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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

Alex Kulak2
#125Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway
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,

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binau
#126Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway
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. 


"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022) "Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009) "Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000

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Fan123
#127Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway
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

Updated On: 8/23/24 at 03:40 AM

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RippedMan
#128Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway
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.

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dramamama611
#129Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway
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.


If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

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CoffeeBreak
#130Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway
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. 

Updated On: 8/23/24 at 10:10 AM

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Kad
#131Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway
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. 
 


"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."

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RippedMan
#132Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway
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.

halfhourcheckwithmerman
#134Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway
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? 

 


"I feel safe with you, and complete with you / I'm always finding money in the street with you." -Sheldon Harnick

Alex Kulak2
#135Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway
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.

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EDSOSLO858
#136Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway
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. 


Oh look, a bibu!
Updated On: 9/9/24 at 01:33 PM

merle57
#137Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway
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.  

VintageSnarker
#138Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway
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).

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Broadway Flash
#139Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway
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. 

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shomeika
#140Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway
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,
"

 


Clint. Atlanta,GA

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CoffeeBreak
#141Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway
Posted: 9/9/24 at 9:16pm

What's next for the Belasco this winter/spring?  Anyone know?

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jpbran
#142Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway
Posted: 9/10/24 at 10:35am

CoffeeBreak said: "What's next for the Belasco this winter/spring? Anyone know?"

Meow.

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everythingtaboo
#143Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway
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

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jpbran
#144Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway
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.)

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CoffeeBreak
#145Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway
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.

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inception
#146Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway
Posted: 9/15/24 at 11:04am

Very weird that they don't seem to be advertising the discounts anywhere.


...

incomesabby
#147Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway
Posted: 9/15/24 at 5:49pm

everythingtaboo said: "Elsie Fest just happened, right? Did he make any reference to it there?"



Yes, they performed 2 songs from the show.

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inception
#148Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway
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.


...

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Broadway Flash
#149Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway
Posted: 9/17/24 at 1:18pm

What is the previews sale?


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