NYMag Interview with Michael Arden on Lost Boys, QOV, MHE Casting

[Kad]

Posted: 5/8/26 at 10:44am

A lengthy interview with Michael Arden about Lost Boys, the failure of Queen of Versailles, the Maybe Happy Ending casting controversy, and some upcoming projects 

As a fan of Arden and his work, I've gotta say: I thought this was a strange interview in which he does not come off particularly well. I found his responses to be remarkably cagey (weirdly, particularly on the topic of queerness in Lost Boys). Curious to see what others think, considering this is the first time he's really talked in depth about some of these things. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 5/8/26 at 11:08am

I do find it refreshing to hear a director talk about the facts and economics of Broadway in the way that he does here.

The brushing-off of the queerness is indeed weird, but it also felt like he quickly got annoyed with the interviewer, who was trying to get a play-by-play of the past year. Also felt like he was throwing the MHE authors under the bus a bit.

Re: QOV, I'd much rather a director throw up their hands and say "idk I thought it was good and this is what we were trying to do and I'm sorry it didn't work!" rather than that wild Rachel Chavkin New Yorker interview post-Lempicka.

In the past two years he's gone from Preacher's Wife in Atlanta, to Versailles in Boston, to MHE Broadway (which included the show almost falling apart pre-previews, then almost falling apart right after it opened, then its incredible resurrection + Tony wins), to launching the PARADE tour, to the quick demise of VERSAILLES on Broadway (and other workshops of that beforehand, and all the mean chatter about it), and now LOST BOYS (his biggest show to date which also reportedly had real money troubles). If I were him, I'd have more than a little "ptsd" from all that.

Updated On: 5/8/26 at 11:08 AM

[musicthatmakesmedance]

Posted: 5/8/26 at 12:02pm

I think this is an incredibly fascinating interview, and I really appreciate his candor. He remains one of the most talented creatives working today, even if the work has flaws.

[GottaGetAGimmick420]

Posted: 5/8/26 at 12:44pm

https://removepaywalls.com/https://www.vulture.com/article/michael-arden-broadway-interview-lost-boys-tonys.html

Well this enlightening interview explains a lot. Namely how Superhero managed to stay in Lost Boys.......