Darren Criss and Helen J Shen Go Robotic in First Look at Broadway's New Futuristic Musical “Maybe Happy Ending ”(Exclusive)

The actors spark joy in the new original musical, about two robots who both have a bot of love to give

Darren Criss returns to Broadway alongside newcomer Helen J Shen in the futurist new musical Maybe Happy Ending, and PEOPLE has a first look at the pair in action.

The two actors — he an Emmy winner for his role in The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, and she/they making her Broadway debut in the production — lead the four-person show that takes place on the outskirts of Seoul in 2060 and follows two humanoid-looking Helperbot robots near the end of their warranty who make a powerful new connection with one another after they're abandoned after their owners and traded in for newer models.

On paper, it's an offbeat concept for a story, but a romantic one that surprisingly shows the humanity in the small things that make any life worth living.

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The internationally acclaimed duo of Will Aronson and Hue Park created the magical musical, penning its music (Aronson), lyrics (Park) and book (both Aronson and Park). Their work is also a technical marvel to watch, thanks to a stunning visual design developed by Tony Award nominee Dane Laffrey.

Direction comes from Tony Award winner and visionary artist Michael Arden (Parade, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, Once on this Island), who is one of the industry's biggest talents and most sought-after directors.

In fact, it was Arden that drove Criss to the show, the actor told PEOPLE last month at his theatre-themed music festival ElseFest.

"He's been a longtime friend, and if you stick around long enough, you see your friends do cool things and you wonder, 'Oh, I hope one day I get to work with them.' And then that day finally came and he called me and here we are now," Criss said. "and I'm truly beside myself with gratitude and excitement. And I know that's a cliché thing for artists to say when they're promoting something, but I don't know any other way to express that. There's something special here and I can't believe I get to be a part of it."

Criss isn't just a part of it; he's also in a role he's never been in before: a veteran of the boards, leading Shen through her first show. The Glee breakout was made his debut on Broadway in 2012 as a replacement in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and has since starred in Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2015) and American Buffalo (2022).

"This is now my fourth Broadway show — which I can't believe I'm saying that, this is crazy. But Father Time is undefeated in the ring and he continues to throw his punches, so I am now in the senior position here. And that is one of the new experiences for me," he says.

"The great thing about youth is that it's always going to be there to remind you what is exciting about the next thing," Criss continues. "So it's a joy for me to be able to be present for Helen and the other members of our company as they make their ascents. It's a big moment; it can power cities, that excitement and that raw energy, and it's an exciting and invigorating thing to be around. So on top of the show being something that we genuinely love and are excited to be a part of it, it's this sort of unbelievably delightful cocktail that I'm just going to guzzle every day until it's time to go."

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Preview performances for Maybe Happy Ending began on Oct. 16 at the Belasco Theatre in New York City. An opening date is officially scheduled for Nov. 12.

A Korean-language version was first performed at the DaeMyung Culture Factory in Seoul South Korea in 2016. That production subsequently won six Korean Musical Awards including best musical. It's been revived in Korea multiple times since, and has also been performed in Japan and China.

Arden directed the English-language, American premiere of the show at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia in 2020. It won the 2017 Richard Rodgers Production Award.

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In addition to Criss and Shen, Maybe Happy Ending stars Dez Duron (NBC’s The Voice) and Marcus Choi (Wicked, Flower Drum Song).

Rounding out the production as understudies are Steven Huynh (Blue Bloods), Hannah Kevitt (Back to the Future: The Musical), Daniel May (Flower Drum Song) and Christopher James Tamayo (Les Miserables).

Tickets to Maybe Happy Ending are now on sale.

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Read the original article on People.