English Production
Pre-Broadway
Selections from the musical, then titled What I Learned from People, were first presented in English at the Songwriters' Showcase for the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's 28th Annual Festival of New Musicals on 27 October 2016 at New World Stages in New York City. Josh Dela Cruz as Oliver, Ashley Park as Claire, and Marcus Choi as James performed the songs "Where You Belong" and "How to Be Not Alone". Dela Cruz and Park also recorded an English-language concept album. Maybe Happy Ending had its English-language debut at Coca-Cola Stage at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta where it ran from 18 January until 17 February 2020. The production was directed by Michael Arden, with Arden's husband Andy Mientus as associate director, and designs by Travis Hagenbuch (lighting), Clint Ramos (costumes), Sven Ortel (projections) and Peter Hylenski (sound). The cast included Kenny Tran as Oliver, Cathy Ang as Claire, Dez Duron as Gil Brentley, and John D. Haggerty as James. As the musical featured a largely Asian-American cast, Jesse Green of The New York Times praised the show for its casting inclusiveness.
Broadway
The Broadway production of the English version of Maybe Happy Ending, also directed by Michael Arden, opened on 12 November 2024 at the Belasco Theater after previews beginning on 16 October. Darren Criss and Helen J. Shen star as Oliver and Claire, joined by Duron as Gil Brentley, Marcus Choi as James, and Young Mazino and Arden Cho in the pre-recorded roles of Suhan and Jiyeon. The start of previews was delayed for a month due to supply chain issues with the set, and several investors pulled out after a TikTok theatre influencer speculated the production would be cancelled; the producers were unable to raise the needed $16 million capitalization until the week of the opening night. The production opened to unanimously positive reviews, but the show struggled financially, grossing well below its $765,000 weekly running costs during previews and in its first weeks after opening. Theatre insiders, Aronson and other creative team members believed it would close early. Encouraged by positive reviews and word-of-mouth, producers raised an additional $1.75 million on marketing; weekly grosses improved past $1 million for the first time during the Christmas holiday and continued to exceed its running costs afterwards.
Meet the Broadway Cast!
