MAYBE HAPPY ENDING Reviews- Page 24

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/25/25 at 11:05am

“The lack of compassion around topics of race shows up in the way most of you respond.”

I really don’t think there’s a lack of compassion. But I do see a lack of reason in the people who are screaming for an Asian Korean Robot. 

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 7/25/25 at 11:25am

Close enough…

Welcome back, LuPone on McDonald!

Updated On: 7/25/25 at 11:25 AM

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 7/25/25 at 11:59am

binau said: "Did anyone know that Andrew and Helen are apparently dating in real life? That does make the dynamics more interesting and I wonder if was part of the decision (eg onstage chemistry)."

When the creative team issued their initial statement about hiring Andrew, they brought up they first saw his take on Oliver, when he was the reader in Helen J Shen's audition tape. He wasn't auditioning, he was actively trying to get an Asian woman hired. 

On social media, the narrative around Andrew's casting has been largely "but he's not Asian" or isn't it funny that he also replaced Darren Criss in Little Shop. Off social media, the narrative (at least so far) has been about how cute it is that Andrew and Helen are dating in real life, and get to do this together. I don't think there's been one media article yet discussing Feldman's casting as controversial.      

[witchoftheeast2]

Posted: 7/25/25 at 12:52pm

Ensemble1698878795 said: "witchoftheeast2 said: "Ensemble1698878795 said: "witchoftheeast2 said: "ER765 said: "Ensemble1698878795 said: "BorisTomashevsky said: "Ensemble1698878795 said: "Asian actors have less than a handful of new musical theater shows to audition for. If I am correct, most, if not all, of the off stage covers are Asian. This was lazy casting in so many ways. Put in the work, find the talent, dig deeper. People are out there, but not if you don’t make it your mission."

Asian actors aren’t limited in the roles they’re considered for. Tons of Asians have worked on Broadway recently and continue to. Don’t pretend there’s an issue when there isn’t one.

Copy/pasting the below from a previous reply I posted:

I saw an Asian Aaron Burr. I saw an Asian Christine Daae. I saw Sara Porkalob in 1776. I saw multiple Asians leading Here Lies Love. I saw Asians leading Miss Saigon less than a decade ago. I saw Asians in Godspell in 2012. I saw an Asian in Come From Away. I saw an Asian as Princess Jasmine. I saw an Asian as Aladdin. I saw an Asian cover as Velma Kelly while an Asian played Amos Hart. I saw an Asian Abe Lincoln in Oh Mary.And an Asian just won a Tony Award for playingNorma Desmond."

Tone deaf as hell. But many of you are white supremacist robots on these threads, so your humanity goes as deep as your research. You will always find an excuse or example to refute things you don’t live. I don’t care how many roles Asians are cast in. There is a disproportionate amount of roles in new musicals that says people are seeking Asian actors to play Asian roles and this show finally offered that possibility; sadly the first replacement is a white guy. I’ll wait for your piss poor excuse of a response or your attempt to blame me for mentioning white supremacy (when that’s exactly what your responses are based in.)"

Now anyone who doesn’t agree with you is a white supremacist.

Touch grass."

I think that's what the people who are so offended by this casting need to do too"

You say touch grass when you obviously aren't in the business. This isn't your livelihood. It amazes me that so many of you talk crap about a career you don't live, but you spend your time on a message board criticizing people who have friends who do. Densely in-compassionate robots. You should touch grass or stop spending your hours on a theater message board if you don't care about the people who perform in theater. Grow up."

Never assume anything about the people on these boards unless you have actually met them in person. Maybe you're the one who is a "densely incompassionate robot", who needs to touch grass and grow up."

I don't have to assume much based on the idiotic questions asked on this board. The lack of compassion around topics of race shows up in the way most of you respond. You get irritated when people don't allow you to say any and everyinsensitive thing said in your circles.I don't need to meet you in person to comprehend your views, your words on this board tell a lot about your character. So miss me with the lame responses. Questions were asked and answers were given."

I think it's insane to spend all of your time saying people on message boards that they lack compassion, or only care about their own views, when the people you should be bringing this to are the people at the top. The casting directors. The creatives. Random people on message boards? Nah babe. Try a different path. Also- you don't get to decide if our responses are lame. Grow up. 

[Auggie27]

Posted: 7/25/25 at 12:52pm

A quick check of ticket sales for September - I looked in the last hour for my brother-in-law - reveals both a reduction in prices and a noticeable reduction in sales so far. A Saturday night and Sunday matinee in mid-September: almost nothing has been sold yet. I'm already waiting for people here to explain that ticket buyers no longer purchase seats as far in advance. I get it. But clearly they did somewhat when Criss was in the show. I think his impact on box office might be under-appreciated by some. Anyone who believes the show alone - the title as Best Musical - is a guarantee of the same numbers hasn't paid attention. The synergy of star and title - Criss is visible in every ad - is ubiquitous on the internet. Look for a new campaign soon that makes the show the event. And then we'll see about sales. I expect it to stay at the TKTS book beginning 9/2. Not an indicator of failure, just a different kind of hit. 

Updated On: 7/25/25 at 12:52 PM

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/25/25 at 1:07pm

Yes without Criss I wouldn’t be surprised if the grosses drop by almost half. I hope they line up someone to take over who can get them back on track. Maybe there’s a K-Pop artist who could do a few months (I don’t know that world to guess who it could be) but it might bring non-theatre crowds along. 

Capitalization is around $18 million which they wont be near by any means. Hopefully they can make their running costs over the next couple of months. Feldman will be getting paid less than Criss which will save a few thousand per week. 

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 7/25/25 at 1:49pm

Just offering this in their own words:

Park: [Bringing it to America in 2020,] we were stubborn — we’re not changing the location, we’re not doing stunt casting, the actors should really match the characters. Luckily, the show was already running for multiple years in Korea and Japan and China, and everyone was respectful of what was already done, so we were able to stick to the authenticity of the material.

Aronson: At one point, we had Denée Benton playing Claire, Corey Cott as Oliver and Jon Jon Briones as both [Oliver’s former owner] James and the jazz singer. Then, our thinking was: They’re robots, so they could technically be any background, but if the audience only has a few moments to define the setting, it helps that the protagonists are cast Asian.

Darren Criss (actor, Oliver): Let’s call a spade a spade here — I’m the white-passing Asian of our group, but it is my identity. The AAPI community in the arts is a smaller, if not marginalized, group, so to be up there, I feel that excitement and encouragement from the community at large. It’s important, and I hope this show can continue to have that legacy and be an inspiring call to action in other artistic spheres.

Justin Scribner (production stage manager): I’m excited for Asian artists to see themselves in a piece that’s not about Asian trauma, of which there’s so much in the musical theater canon, like “Miss Saigon” and “The King and I.” That takes its toll. To have roles for Asian artists that just happen to be in Korea, built by Asian creatives in Asia — it all feels like a possible beginning of something.​​​​​​​

LA Times

So they changed their tune pretty quickly.

[spicemonkey]

Posted: 7/25/25 at 2:23pm

(Not taking about about the casting , but just about the LA times article)

 

 they use “Miss Saigon” and “The King and I” , two white savior shows to make their point. I don’t think it makes themselves look better to anyone who is educated enough on the topic of colonialism. 
 

Relieved that they didn’t mention the musical Poppy

Updated On: 7/25/25 at 02:23 PM

[Ensemble1698878795]

Posted: 7/25/25 at 2:31pm

witchoftheeast2 said: "Ensemble1698878795 said: "witchoftheeast2 said: "Ensemble1698878795 said: "witchoftheeast2 said: "ER765 said: "Ensemble1698878795 said: "BorisTomashevsky said: "Ensemble1698878795 said: "Asian actors have less than a handful of new musical theater shows to audition for. If I am correct, most, if not all, of the off stage covers are Asian. This was lazy casting in so many ways. Put in the work, find the talent, dig deeper. People are out there, but not if you don’t make it your mission."

Asian actors aren’t limited in the roles they’re considered for. Tons of Asians have worked on Broadway recently and continue to. Don’t pretend there’s an issue when there isn’t one.

Copy/pasting the below from a previous reply I posted:

I saw an Asian Aaron Burr. I saw an Asian Christine Daae. I saw Sara Porkalob in 1776. I saw multiple Asians leading Here Lies Love. I saw Asians leading Miss Saigon less than a decade ago. I saw Asians in Godspell in 2012. I saw an Asian in Come From Away. I saw an Asian as Princess Jasmine. I saw an Asian as Aladdin. I saw an Asian cover as Velma Kelly while an Asian played Amos Hart. I saw an Asian Abe Lincoln in Oh Mary.And an Asian just won a Tony Award for playingNorma Desmond."

Tone deaf as hell. But many of you are white supremacist robots on these threads, so your humanity goes as deep as your research. You will always find an excuse or example to refute things you don’t live. I don’t care how many roles Asians are cast in. There is a disproportionate amount of roles in new musicals that says people are seeking Asian actors to play Asian roles and this show finally offered that possibility; sadly the first replacement is a white guy. I’ll wait for your piss poor excuse of a response or your attempt to blame me for mentioning white supremacy (when that’s exactly what your responses are based in.)"

Now anyone who doesn’t agree with you is a white supremacist.

Touch grass."

I think that's what the people who are so offended by this casting need to do too"

You say touch grass when you obviously aren't in the business. This isn't your livelihood. It amazes me that so many of you talk crap about a career you don't live, but you spend your time on a message board criticizing people who have friends who do. Densely in-compassionate robots. You should touch grass or stop spending your hours on a theater message board if you don't care about the people who perform in theater. Grow up."

Never assume anything about the people on these boards unless you have actually met them in person. Maybe you're the one who is a "densely incompassionate robot", who needs to touch grass and grow up."

I don't have to assume much based on the idiotic questions asked on this board. The lack of compassion around topics of race shows up in the way most of you respond. You get irritated when people don't allow you to say any and everyinsensitive thing said in your circles.I don't need to meet you in person to comprehend your views, your words on this board tell a lot about your character. So miss me with the lame responses. Questions were asked and answers were given."

I think it's insane to spend all of your timesaying people on message boards that they lack compassion, or only care about their ownviews, when the people you should be bringing this to are the people at the top. The casting directors. The creatives. Random people on message boards? Nah babe. Try a different path. Also- you don't get to decide if our responses are lame. Grow up."

 

But you don't know what people do off this board - assume much! And yes I will combat opinions on here that diminish the right for people to be upset about job opportunities being taken away from them. "It's just a robot" is the racist excuse this time. The line keeps moving with you people, but in Trump's America you've learned to pivot well. MHE celebrated and promoted its AAPI inclusion on socials, now that it no longer benefits the campaign, silence. Just people you don't care about diversity doesn't mean we have to be quiet about it. Sorry, babe. Deal with it. 

 

[ER765]

Posted: 7/25/25 at 2:34pm

I’ve read a lot of unhinged sh*t on here over the years but “"It's just a robot" is the racist excuse this time. The line keeps moving with you people, but in Trump's America you've learned to pivot well.” might take the cake.

And he’s not exiting the show / the show isn’t going to make some kind of statement about his casting, so the only people who need to “deal with it” are you and everyone else throwing a hissy fit over this situation. It’s not changing. Move on. Do something more productive. 

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 7/25/25 at 2:37pm

They “took away the opportunity”…for nine weeks.

You guys are acting like they have indefinitely decided this is a white-only role and will only see white actors from here on out. This is so ridiculously overblown. Please look outside of yourself. 

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 7/25/25 at 2:40pm

HeyMrMusic said: "Aronson:At one point, we had Denée Benton playing Claire, Corey Cott as Oliver and Jon Jon Briones as both [Oliver’s former owner] James and the jazz singer. Then, our thinking was: They’re robots, so they could technically be any background, but if the audience only has a few moments to define the setting, it helps that the protagonists are cast Asian.

Darren Criss (actor, Oliver):Let’s call a spade a spade here — I’m the white-passing Asian of our group, but it is my identity. The AAPI community in the arts is a smaller, if not marginalized, group, so to be up there, I feel that excitement and encouragement from the community at large. It’s important, and I hope this show can continue to have that legacy and be an inspiring call to action in other artistic spheres."

Aronson saying the robot protagonists can technically be any race, but it helps establish the setting if they're Asian is not contradictory with hiring Feldman. He was framing hiring Asians in those role as a positive, not a necessity.  

With Chriss, if you're okay with Feldman getting hired or not okay with it, there's no particular reason to assume Chriss got a say on who replaces him in the role. He didn't change his tune about anything.       

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/25/25 at 2:46pm

Ensemble1698878795, sometimes it’s nice to just quote what you’re replying to and delete everything else, especially if it’s several paragraphs long. 

[binau]

Posted: 7/25/25 at 3:55pm

Auggie27 said: "A quick check of ticket sales for September - I looked in the last hour for my brother-in-law - reveals both a reduction in prices and a noticeable reduction in sales so far. A Saturday night and Sunday matinee in mid-September: almost nothing has been sold yet. I'm already waiting for people here to explain that ticket buyers no longer purchase seats as far in advance. I get it. But clearly they did somewhat when Criss was in the show. I think his impact on box office might be under-appreciated by some. Anyone who believes the show alone - the title as Best Musical - is a guarantee of the same numbers hasn't paid attention. The synergy of star and title - Criss is visible in every ad - is ubiquitous on the internet. Look for a new campaign soon that makes the show the event. And then we'll see about sales. I expect it to stay at the TKTS book beginning 9/2. Not an indicator of failure, just a different kind of hit."

I think you might be onto something - the pattern of sales does suggest to me Criss is selling a noticeable amount of tickets because there is a clear delineation in seats available before and after he goes. The only thing we have to be careful of is that the sales over the next month aren't temporarily and unusually inflated with Criss and MHE superfans trying to catch him one last time, which might exaggerate the differences (and right now I think we are likely still seeing some effects of the Best Musical Tony, too). But the signs are there I agree to suggest that Darren might be selling tickets and it will be super interesting to see what happens after he goes. Between A Strange Loop, Kimberly Akimbo and now potentially (TBC) Maybe Happy Ending the 'Best Musical' Tony doesn't appear to be what it once was. 

Updated On: 7/25/25 at 03:55 PM

[MadsonMelo]

Posted: 7/25/25 at 3:55pm

Its funny that Darren was not enough of a draw at first but now he's leaving and the grosses are going to drop at half? I guess...

[Ensemble1698878795]

Posted: 7/25/25 at 4:07pm

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "They “took away the opportunity”…for nine weeks.

You guys are acting like they have indefinitely decided this is a white-only role and will only see white actors from here on out. This is so ridiculously overblown. Please look outside of yourself."

What is "only 9 weeks" to you is weeks of health insurance of an Asian actor unfulfilled. It's so overblown until you're living it - which you obviously aren't. I on the hand have many outraged friends who are Asian and not working. So sure, Jane. Diminish the conversation so you can replace Criss with a white actor who won't even bump the box office. 

 

[Ensemble1698878795]

Posted: 7/25/25 at 4:13pm

ER765 said: "I’ve read a lot of unhinged sh*t on here over the years but “"It's justa robot" is the racist excuse this time. The line keeps moving with you people, but in Trump's America you've learned to pivot well.” might take the cake.

And he’s not exiting the show / the show isn’t going to make some kind of statement about his casting, so the only peoplewho need to “deal with it” are you and everyone else throwing a hissy fit over this situation. It’s not changing. Move on. Do something more productive."

And defending this casting is doing something? If this convo is so stupid won't you disengage? But here you are commenting on my POV, so how 'bout you go do something more productive? Just because you get more likes from strangers doesn't mean you're on some kind of moral high ground. I'd say your ignorance takes the cake, but this board is full of white minded individuals sooo..... I've grown accustomed. That doesn't mean I'll back down. 

 

[binau]

Posted: 7/25/25 at 4:13pm

MadsonMelo said: "Its funny that Darren was not enough of a draw at first but now he's leaving and the grosses are going to drop at half? I guess..."

I doubt the grosses will collapse, I assume by curtain of Andrew performances all tickets will be sold, but we might see the average ticket price erode over time and not stay at the highs they are now or coming in the next month (whereas it felt like 10 years ago if you won a 'Best Musical' Tony it would give a show 6-12 months of guaranteed longevity riding solely on the award). Then eventually we will see the attendance just slightly dip below 100% and slowly decline. I guess the question is how long is it going to take for this to happen? Because if MHE stands a chance at recouping I'm blind guessing they need about a whole year of healthy grosses. 

I know it sounds contradictory RE: Darren because MHE had a slow start. However, I see Darren C in MHE a little like Nicole S in Sunset - she is a 'name'/recognisable/ 'known' for something but people didn't just want to buy tickets to see her in anything (e.g. London initial sales were quite slow, very funny to compare to Evita it's a very different). It took the word of mouth for things to finally pick up and it's clear that Nicole was Sunset. Darren similarly may not be something that people are willing to throw all of their money towards just because, but with the right word of mouth/hype and maybe even a Tony I don't doubt that Darren's casting and performance is positively influencing ticket sales...I think the show has a better chance of surviving without him than Sunset would without Nicole of course though...

Andrew has about 200k instagram followers whereas Darren has over 3m.

Updated On: 7/25/25 at 04:13 PM

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 7/25/25 at 4:15pm

If ABF is only doing 8 weeks, I stand by my guess of Zachary Noah Piser. He’s doing The Heart at La Jolla for a month or so starting in the middle of August. He’d need rehearsal time after that, so I hope it happens because he’s great. If that’s the plan, they should announce it to quel the responses that they gotten from this announcement.

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/25/25 at 4:16pm

Ensemble1698878795 said: "GiantsInTheSky2 said: "They “took away the opportunity”…for nine weeks.

You guys are acting like they have indefinitely decided this is a white-only role and will only see white actors from here on out. This is so ridiculously overblown. Please look outside of yourself."

What is "only 9 weeks" to you is weeks of health insurance of an Asian actor unfulfilled. It's so overblown until you're living it -which you obviously aren't. I on the hand have many outraged friends who are Asian and not working. So sure, Jane. Diminish the conversation so you can replace Criss with a white actor who won't even bump the box office.
"

Doesn’t Andrew deserve to get his health insurance weeks as well? 

I’m sure once it gets closer to the time they’ll run a bunch of press about how “these real life lovers are playing robot lovers onstage” and the talk show hosts will adore them and it will sell tickets. They’re cute and people will lap it up. A Telly Leung wouldn’t get any of that interest. 

I’d love for Andrew to do a 23 and Me and find out he’s 1/64th Mongolian and watch you all shut the fuc up. 

[Ensemble1698878795]

Posted: 7/25/25 at 4:24pm

BorisTomashevsky said: "Ensemble1698878795 said: "GiantsInTheSky2 said: "They “took away the opportunity”…for nine weeks.

You guys are acting like they have indefinitely decided this is a white-only role and will only see white actors from here on out. This is so ridiculously overblown. Please look outside of yourself."

What is "only 9 weeks" to you is weeks of health insurance of an Asian actor unfulfilled. It's so overblown until you're living it -which you obviously aren't. I on the hand have many outraged friends who are Asian and not working. So sure, Jane. Diminish the conversation so you can replace Criss with a white actor who won't even bump the box office.
"

Doesn’t Andrew deserve to get his health insurance weeks as well?

I’m sure once it gets closer to the time they’ll run a bunch of press about how “these real life lovers are playing robot lovers onstage” and the talk show hosts will adore them and it will selltickets. They’re cute and people will lap it up. A Telly Leung wouldn’t get any of that interest.

I’d love for Andrew to do a 23 and Me and find out he’s 1/64thMongolian and watch you all shut the fuc up."

Your density continues to show. White, Andrew is highly more likely to get jobs than Asian actors. There’s simply more roles for him. It’s in the numbers, babe. Also there’s an LA times article circulating where MHE toted the leads being Asian. This isn’t rage for rage sake. It’s a systemic issue that people like you continuously try and excuse.  

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/25/25 at 4:27pm

But if he turned out to be 1/64th Mongolian would you be okay with him playing the role?

Andrew if you’re reading this I’ll pay for the test myself! 

[Ensemble1698878795]

Posted: 7/25/25 at 4:33pm

BorisTomashevsky said: "But if he turned out to be 1/64th Mongolian would you be okay with him playing the role?

Andrew if you’re reading this I’ll pay for the test myself!"

Jokes to deflect reality. A MAGA technique. He's white and if he was Asian they would’ve promoted it. 

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 7/25/25 at 4:38pm

Ensemble1698878795 said: "BorisTomashevsky said: "But if he turned out to be 1/64th Mongolian would you be okay with him playing the role?

Andrew if you’re reading this I’ll pay for the test myself!"

Jokes to deflect reality. A MAGA technique. He's white and if he was Asian they would’ve promoted it."

He could be 1/64th Mongolian and not know it. Entirely possible if his ancestry is Eastern European. I’ve known Darren personally for 15 years and didn’t know he was at all Asian until the press stuff a few years ago. 

Updated On: 7/25/25 at 04:38 PM

[abcd12]

Posted: 7/25/25 at 4:41pm

Ensemble1698878795 said: "BorisTomashevsky said: "But if he turned out to be 1/64th Mongolian would you be okay with him playing the role?

Andrew if you’re reading this I’ll pay for the test myself!"

Jokes to deflect reality. A MAGA technique. He's white and if he was Asian they would’ve promoted it."

Implying that anyone who disagrees with your outrage (over the casting of a white person as a ROBOT) is an MAGA Trumper is just - beyond comprehension. 

Updated On: 7/25/25 at 04:41 PM