The Alliance Theatre announced casting today for its upcoming new musical MAYBE HAPPY ENDING. Written in two versions – English-language and Korean-language – the Korean-language version had its world premiere in Seoul, Korea, in 2016, where it won six Korean Musical Awards including the awards for Best Book, Lyrics, and Music. The English-language version was awarded the 2017 Richard Rodgers Production Award and will have its American Premiere at the Alliance Theatre on The Coca-Cola Stage Jan. 21 – Feb. 16, 2020. MAYBE HAPPY ENDING is by Will Aronson (Book & Music) and Hue Park (Book & Lyrics) and is directed by two-time Tony Award® nominee Michael Arden (Once on This Island, Spring Awakening).
Set in the not-too-distant future in Seoul, Korea, two obsolete helper-bots are living an isolated existence in a robots-only housing complex on the edge of the city. Oliver is waiting expectantly for his former-owner to come looking for him, and Claire is just… waiting. When the two discover each other in the hall, they have a surprising connection that challenges what they believe is possible for themselves, relationships, and love. Looking past our era of technology-driven detachment, this award-winning musical celebrates a magical and bittersweet reawakening to the things that make us human.
MAYBE HAPPY ENDING features Kenny Tran (Regional: Vietgone, Men with Money) as Oliver, Cathy Ang (Regional: We are the Tigers, KPOP) as Claire, Dez Duron (TV: The Voice) as Gil Brentley, and John D. Haggerty (Regional: You Never Touched the Dirt, Henry VI) as Man.
“I am so thrilled to be working with these incredible artists to bring the work of Park and Aronson to audiences,” said Director Michael Arden. “It’s a beautiful and human story that reflects how when you sign up to love someone, you in turn must sign up to lose them. I can’t wait for audiences to experience this incredible piece, led by this sensational company of actors.”
The MAYBE HAPPY ENDING creative team includes Tony Award®-nominated Scenic Designer Dane Laffrey (Once on this Island), Tony Award®-winning Costume Designer Clint Ramos (The Rose Tattoo, Eclipsed), Emmy Award-winning Lighting Designer Travis Hagenbuch, Tony Award®-nominated Projections Designer Sven Ortel (Newsies the Musical), Tony Award®-nominated Sound Designer Peter Hylenski (Beetlejuice, Once on This Island), and Music Director Deborah K. Abramson.
For tickets or information, call 404-733-5000 or visit alliancetheatre.org/maybe.
When I first encountered MAYBE HAPPY ENDING, I looked for the comparison piece to use in order to describe it to colleagues. But there wasn’t one. There wasn't some preexisting genre of poem musicals of impossible delicacy to draw from for comparison. There was just this. This sort of musical haiku/meditation on love, hope, and memory.
– A note on Maybe Happy Ending from Jennings Hertz Artistic Director, Susan V. Booth
