'Maybe Happy Ending' Wins Six Tony Awards, Sweeping Major Categories Including Best Musical

The main star of the 78th Tony Awards ceremony was the Korean original musical 'Maybe Happy Ending.'

At the 78th Tony Awards ceremony held at Radio City Music Hall in New York, USA, on June 8 (local time), 'Maybe Happy Ending' swept major categories in the musical division, including the top honor of Best Musical, winning a total of six awards. In addition to Best Musical, it also received awards for Best Book, Best Score, Best Direction, Best Leading Actor, and Best Scenic Design. Having been nominated in 10 categories this year?the most at the Tony Awards?'Maybe Happy Ending' maintained its momentum and became the musical with the most wins.

Ji Hyewon, head of the Department of Arts and Cultural Management at Kyung Hee University, said, "For a work to maintain its unique characteristics and longevity, it needs to win Best Musical, Best Book, and Best Score, and it swept all three."

Following 'Maybe Happy Ending,' the musical 'Buena Vista Social Club' took home the most awards after that, winning in four categories.

Creators of the original musical 'Maybe Happy Ending,' Park Chunhyu (left) and Will Aronson, are taking a commemorative photo at Radio City Music Hall in New York, USA, where the 78th Tony Awards ceremony was held on April 8 (local time).
Photo by AFP Yonhap News

Playwright Park Chunhyu, who was responsible for the book and lyrics of 'Maybe Happy Ending,' made history as the first Korean creator to win a Tony Award, taking home both Best Book and Best Score. Will Aronson, Park Chunhyu's partner on works such as 'Bungee Jump,' 'Il Tenore,' and 'Ghost Bakery,' also won Best Score and Best Orchestrations.

Director Michael Arden won his second Best Direction award in two years, following his previous win for 'Parade' in 2023.

'Maybe Happy Ending' premiered in December 2016 at Daehangno through the creative support program of the Wooran Foundation. It steadily gained popularity, successfully completing five seasons by last year. The sixth season is scheduled to open this October.

In July 2016, during its initial run at Daehangno, an English-language reading was held in New York in preparation for an overseas debut. During the Atlanta tryout in 2020, the show caught the attention of renowned Broadway producer Jeffrey Richards, leading to its Broadway debut last year. Previews began at the Belasco Theatre on Broadway on October 16, 2024, and the official opening took place about a month later, on November 12, 2024.

Recently, the show has been sweeping Best Musical awards at major ceremonies such as the Drama Desk Awards, and has been a box office hit, surpassing $1 million in weekly ticket sales for four consecutive weeks. According to Playbill, a Broadway-specialized website, as of June 1, cumulative ticket sales have reached $25,995,177.