miss Saigon and The Phantom of the Opera-- these huge, theatrical spectacles that like, when you went to the theatre it was like, 'Whoa, how did they do that?,,,I think there will be something like a chandelier that will be the new version of, 'Oh my God, that's the big thing to see on Broadway."
Alright, now I'm interested,"
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/30/17
Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway#141
Posted: 9/9/24 at 9:16pm
What's next for the Belasco this winter/spring? Anyone know?
Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway#142
Posted: 9/10/24 at 10:35am
CoffeeBreak said: "What's next for the Belasco this winter/spring? Anyone know?"
Meow.
Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway#143
Posted: 9/10/24 at 12:06pm
Elsie Fest just happened, right? Did he make any reference to it there?
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway#144
Posted: 9/14/24 at 2:04pm
I also commented on the Discounts thread. They seem to have marked down all MHE seats to $89 + $15 = $104. Center orchestra included. 😳 Might be temporary. Just grabbed two (will see if this show actually materializes... great discount but a bit worrying.)
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/30/17
Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway#145
Posted: 9/14/24 at 11:52pm
I have a feeling this may be cheaper to cancel prior to previews than run. These sales are not good.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/2/13
Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway#146
Posted: 9/15/24 at 11:04am
Very weird that they don't seem to be advertising the discounts anywhere.
Understudy Joined: 5/28/22
Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway#147
Posted: 9/15/24 at 5:49pmeverythingtaboo said: "Elsie Fest just happened, right? Did he make any reference to it there?"
Yes, they performed 2 songs from the show.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/2/13
Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway#148
Posted: 9/17/24 at 1:04pm
Just got an email advertising the previews sale. I signed up to their mailing list a few months ago. I won't be in the city until after it opens.
Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway#149
Posted: 9/17/24 at 1:18pm
What is the previews sale?
Videos
