Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Will Lead MAYBE HAPPY ENDING on Broadway- Page 6

[Alex Kulak2]

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,

[binau]

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. 

[Fan123]

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

[RippedMan]

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.

[dramamama611]

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.

[CoffeeBreak]

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

[Kad]

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. 
 

[RippedMan]

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.

[Fan123]

Posted: 9/9/24 at 4:59am

Five songs released:

https://soundcloud.com/maybehappyending/sets/musical-preview

[halfhourcheckwithmerman]

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? 

 

[Alex Kulak2]

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.

[EDSOSLO858]

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. 

Updated On: 9/9/24 at 01:33 PM

[merle57]

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]

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).

[Broadway Flash]

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. 

[shomeika]

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,"

 

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 9/9/24 at 9:16pm

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

[jpbran]

Posted: 9/10/24 at 10:35am

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

Meow.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 9/10/24 at 12:06pm

Elsie Fest just happened, right? Did he make any reference to it there?

[jpbran]

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.)

[CoffeeBreak]

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.

[inception]

Posted: 9/15/24 at 11:04am

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

[incomesabby]

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.

[inception]

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.

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 9/17/24 at 1:18pm

What is the previews sale?