On the Red Carpet: Darren Criss Says It's Okay to Cry Over Robots in Maybe Happy Ending

The new musical Maybe Happy Ending may revolve around two futuristic robots, but even for its entirely human cast and creatives, the story of connection is universal. The production celebrated its Broadway debut at the Belasco Theatre with a gala opening night November 11, ahead of an official opening November 12. Previews began October 16, with Michael Arden at the helm.

Set in South Korea, the musical follows a Helperbot 3 that has been deemed obsolete. When his Helperbot neighbor drops by to borrow a charger, a bond is formed, and the beginning of a surprising and romantic adventure. The original work features music by Will Aronson and lyrics by Hue Park, and both have collaborated on the book. The musical was previously forced to postpone its Broadway start due to supply chain issues related to the show's scenic design, which uses specialty projection technology. Read the reviews for Maybe Happy Ending here.

Darren Criss and Helen J Shen lead the cast as Oliver and Claire, respectively. Even though the pair are portraying robots, Criss says the story's humanity shines through. "I find that some of the most moved moments I've had in storytelling are from non-human stories, fables, animated films," Criss says. "I've cried harder over, you know, toys, computer-animated toys, than I have [over] real humans doing real human things...This is a story at its core about love and loss, aging, a lot of pretty heavy things...in a way that I think makes our humanity rise to the occasion as an audience, because you're starting to put your own experience into theirs."

Below, see the cast and creative team of Maybe Happy Ending discuss the real star of the show: Hwaboon, a plant who has a crucial role (as well as its own Instagram account). Move over Audrey II!

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As Shen prepared to make her Broadway debut in the new musical, she says playing Claire was a deeply personal experience. "I had to tap into the moments where my sarcasm, my dry humor, kind of peek through," Shen says. "Those are the easier access points. And actually, those kinds of moments are, often in my real life, armor for protecting myself. That is a very Claire thing—to deflect, to not feel anything, so that she can't feel pain. And that is something that I'm unlearning in this show, and is the greatest gift that I can be given by doing this show, and hopefully get to give audiences who come to see it...to unlock some of that baggage, unlock some of that that hard shell."

For Arden, personal connection was also a reason to take on the project: It's the first new musical the Tony-winning director has staged on Broadway, he notes. "It just reminded me of my grandparents, [and] It reminded me of me when I was young, all at the same time," Arden says. "I found it totally devastating when I read the script the first time. I put it down, and I was like, 'Damn it. I can't believe these robots have pulled me to this place in a way that I'm thinking about my own life and my own mortality.' And I laughed throughout. So I was completely swept away by this, which I hope audiences will be too."

Below, see photos from the red carpet of Maybe Happy Ending, including attendees Ruthie Ann Miles, Andrew Barth Feldman, Arielle Jacobs, and more.